State Rep. Joe Hohenstein (D-177th dist.) defeated Republican Mark LaVelle in last week’s election, prevailing 65 percent to 34 percent.
LaVelle took 59 percent in the Bridesburg-based 45th Ward, but Hohenstein won the other wards handily.
Democrats appear to have won the state House majority, thanks largely to a new redistricting map drawn by a commission chairman chosen by the Democratic-controlled Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-2nd dist.) defeated Republican Aaron Bashir with 75 percent of the vote. However, it looks like Republicans will take control of the U.S. House.
Democrats won the two at-large City Council special elections.
Jim Harrity took 80 percent against Republican Drew Murray and Libertarian Poetica Bey. Harrity will succeed former Councilman Allan Domb, expected to run for mayor.
Sharon Vaughn took 81 percent against Republican Jim Hasher and Libertarian Marc Jurchak. Vaughn had been chief of staff to Councilman Derek Green, who resigned to run for mayor.
In the U.S. Senate race, Democrat John Fetterman took 51 percent of the vote to Republican Mehmet Oz’s 47 percent, with Libertarian Erik Gerhardt, the Green Party’s Richard L. Weiss and the Keystone Party’s Daniel Wassmer trailing. Fetterman won by some 210,000 votes, including a 322,000 margin in Philadelphia.
Democrat Josh Shapiro easily won the race for governor. Along with lieutenant governor running mate Austin Davis, they defeated Republicans Doug Mastriano and Carrie Lewis DelRosso with 56 percent of the vote. Libertarian, Green Party and Keystone Party candidates trailed.
City residents approved two amendments to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter.
One transfers certain functions related to the operations of airports from other city agencies to a new Department of Aviation. It was approved with 68 percent of the vote.
The other provides for a preference in civil service examinations for graduates of Career Technical Education programs in the School District of Philadelphia. It was approved by 71 percent of voters. ••
