Republican Fred Keller has declared victory in the special election to replace Rep. Tom Marino in Pennsylvania's 12th District.

Keller is a Pennsylvania State Representative who just began his fifth term in office.

The day before the election, President Donald Trump visited Lycoming County to drum up support for Keller.

Keller will serve out the remainder of Rep. Tom Marino’s term in the U.S. House 12th District which doesn’t expire until January 2021.

Marino, a Republican who easily won re-election to a fifth term in the U.S. House 12th District in the fall of 2018, resigned in January.

The 12th District covers all or parts of 15 counties, stretching from Susquehanna County in the east to Potter County in the west and the New York State line all the way to Perry County in the south.

CLICK HERE for the latest election results and more. </s> Voters in Pennsylvania’s 12th District go to the polls Tuesday in a special election to fill the seat vacated by Rep. Tom Marino (R) in January.

Republican state Rep. Fred Keller is favored to best Penn State professor Marc Friedenberg (D) in the heavily Republican district. Friedenberg was also the Democratic nominee in 2018, when he lost to Marino by 32 percentage points.

Pennsylvania redrew its congressional districts in 2018. The current 12th District, which covers a large and deeply conservative swath of the north and central parts of the state, voted 66.1 percent for Donald Trump in the 2016 election.

Shortly after beginning his fifth term in Congress, Marino announced in January that he was resigning later that month to take a job in the private sector.

Trump nominated Marino to be the nation’s drug czar in 2017. But Marino withdrew from consideration in the wake of a Washington Post/“60 Minutes” investigation detailing the lawmaker’s role as the chief architect of a law that undermined government efforts to crack down on the opioid industry.

Trump tweeted his support of Keller on Monday and made a campaign stop in the district to rally support for him. At a rally in Montoursville, Trump called Keller a “tough man” who is “tough on crime.”

“He loves our military. He loves our police. He loves our vets. And he will always protect patients. … We will always protect preexisting conditions,” said Trump, despite his administration’s efforts to gut the Affordable Care Act.

Health care looms as a major issue in 2020, with the Trump administration pushing the courts to declare the ACA unconstitutional. The 2010 law ensures coverage for Americans with preexisting medical conditions. Republicans have failed to craft a health-care plan that provides the same benefits.

Keller, wearing a bright red tie and dark jacket, bore an uncanny resemblance to Trump as he stood next to the president onstage.

“The people of northeastern and north-central Pennsylvania have been behind you since Day One,” he told Trump. “And Mr. President, our support for you is as strong today as it ever was. In 2016, Pennsylvania put Donald Trump over the top. And in 2020, we’re gonna do it again!”

Friedenberg responded to the rally in a tweet Monday night.

“If tonight tells you one thing, let it be this. Our campaign is fueled by every day, working people, while our opponent @VoteFredKeller has vowed to be nothing more than a puppet for corporate interests,” the Democrat said.

Friedenberg has repeatedly sought to tie Keller to Trump’s trade policies, which he has argued are hurting Pennsylvania’s agriculture and manufacturing industries.

After Tuesday’s election, there will be two remaining vacancies in the 116th Congress. One is in North Carolina’s scandal-plagued 9th District; the other is for the seat of the late representative Walter B. Jones (R-N.C.). Both vacancies will be filled after special elections in September.

Mike DeBonis and Anne Gearan contributed to this report. </s> Pennsylvania state Rep. Fred Keller was projected to easily defeat Democrat Marc Friedenberg in Tuesday’s special election to represent the Keystone State’s 12th District in the House of Representatives.

With 48 percent of precincts reporting, Keller had received 72 percent of the vote, compared to 28 percent for Friedenberg.

Keller would complete the two-year term begun by Republican Tom Marino, who resigned in January, just three weeks into his fifth House term. With Keller’s victory, the House comprises 235 Democrats and 198 Republicans. Two seats in North Carolina are vacant pending the outcome of special elections later this year.

TRUMP WILL WIN PENNSYLVANIA AGAIN IN 2020, AND BY LARGER MARGIN, EX-GOP LAWMAKER SAYS

Tuesday’s result is no surprise, as the 12th District is solidly Republican and voters there backed Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election by a margin of better than 2 to 1 over Democrat Hillary Clinton.

Trump himself urged his supporters to back Keller at a Monday night rally in Montoursville, telling the fifth-term state legislator, “We’ve got to win tomorrow, Fred.” He endorsed Keller on Twitter earlier Tuesday, calling the Republican “Strong on Crime, Second Amendment, Military, Vets, and Healthcare,” and saying Keller had “my Complete and Total Endorsement!”

Keller reciprocated Trump’s support Monday night, offering a rousing endorsement of the president and vowing to support his policies in Congress, saying the people of the district “have been behind you since Day One, and, Mr. President, our support for you is as strong today as it ever was.”

