Copyright Newsweek
A Republican has been ousted in a Pennsylvania borough that has voted for Republican Party presidential candidates for 113 years. Beaver County elected Democratic Lincoln Kretchmar as the new mayor on November 4. In doing so, the Democrats broke the GOP's 113 year winning streak in the borough. Newsweek reached out to the Republican Committee of Beaver County to comment on this story outside of normal business hours. Why It Matters Pennsylvania is a key swing state. In the 2020 election, former President Joe Biden won the state by some 80,000 votes, winning it back from President Donald Trump, who in 2016 broke the state's blue streak for the first time in 24 years. But in 2024, Trump won the seat back with 50.4% of the vote. The GOP losing elections one year into Trump's presidency could indicate that the state is moving toward the Democratic Party once more. If this trend continues, the GOP could see losses in the November 2026 midterms, thus affecting the balance of power in Congress and the party's ability to influence key policies and legislation. What To Know Kretchmar won the mayoral election by a whisker, winning 917 votes to Republican incumbent Thomas Todd Hamilton's 904 votes. According to an election analyst, the borough has not supported a Democratic candidate for President since 1912. Before Hamilton assumed the role in 2004, Robert Linn served as the GOP mayor from 1946 to 2004. Elsewhere in the state, the Democrats retained their Supreme Court seats and the Democrats won the Pittsburgh mayoral race, the Philadelphia district attorney election and other key races. Meanwhile, the Democrats scored sweeping victories in other places across the country. In New York City, 34-year-old democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani was elected mayor after the city recorded its highest turnout in more than five decades. In Virginia, Abigail Spanberger became the state’s first female governor, while in New Jersey, Mikie Sherrill won the governor’s office for Democrats. What People Are Saying Writing on X, the Beaver Country Democratic Committee said: "The Democratic nominees had a good night in Beaver County." Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro wrote: "It was a good night, folks. Let's have another one on November 3, 2026." What Happens Next Kretchmar will serve a four-year term. The midterm elections take place in November 2026.
