PA Special Elections: MVP Partners Turn Out Voters as Dems Win Big

In Pennsylvania’s two special elections yesterday, Democrats won both state House District 35 and state Senate District 36 — the latter by less than 500 votes in a district Trump won by 15 points.

Why does this matter?

On a national level, these victories send a strong signal that swing-state voters dislike the direction Trump and the GOP are taking the country.

On a state level:

• The HD-35 win restores Democrats’ 1-seat House majority, giving them control over the agenda and leverage in budget talks.
• The SD-36 win narrows the GOP’s state Senate majority to 27-23, continuing Democrats’ steady ascent since 2016.
• Both wins set the stage for a potential Democratic state trifecta in 2028, opening the door to a far more bold and ambitious governing agenda.
• In particular, the SD-36 win is unprecedented. From The Downballot: “Since taking its present form in Lancaster County 40 years ago, the district has always been held by the GOP, and the county as a whole has gone for a Democrat at the presidential level just once since 1856 (Lyndon Johnson just barely won it in 1964).”

How were MVP partners involved in these races?

Turn PA Blue made over 90,000 phone calls for these two races, including 50,000 calls for the Senate race won by under 500 votes.

Screenshot: Turn PA Blue – Post on X, 3/25/2025

Several MVP partners also conducted nonpartisan voter engagement and mobilization efforts:

In the HD-35 election specifically, 1Hood registered voters, knocked on over 3,500 doors, and held a nonpartisan Candidate Town Hall with fellow MVP partner Black Voters Matter and others. 

Photo: 1Hood

Instead of focusing on parties or candidates, 1Hood mobilized their constituency by tailoring their messaging around the issues that matter most to them, including affordable housing, raising the minimum wage, expanding child care tax credit, student loan forgiveness, business investments, and criminal justice reform. Here’s their flier:

1Hood Flier for Pennsylvania’s House District 35 Special Election, March 2025

MVP partner Pennsylvania Stands Up, a chapter-based, dues-paying membership organization focused on getting money out of politics, whole-home repairs, and co-governance with elected officials, also mobilized their members and constituents to turn out in full force for the special elections.

Screenshot: Pennsylvania Stands Up, Facebook post, 3/20/2025

What’s the moral of this story?

Here are the most important lessons from last night’s PA special elections:

Lesson #1: If we want to win, we need to invest in year-round grassroots organizing. Electoral and policy progress doesn’t just happen. We need to invest the money, time, energy, and strategic resources to create the conditions for progress — not only to win one-off elections, but to put us on a long-term trajectory for sustainable political power.

Lesson #2: We can only win the races where we show up. We cannot win every race in every district every year. But by showing up and contesting every race, we maximize our chances of upset victories like last night’s win in Pennsylvania’s deep-red Senate District 36.

Lesson #3: There are no off years. If we want to win in big election years, we need to lay the groundwork for those victories by investing in year-round community organizing communities; identifying, recruiting, and supporting leaders and candidates; registering, engaging, and mobilizing voters; and holding elected officials’ feet to the fire every year.

Lesson #4: Long-term power starts downballot. Even though our politics have become extremely nationalized, so much of politics is still local. The decisions made year-round by state governments have a dramatic impact on people’s everyday lives. By staying committed to the project of winning long-term Democratic and progressive governance at the local level, we:

• Set ourselves up to improve material conditions for people in a very real way.
• Prove that Democrats and progressives can deliver the change voters want.
• Give those voters a reason to vote for Democrats and progressives at every level of government in future elections.
• Build the bench of future Democratic and progressive leadership.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez put it well last night: “Run everywhere. Run down ballot. Focus on local elections ASAP – from school board to councils to state legislatures. We build from there.”

Screenshot: AOC post on X, 3/25/2025

What happens next?

These lessons are especially important as we look ahead to the Pittsburgh mayoral primary on May 20th, where big GOP and MAGA megadonors are pumping money in to support progressive Democratic Mayor Ed Gainey’s primary opponent. MVP partners Pennsylvania United, One Pennsylvania, 1Hood Power, and the PA Working Families Party will all be getting out the vote to defend our progressive trifecta in Allegheny County.

Screenshot: The Nation, “MAGA Money Targets Pittsburgh’s Progressive Mayor,” 3/26/2025.

If 2024 taught us anything, it is that there are no shortcuts to building the long-term power we need, to create the world we want to see. So let’s savor and celebrate victories like last night’s Pennsylvania special elections — and then roll up our sleeves and get back to work on our Big Comeback.