HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania Democrats celebrated the unofficial results of a special election for the state House that, if certified, would result in a flip of a Republican-favored district and expansion of a narrow majority in the lower chamber.
There are 203 districts in the Pennsylvania House. Democrats represented 102 while Republicans represented 100 entering Tuesday’s special election in the 12th Legislative District, which includes parts of Butler County.
Democrat Brandon Dukes led Republican Scott Timko by 97 votes with all precincts having reported, according to unofficial returns posted to the county and commonwealth elections websites.
Dukes received 8,469 votes compared to Timko’s 8,372.
Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton, a Democrat, said Dukes would be welcomed into the House next month. She said he is the first Democrat elected to represent the 12th District in nearly 30 years.
“Our caucus has kept its promise to put working families, seniors and students first since securing the majority nearly four years ago,” McClinton said. “Since then, we’ve cut taxes seven times for seniors, families and small businesses, delivered record funding to our public schools, and brought compassion, stability and common sense to governing at a time when our neighbors are reeling from the chaos in Washington.”
There were 52,737 registered voters in the 12th District entering Tuesday’s special election to fulfill the expiring term of former state Rep. Stephanie Scialabba, a Republican who resigned effective March 31, 2026.
Of the registered voters, 28,157 are Republicans and 15,841 are Democrats, with the rest registered with a third party or as a non-party affiliate.
President Donald Trump won the district by 18 points in 2024, Spotlight PA reported. Scialabba won by nearly 30 points that same year, Department of State data show.
With Dukes’ win and an upset by Democrat James Malone in a special state Senate election earlier this year, Democrats are pushing to expand majority control of the state House, flip the state Senate, which presently favors Republicans 27-23, and retain the governor’s office.
“Pennsylvanians are rising up and using their power to combat the chaos, cruelty, and corruption — and we’re not slowing down. I was proud to back Brandon. Congratulations State Representative-Elect Dukes — I look forward to getting stuff done together,” Gov. Josh Shapiro posted to X late Tuesday.
Being a presidential election, 2024 turnout was far greater at nearly 84% compared to Tuesday’s special election, 32%, according to the Butler County Board of Elections.
Dukes is only elected to serve through the session’s end. He and Timko will face off again in November’s general election for a full two-year term.
Election results show that Dukes held a distinct advantage among mail-in ballots in the special election, receiving 3,549 compared to 1,787 for Timko. Conversely, the Republican fared far better among in-person voters Tuesday, 6,559 votes compared to 4,885 for Dukes.
Should the results hold, Pennsylvania House Democrats will have a 103-100 voting majority over Republicans. The current two-year legislative session ends Nov. 30, and all bills not moved into law expire and would have to be reintroduced for further consideration.
The House is scheduled to reconvene for a special session in Philadelphia on Sept. 9 in recognition of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. Voting sessions resume in the State Capitol on Sept. 28.