Republicans lose ground as Democrats win seats in pivotal statehouses
Jack Birle
September 20, 2023 08:39 AM
Republicans in New Hampshire and Pennsylvania suffered losses in House special elections, putting the party's majority in one of the statehouses in danger.
New Hampshire Democrat Hal Rafter defeated Republican James Guzofski in the special election in Rockingham County District 1 on Tuesday, flipping a seat held by a Republican who resigned in April. The loss on Tuesday night, combined with losses in the 2022 elections, means the GOP only holds a 198-197 advantage over Democrats in the statehouse.
WITH NO CLEAR PATH TO AVOID A SHUTDOWN, HOUSE REPUBLICANS' INTERNAL TENSIONS SPEW INTO THE PUBLIC
The district, which voted for Trump 49.1% to 48.7% in 2020, voted for Rafter over Guzofski 55.9% to 44.1%, a margin of 331 votes. Republicans hold a trifecta in the Granite State, having a majority in the state House and state Senate, along with holding the governor's mansion.
Republicans in Pennsylvania also suffered a special election loss, which means they will continue to operate in the minority in the statehouse. Democrat Lindsay Powell easily defeated Republican Erin Connolly Autenreith in the heavily Democratic district, keeping the Democrats' slim majority at 102-101. The GOP lost 12 seats in the Pennsylvania Statehouse in the 2022 elections, leading to Democratic control of the chamber for the first time in 12 years.
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