Democrats pulled off historic wins across Pennsylvania in this year’s midterm elections, flipping four congressional seats and giving Gov. Josh Shapiro a Democratic trifecta in Harrisburg. With so much information to sift through in the wake of Election Day, City & State takes a look at five major takeaways from the 2026 midterm elections in Pennsylvania.
Shapiro coasts to reelection
En route to a 21-point victory over Republican challenger Stacy Garrity, Gov. Josh Shapiro made history on several fronts. On election night, Shapiro became one of only two governors in the state to win by more than 1 million votes. Unofficial tallies show Shapiro winning by 1.1 million votes; the only other candidate to secure a 1-million-vote margin was former Gov. Robert P. Casey, who defeated Republican Barbara Hafer by 1.07 million votes in 1990. Shapiro also became the first Democrat to win Lancaster County since 1990, when, you guessed it, Casey won the county by a 41,500-vote margin. According to unofficial returns, Shapiro is on track to win the county by more than 9,400 votes.
Democrats will have a trifecta in Harrisburg for the first time in decades
It’s been a week of celebration for Democrats in Harrisburg, as the party will have total control of the General Assembly for the first time in decades. Shapiro and Democratic leaders gathered at the Governor’s Residence this week to outline some of their key priorities, while promising to unveil a more detailed legislative agenda in the coming weeks. At the top of their agenda is raising the state’s minimum wage, funding mass transit systems, codifying abortion rights in the state constitution and giving child sexual abuse survivors a window to sue their abusers.
Pennsylvania voters oust congressmen old and new
Democrats swept four competitive congressional races with GOP incumbents this week, flipping all four seats blue. Firefighters’ union leader Bob Brooks unseated Lehigh Valley U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, while Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti beat U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan. Democrats also unseated two longtime GOP congressmen – U.S. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick and Scott Perry – who faced aggressive challenges from Bucks County Commissioner Bob Harvie and former news anchor Janelle Stelson, respectively, helping the party regain control of the U.S. House of Representatives. Rumor has it that Perry is already eyeing a 2028 rematch against Stelson.
Dems make gains across demographic groups
Democrats really put the “Dem” in demographics this cycle, improving their standing across a variety of demographics in this year’s midterms compared to two years ago. According to New York Times data, Democrats saw a 17-point increase in male voters compared to 2024, and a 13-point increase among female voters. The Times estimated that 61% of Pennsylvania women voted for Democrats, compared to 38% for Republicans. Democrats also outperformed Republicans across all age groups, with a particularly strong showing among voters ages 18-44. Black and Hispanic voters also overwhelmingly voted for Democrats. When it comes to education level, Democrats outperformed the GOP among voters with some college experience, a college degree or a postgraduate degree, though Republicans received 52% of the vote from voters with a high school education, compared to 48% for Democrats.
Ballot measures receive a mixed response
Voters weighed in on a series of ballot measures across the state, with many of them receiving approval. In Philadelphia, voters approved ballot questions that will create a permanent arts and culture office in the city and prioritize small and local businesses when awarding contracts. In Lehigh County, voters approved a measure that will expand the county’s Election and Registration Commission from three to five members and require one member to be unaffiliated with the county’s two major parties. Lehigh voters also approved a measure that will remove the chair of the County’s Board of Commissioners from the county’s retirement board and instead have another commissioner in the role. In Allegheny County, however, voters rejected a ballot measure that sought to expand the benefits and powers available to members of County Council. The proposed measure would have eliminated restrictions on councilmembers’ ability to receive pensions and healthcare benefits, and would have allowed them to hire support staff and district offices, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. At press time, unofficial election returns show nearly 68% of Allegheny County voters rejecting the measure, compared to 32% in support.
As news spread this week that a planned Sunday “Boycott Ride” bike rally aimed at driving Jewish businesses out of Philadelphia, myriad officials and civic leaders – from Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker to the state restaurant association – responded with statements condemning the event and urging solidarity with the embattled Jewish business community.
