A pedestrian walks past the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa., Monday, March 22, 2021.
Matt Rourke / AP Photo
A pedestrian walks past the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa., Monday, March 22, 2021.
Matt Rourke / AP Photo
(Lebanon) — The Republicans’ 38-year stronghold in the Pennsylvania Senate’s 48th District remained intact in Tuesday’s special election.
Republican Christopher Gebhard held a lead in the four-man race over his closest opponent, Democrat Calvin Clements, in the contest to fill the open seat. The 48th district covers all of Lebanon County and portions of Dauphin and York counties.
Unofficial results from the Pennsylvania Department of State with a few precincts still missing show Gebhard with 63% of the more than 37,500 votes that had been counted as of 11:55 p.m. Clements had 29% of the vote. Libertarian Tim McMaster won 3% and independent Ed Krebs, who ran for the Bring People Together Party, had 6%.
Gebhard, 46, of North Cornwall Township, Lebanon County, will serve out the remainder of the late Sen. Dave Arnold’s term, which expires Nov. 30, 2022. Arnold died in January.
“I want to thank the people of the 48th district for electing me to serve as their voice in Harrisburg,” Gebhard said in a statement declaring his victory. “While I am incredibly humbled by the overwhelming support I received, I am wholly focused on rolling up my sleeves and going to work.
“There is a significant amount of work to do to enact an agenda focused on reducing taxes, eliminating wasteful regulations, getting our commonwealth’s businesses and schools reopen and push a Pennsylvania First agenda. We must pass legislation to restore integrity and confidence in our electoral system. That mission starts today.”
Gebhard thanked the volunteers, committee members and voters who supported him but especially his wife Sarah and sons Davis and Drew. He said as a political novice, his family had no idea what to expect on the campaign trail but they stood by him every step of the way.
“Last, I want to recognize the tragic reason this seat was vacant and pay respect to the late Senator Dave Arnold. Dave dedicated his life to public service and keeping our communities safe, and he left very big shoes to fill,” he said in his statement.
During the campaign, Gebhard said being a state senator will not be his only job.
He intends to continue serving as the president and CEO of Hoaster Gebhard & Co., an insurance and risk management firm. He said that will keep him connected to the community and allow him to make decisions as a senator “based on what is right rather than what I need to get re-elected.”
He said a primary focus of his will be to improve the state’s business climate to make it more competitive and attractive to companies that provide family-supporting jobs.
On the issue of abortion, he said he is opposed to it. He also is not in favor of raising the state’s minimum wage, preferring instead to let the free market set its own rate. He further isn’t ready to support legalization of recreational marijuana, saying he’d like to see the state’s 5-year-old medical marijuana program mature longer before taking that step.
As for as election reform, he’d like to see the state repeal the law that introduced no-excuse mail-in voting and adopt one that addresses the flaws including some that arose in Tuesday’s election with ballot issues and shortages at some polling places that he said give rise to voter distrust in the process.
Gebhard’s election gives the GOP 28 seats in the 50-member chamber not counting Sen. John Yudichak, an independent from Luzerne County, who caucuses with the Republicans.
In another special election to fill the open 22nd state Senatorial District seat vacated by Democrat John Blake that took place on Tuesday, Democrats on Tuesday evening declared their candidate, Rep. Marty Flynn, as the unofficial winner in a four-person contest, allowing them to retain 21 seats.
The Associated Press and WITF’s democracy reporter Jordan Wilkie are partnering to tell stories about how Pennsylvania elections work, and to debunk misinformation surrounding elections.