Blue Tsunami Reaches PA, but Not the 16th District
Democrats win Congress and a Harrisburg trifecta as Justin Wagner falls short
The rumored "blue wave" became a tsunami following the 2026 midterm election on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Democrats are projected to win both the House and the Senate, with historic wins in Republican strongholds and battleground states.
I attended an Election Night Watch Party at the Sheraton hosted by candidate Justin Wagner and spoke to elected officials about their thoughts on the midterms. Gavin Griffin, a former Titusville councilman, said that the Trump administration and Republican-majority congress have not delivered on their promises. "Whether it was making things cheaper, gas cheaper, ending foreign wars, or releasing the Epstein files, they've done none of them," Griffin said. Griffin expressed interest in the Democratic candidates nationwide, mentioning candidates such as Alaska Senate-candidate Mary Peltola and Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan, who became the first Muslim senator. "I think we're looking at people who are working class folks that are stepping up to run for public office," he said. Wagner lost to incumbent U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Butler, in Pennsylvania's 16th Congressional District. Kelly outspent Wagner by more than $1 million, according to Federal Election Commission filings, and won by more than 22,000 votes, according to unofficial results. Wagner carried Erie County at 57.1 percent of the vote with 98 percent in according to NBC.
Incumbent Representative Ryan Bizzarro attended the event at the Sheraton and won an eighth term serving District 3. "I'm humbled at the opportunity to continue to serve my community in Harrisburg," Bizzarro said.
Incumbent Governor Josh Shapiro was also reelected by over 1 million votes. The governor thanked Pennsylvanians for their votes. "Pennsylvania, with your vision and your votes, you declared that we are ready to keep getting stuff done and moving this Commonwealth forward. Tonight, you declared that we are ready to keep delivering results — and that we reject the chaos, cruelty, and corruption in Washington, D.C.," Shapiro said.
Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chair Eugene DePasquale released a statement, announcing four House seats were flipped to secure a Democratic majority. "I congratulate Bob Harvie, Bob Brooks, Paige Cognetti, and Janelle Stelson on their victories tonight — and I know that as soon as they're sworn in come January, they'll be ready to get to work and make sure Congress delivers for the people of Pennsylvania," DePasquale said. Democrats also took control of the state senate, bringing forth the first democratic trifecta in over 30 years, gaining control of the governor's office and both legislative chambers.
Seth Trott, chairman of the Erie County Democratic Party, said he hopes to see the Democrats unite after their midterm success. "If we're able to come together as a party, work out our own internal differences together, and then present publicly as one body and one voice, I think we'll be a real force to be reckoned with."