The Rittenhouse Square rally – publicized in flyers emblazoned with antisemitic slogans like “No business for Zionists! These Zionist establishments must go! Not in our city!” – was apparently organized by Philly Bike On Your Left, an activist group that has since taken down its Instagram page promoting the rally, which declared that the event would “show these zio business owners that we see them for the disgusting humans they are.” The group did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
Michael Balaban, president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, said the planned action is “antisemitism, plain and simple. I don’t see anyone lining up in front of an Iranian restaurant or to protest Russian-owned businesses, to name other conflicts across the globe … It is Jew hatred, and they can disguise it any way they want as politics, but it’s not.”
“As an American, I respect the First Amendment – and if you have an issue with the government, go protest at an embassy, a consulate, but don’t target a Jewish-owned business or an Israeli-owned business,” he added.
The targeted businesses were K’far Café, Goldie and Dizengoff, all co-owned by famed Israel-born chef Michael Solomonov, as well as Mac Mart, Huda Burger and Schlesinger’s, each owned and operated by Jewish Americans.
And the event’s date, Nov. 8, is the eve of the anniversary of Kristallnacht – a vast, state-sponsored pogrom that destroyed thousands of Jewish businesses, homes and synagogues across Nazi Germany, Austria and the Sudetenland (part of modern-day Czechia) on Nov. 9-10, 1938, and seized and deported 30,000 Jews to concentration camps.
Philadelphia City Council President Kenyatta Johnson, whose district is home to several of the targeted restaurants, emphasized his concern over the timing of the planned boycott, which Johnson called in a public letter to the Jewish Federation “especially troubling … We cannot ignore the historical significance of this moment or the dangerous consequences of allowing antisemitism and hatred to go unchecked in America.”
“I strongly condemn the targeting of Jewish-owned businesses in Philadelphia and the growing rhetoric of hate and antisemitism directed toward our Jewish community,” he added. “Philadelphia is a city built on diversity, inclusion, and respect for people of all backgrounds and faiths. No business owner should be singled out, harassed, intimidated, or told they are not welcome in our city.”
Parker, who has made unity among Philadelphians central to her political brand, sounded a similar note in a statement on Thursday. “No one should be targeted, threatened, or made to feel unwelcome because of their faith, identity or background,” she said, adding that she was working with the police commissioner to ensure public safety this weekend.
“Everyone has the right to peacefully protest and express their political views. But singling out businesses because their owners are Jewish is unacceptable and has no place in our city.”
State Rep. Ben Waxman, who is Jewish and represents a Philadelphia district that is home to several of the targeted establishments, said in a statement that “people have every right to criticize the Israeli government and to protest U.S. foreign policy. But those decisions are made in Washington, not in the kitchens of Center City restaurants. Take those demands to the officials with the power to act.
“Holding your Jewish neighbors responsible for a foreign government’s actions is antisemitism,” he added. “No one should have to pass a political test to run a restaurant, earn a living, or feel welcome in the neighborhood we share. ”
The Anti-Defamation League of Philadelphia, which had earlier co-signed a joint statement with other Jewish organizations condemning the rally, on Thursday released an online pledge where Philadelphians commit to showing their solidarity by dining this week at Jewish-owned restaurants.“The best answer to a discriminatory act is to show up for those targeted,” said Andrew Goretsky, ADL Philadelphia’s senior regional director. “Patronize these businesses ... Hate counts on us staying away. Let’s fight it by showing up.”
“Restaurants should remain places where people can work, dine, and gather without fear,” said Ben Fileccia, the Philadelphia-based senior vice president for strategy and engagement at the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association, in a statement. He added that the group supports “the right to peaceful protest while firmly opposing antisemitism, harassment, and intimidation.”
As he headed to Goldie for a tehina shake on Thursday, Balaban said he had been heartened by what he described “as a groundswell of support for the Jewish community … We’re here to stay,” he affirmed. “Not only are we not going anywhere, we’re going to get stronger. All this does is unify us – and push us to continue with the success that we’ve had as a community.”
Source: City & State Pennsylvania