Republican Keller Wins Pennsylvania Special Elections

Republican Fred Keller won Tuesday's special election to fill a vacant congressional seat in Pennsylvania.

Keller, a state official backed by President Donald Trump, easily defeated Democrat professor Marc Friedenberg in the heavily Republican district.

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Former GOP representative Tom Marino resigned from Congress in January, just weeks after the start of his term and was re-elected last November by 32 percentage points. The district, which covers the northeastern and central states, voted overwhelmingly for Trump in the 2016 election, 66% to 30%, against Hillary Clinton.

The race drew little attention from national democrats, but Trump traveled to the district on Monday for a campaign rally that also reinforced the president's reelection message in a critical battlefield of the constituency.

"Our support for you has been as strong today as ever," Keller told Trump in Montoursville. "In 2016, Pennsylvania placed Donald Trump at the top. And in 2020, we will do it again. "

Trump tweeted his support for Keller, who had long been expected to win, as voters went to the polls on Tuesday. "Fred is a strong man in crime, the second amendment, the army, veterinarians and health care. He has my complete and total support! "Trump tweeted.

Trump also pushed Keller at the last minute by recording a Robocall.

Keller's victory is one of three vacant seats in the House. The other two are in North Carolina, which will occupy the 3rd and 9th district seats in the September 10 elections.