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He also said, “In 2016, Pennsylvania put Donald Trump over the top, and in 2020, we’re going to do it again.”

Friedenberg, a lawyer and information technology instructor at Penn State University, ran against Marino in last year’s midterm elections and lost by 32 points.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. </s> Pennsylvania state Rep. Fred Keller was projected to easily defeat Democrat Marc Friedenberg in Tuesday's special election to represent the Keystone State's 12th District in the House of Representatives.

With 48 percent of precincts reporting, Keller had received 72 percent of the vote, compared to 28 percent for Friedenberg.

Keller would complete the two-year term begun by Republican Tom Marino, who resigned in January, just three weeks into his fifth House term. With Keller's victory, the House comprises 235 Democrats and 198 Republicans. Two seats in North Carolina are vacant pending the outcome of special elections later this year.

TRUMP WILL WIN PENNSYLVANIA AGAIN IN 2020, AND BY LARGER MARGIN, EX-GOP LAWMAKER SAYS

Tuesday's result is no surprise, as the 12th District is solidly Republican and voters there backed Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election by a margin of better than 2 to 1 over Democrat Hillary Clinton.

Trump himself urged his supporters to back Keller at a Monday night rally in Montoursville, telling the fifth-term state legislator, "We've got to win tomorrow, Fred." He endorsed Keller on Twitter earlier Tuesday, calling the Republican "Strong on Crime, Second Amendment, Military, Vets, and Healthcare," and saying Keller had "my Complete and Total Endorsement!"

Keller reciprocated Trump's support Monday night, offering a rousing endorsement of the president and vowing to support his policies in Congress, saying the people of the district "have been behind you since Day One, and, Mr. President, our support for you is as strong today as it ever was."

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

He also said, "In 2016, Pennsylvania put Donald Trump over the top, and in 2020, we're going to do it again."

Friedenberg, a lawyer and information technology instructor at Penn State University, ran against Marino in last year's midterm elections and lost by 32 points.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. </s> HARRISBURG — A heavily Republican swath of central and northern Pennsylvania has a new congressman to represent it in Washington.

Republican state lawmaker Fred Keller, of Snyder County, won Tuesday's special election to replace Republican Tom Marino, who resigned in January.

Keller beat Democrat Marc Friedenberg in the 12th District and ran with the support of President Donald Trump.

The 53-year-old Keller is a fifth-term state lawmaker. He's one of the state House's most conservative members, with a 90% lifetime rating by the American Conservative Union.

Friedenberg is a lawyer and Penn State information technology instructor. He lost November's election to Marino by 32 percentage points.

The district covers all or parts of 15 counties. </s> Pennsylvania State Rep. Fred Keller won the Pennsylvania House 12th district special election, according to the New York Times.

Keller defeated Democrat and professor at Penn State University Marc Friedenberg in a special election Tuesday. The congressional seat became vacant after former Rep. Tom Marino (R-PA), who easily beat Friedenberg in the 2018 midterm elections, resigned less than one month into this term.

The Pennsylvania Republican’s victory serves President Donald Trump as well. Trump held a rally in Pennsylvania on Monday.

Ahead of the election, Trump said he endorsed Keller and contended that the election would serve as a referendum on his presidential administration. – READ MORE </s> Pennsylvania State Rep. Fred Keller won the Pennsylvania House 12th district special election, according to the New York Times.

Keller defeated Democrat and professor at Penn State University Marc Friedenberg in a special election Tuesday. The congressional seat became vacant after former Rep. Tom Marino (R-PA), who easily beat Friedenberg in the 2018 midterm elections, resigned less than one month into this term.

The Pennsylvania Republican’s victory serves President Donald Trump as well. Trump held a rally in Pennsylvania on Monday.

Ahead of the election, Trump said he endorsed Keller and contended that the election would serve as a referendum on his presidential administration.

“Go get em, Fred,” Trump told Keller on Monday. “It’s a little bit of a referendum.” President Trump then said that if Keller wins the special election, the media will not widely report the story; however, if Keller loses the election, Trump said that they will play it up as one of the biggest political events in recent memory.

Keller’s victory could also serve as a referendum on Trump’s vs former Vice President Joe Biden’s popularity in Pennsylvania.

During the rally on Monday, Trump reminded Pennsylvanians that Biden abandoned them to become a senator in Delaware.

“Don’t forget, Biden deserted you, he’s not from Pennsylvania, I guess he was born here, but he left you, folks, he left you for another state,” Trump said.

“He left you for another state, and he didn’t take care of you because he didn’t take care of your jobs,” Trump added. “He let other countries come in and rip off America.” </s> May 22 (UPI) -- Republican Fred Keller became the newest member of the U.S. House late Tuesday, winning a special election in Pennsylvania to fill a seat that's been vacant for four months.

