The Democrats have snatched a victory in Pennsylvania’s 36th Senate District—a deep-red region where President Trump won by 15 points in the 2024 election and Republicans hold a commanding R+23 advantage in party registration.
Democrat James Malone, the former mayor of East Petersburg, eked out a win over Republican contender Josh Parsons, chairman of the Lancaster County Board of Commissioners. This unexpected victory handed the Democrats control of a seat that has been in Republican hands since 1978.
The final tally? A measly 482-vote margin. And why? Because Republicans couldn’t be bothered to show up.
Let’s be real: this wasn’t stolen. It wasn’t rigged. It was handed over on a silver platter by Republicans who didn’t even bother to vote.
Only 29% of voters showed up. That means over 70% of registered voters did not cast their votes — many of them Republicans who assume their district is so “safe” that it’ll stay red by default. That kind of complacency just flipped a decades-long Republican seat to a Democrat.
The special election was held to fill the vacancy left by Republican Senator Ryan Aument’s resignation in December 2024.
Squad member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) took to social media to celebrate the victory.
“A Pennsylvania State Senate district that Trump had won by 15 points just flipped blue tonight. This is how it’s done. Run everywhere. Run down ballot. Focus on local elections ASAP – from school board to councils to state legislatures. We build from there. Great job PA!”
A Pennsylvania State Senate district that Trump had won by 15 points just flipped blue tonight.
This is how it’s done. Run everywhere. Run down ballot.
Focus on local elections ASAP – from school board to councils to state legislatures.
We build from there.
Great job PA! https://t.co/lTbOQW7xrZ
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) March 26, 2025
Conservative activist Scott Pressler expressed his frustration with the Republican response to the election.
According to Pressler, despite his calls for support, the response was tepid at best.
“I asked for help & no one would help us. Meanwhile, Illinois democrats poured in $100,000 from a PAC. It’s frustrating to do all this work, while Republicans are busy celebrating & posting on social media. It makes me question if I should continue doing this work,” Pressler wrote on X.
I asked for help & no one would help us.
Meanwhile, Illinois democrats poured in $100,000 from a PAC.
It’s frustrating to do all this work, while Republicans are busy celebrating & posting on social media.
It makes me question if I should continue doing this work.
— ThePersistence (@ScottPresler) March 26, 2025
Pressler also highlighted a critical tactical error: “This is a heavily Republican district. Democrats won early voting handily, while Republicans waited to vote on ONE day. Republicans lost by 482 votes. I hope they learn from this.”
We have statewide elections THIS year:
Primary ️May 20th, 2025
General ️November 4th, 2025I strongly encourage Republicans to request mail-in ballots, epically for these off-year elections. https://t.co/y1VCuDD8Ii pic.twitter.com/63igfP1e7r
— ThePersistence (@ScottPresler) March 26, 2025
The silver lining for Republicans is that Malone’s victory does not change their majority in the Pennsylvania State Senate, which now stands at 26 Republican seats to 23 Democratic seats, with one seat remaining vacant.
Meanwhile, in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Democrat Dan Goughnour secured a special election win in the 35th District, allowing Democrats to maintain their narrow majority at 102 seats to 101.
This is a wake-up call. No more excuses. If Republicans can’t be bothered to show up for critical special elections, they shouldn’t be shocked when the country keeps sliding left.
President Trump once carried this district by double digits. And now? Democrats own it.
Just because President Trump won the presidency, it doesn’t mean your responsibility to vote ends there.
