Democrats in Pennsylvania outperformed expectations during the Nov. 8 elections, winning the  U.S. Senate and Governor races and gaining control of the state House of Representatives. Both  state-level Democratic candidates, Josh Shapiro and John Fetterman, outperformed President Biden’s 2020 margin in Cumberland County and across the state. 

In the race for the U.S. Senate, Democratic Lt. Gov. John Fetterman beat Republican Mehmet Oz. Fetterman received 51.1 percent of the vote to Oz’s 46.5 percent, which showed Fetterman outperforming the polls where he was near 47 percent. Despite underperforming Donald Trump in 2020, Oz won Cumberland County, receiving 51.5 percent of the county’s votes. With Fetterman’s victory, Democrats maintained control of the Senate with 50 seats, with one seat to be decided in a Georgia runoff election on Dec. 6.  

In the Governor’s race, Democratic Attorney General Josh Shapiro defeated Republican state Senator Doug Mastriano. Shapiro received 56.3 percent of the vote to Mastriano’s 41.9 percent, which also shows Shapiro outperforming his polling expectation of 51 percent. Shapiro’s large victory allowed him to win Cumberland County with 52.9 percent of the vote, making him the third state-wide Democrat to win the county in the 21st century. Shapiro’s running mate, state Rep. Austin Davis, will be the first black Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania. 

Republican Rep. Scott Perry, whose district includes Cumberland County, won re-election to the U.S. House with 53.9 percent of the vote, beating his Democratic challenger, Shamaine Daniels. The House flipped to Republican control by a smaller margin than anticipated, where they will hold a four seat majority. 

Incumbent Republican Barbara Gleim won re-election to the state House of Representative with 61.5 percent of the vote, beating Democrat Alan Howe. Despite this loss for Democrats, the Pennsylvania House flipped from Republican control to Democratic. The last time the Democratic Party controlled the House was in 2010, and they will do so with a one-seat majority, holding 102 seats to the Republican’s 101 seats. Joanna McClinton, the House Democratic Leader, will be the first woman and first person of color to serve as Speaker of the Pennsylvania House. 

Republican state Rep. Greg Rothman was elected to the state Senate with 63.5 percent of the vote, defeating Democrat Jim Massey. The Senate remains in Republican control, 28 seats to 22. 

Carlisle 3-1, the precinct that includes Dickinson, had 27.1 percent turnout, lower than the county turnout of 62.9 percent. However, the precinct turnout includes residents in town who live near the college and former students who have not yet been phased out of the voter rolls. The registration and turnout rate for current Dickinson students will be released in the summer.