Keller, running in a solidly Republican district, defeated Democrat Marc Friedenberg with 68 percent of the vote. The seat has been open since Republican Tom Marino left Congress at the end of January. Keller will serve out the remainder of Marino's term, which ends in 2021.

President Donald Trump stumped for Keller, having won 66 percent of the district's votes in 2016. Winning Pennsylvania was key for Trump's election and the state is expected to be critical for his re-election bid next year.

"Great news for Republicans: Fred Keller has just won the hard fought for Pennsylvania Congressional contest in a landslide, over 70 percent of the vote," Trump tweeted.

Keller had served in the Pennsylvania legislature for five terms, starting in 2010.

Keller's was one of several races in Pennsylvania Tuesday.

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney won a three-way Democratic primary in his bid for re-election. As the city is a longtime Democratic stronghold, the win virtually assures Kenney another term. Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala, Pittsburgh's top prosecutor, fended off a primary challenge. Republicans also held onto three state legislative seats. </s> We wanted to pass along some background info and recent polling data for tomorrow's special election for Ohio's 12th Congressional District.

Tomorrow's vote is to elect a member to finish the unexpired term of Congressman Pat Tiberi (R), who resigned last year to run the Ohio Business Roundtable. We have covered this race previously and it is being closely watched nationally. The OH-12 special election is the last Congressional special election nationally before the November general election. Democrats have generally performed well in other special elections since President Trump took office and this race affords them one more chance to drive momentum into November. Republicans are hoping to stop the 'blue wave' that has been driving voter turnout and protect their Congressional majorities. The loss of GOP majorities in either chamber of the US Congress would be a significant blow to President Trump's agenda.

The 12th Congressional District has a significant population center in northern Franklin County and Delaware County; it encompasses several wealthy Columbus suburbs. The district extends northward along I-71 to Mansfield and eastward along I-70 to Zanesville-the 12th Congressional District covers portions of Franklin, Marion, Richland, and Muskingum Counties and all of Morrow, Delaware, and Licking Counties. It is a diverse district with many rural and Appalachian communities along with affluent Columbus suburbs. Trump carried the 12th District in 2016, though both Congressman Tiberi and US Senator Rob Portman outperformed him in the district. The 12th District has been under Republican control since 1982, when John Kasich won the seat. Until recently, the seat was considered a safe Republican seat; however the retirement of Tiberi and increasing anti-Trump sentiment have afforded Democrats a chance to pick-up the 12th.

State Senator Troy Balderson (R-Zanesville) won a crowded primary in May to be the Republican nominee. Balderson resides in the eastern portion of the 12th Congressional District and only Licking and Muskingum Counties are in his State Senate District. Balderson did defeat several opponents from Delaware and Franklin Counties despite this geographic disadvantage. House Speaker Paul Ryan, Vice President Mike Pence, and President Donald Trump have all held events for Balderson in the 12th District; he also picked up the endorsement of Ohio Governor John Kasich and former Congressman Pat Tiberi. This is intriguing given that both Kasich and Tiberi did not support President Trump in 2016. Meanwhile, Democrats have rallied around Franklin County Recorder Danny O'Connor, who also won a contested primary. O'Connor is relatively new to politics and has vocally criticized the leadership of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. He was endorsed by the Columbus Dispatch over Balderson earlier this year.

Early polls gave Balderson a strong advantage, however O'Connor has closed the gap in recent weeks. Real Clear Politics shows Balderson has a composite spread of +3.7%, which is within the margin of error for most polls. Sabato's Crystal Ball, a popular Congressional election newsletter, has downgraded the 12th District from 'likely R' to 'toss-up'. Here is a snapshot of recent polls for the 12th District special election-

Generally, Balderson's numbers have stayed static while O'Connor has slowly progressed. In national polls, Democrats have a +7% advantage in a generic matchup; this has erased much of the partisan advantage in the 12th Congressional District. Tiberi was a popular incumbent who held the seat for nearly two decades and often won by double-digits; many voters in the 12th District have not seen Balderson's name on the ballot until this year. Tomorrow's special election will be discussed extensively no matter who wins. For Democrats, its another chance to win a Congressional seat in a district carried by Trump in 2016; for Republicans its a final chance to halt Democratic momentum going into November. Given that Trump made a personal appearance in the district this past weekend, a loss would be a personal embarrassment and could lead to more Republicans distancing themselves from the President over the next few months.

No matter who wins tomorrow, both Balderson and O'Connor will be on the ballot again in November seeking a new term for 2019. A loss tomorrow does not necessarily mean that a candidate can't succeed in November. However, given the significant amount of party resources expended in the special election race, the losing candidate will be hard-pressed to justify continued efforts between now and November.

If you have any questions or would like more info regarding the 12th District please reach out to OABA or Belinda Jones.
Voters head to the polls in a special election to elect a new U.S. House Representative to finish the term for Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district after Republican Tom Marino resigned on January 23, 2019.