GOP Retains Pennsylvania State House Seat in Special Election

Republican Andrea Verobish defeats Democrat Caleb McCoy in race for 79th District

Mar. 18, 2026 at 1:54am

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Republican Andrea Verobish is projected to win the special election for Pennsylvania's 79th House District, maintaining GOP control of the seat. Verobish will fill the vacancy left by former state Rep. Lou Schmitt, a Republican who resigned in December after being elected to the Blair County Court of Common Pleas.

Why it matters

The race was closely watched given the narrow Democratic majority in the Pennsylvania state House. The 79th District has been represented by a Republican since 1979, and the GOP holds a significant voter registration advantage in the area.

The details

Verobish, who has worked as a staffer for Rep. Glenn 'GT' Thompson (R-Pa.) since 2019, campaigned on cutting government spending, supporting gun rights, and opposing abortion rights. She is projected to defeat Democrat Caleb McCoy in the special election.

  • The special election was held on March 18, 2026.
  • Former state Rep. Lou Schmitt resigned in December 2025 after being elected judge.

The players

Andrea Verobish

The Republican candidate who is projected to win the special election for Pennsylvania's 79th House District.

Caleb McCoy

The Democratic candidate who ran against Verobish in the special election.

Lou Schmitt

The former Republican state representative whose resignation in December 2025 triggered the special election.

Glenn 'GT' Thompson

The Republican U.S. Representative for whom Verobish has worked as a staffer since 2019.

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What they’re saying

“We don't have a revenue problem here in Pennsylvania. We have a spending problem and we need to look at the spending rates and make things more affordable. Because if we keep expanding government, that's going to lead to a tax increase, that's going to make life more expensive for you.”

— Andrea Verobish, Republican Candidate (WTAJ)

What’s next

The Pennsylvania state House will now have a 102-101 Republican majority following Verobish's victory.

The takeaway

This special election result demonstrates the GOP's continued strength in Pennsylvania's 79th House District, which has been represented by a Republican for over 40 years. The race was closely watched as a potential bellwether for the state legislature, but the Republican candidate's victory maintains the status quo.