Pennsylvania House races take center stage in fight for the House
Hakeem Jeffries rolled out Democrats’ affordability agenda in a key Pennsylvania district as both parties fight for the House.
By Maya Lindqvist · Senior Technology Correspondent
3 min read
Pennsylvania House races moved to the center of the midterm fight Sunday as House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries opened a 100-day push aimed at winning control of the chamber, the Associated Press reported. The effort began in the Lehigh Valley, where Democrats are targeting a Republican-held seat they see as part of their path to a majority.
Jeffries, D-N.Y., introduced the party’s “Fighting for an Affordable America” agenda at a steelworkers’ union hall in Pennsylvania’s 7th District, AP reported. He appeared with Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro to support Bob Brooks, a retired firefighter running against freshman Republican Rep. Ryan Mackenzie.
Jeffries said Democrats would focus on restoring health care cuts, lowering the cost of living and ending the war in Iran. He framed the campaign as a bid to check President Donald Trump and said voters would get “a Congress that speaks up for everyday Americans” if Democrats win the House.
Mackenzie was set to hold his own 100-day-out event nearby, AP reported. Trump promoted Mackenzie during a visit last month to a Mack Truck plant in the district, where he told supporters, “We gotta win the midterms.”
Why do Pennsylvania House races matter in 2026?
AP reported that fewer than 20 House seats are considered true toss-ups, even though all 435 seats are on the ballot. Pennsylvania’s 7th District is one of the most closely watched contests, and Democrats are also targeting Republican-held seats in the state’s 1st, 8th and 10th districts.
That makes Pennsylvania a central part of the fight for the House, AP reported. Shapiro, who is also seeking a second term as governor this year, has been backing Democratic candidates in the state’s competitive districts and described Pennsylvania as “the swingiest swing state.”
Shapiro told the crowd Democrats would try to “put an end to the chaos and cruelty and the corruption that exists in Washington.” AP described the appearance as part of a broader show of unity for Democrats after a year of difficult primaries in several states.
How Republicans are trying to hold the House
Republicans are leaning on Trump’s presidency and their congressional record as they try to keep control of the House, AP reported. Trump has visited competitive states to help GOP candidates, including Georgia last week, and has a trip to Michigan planned.
At rallies, AP reported, Trump has mixed support for Republican candidates with remarks on immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border, transgender rights and criticism of judges. Republicans also hope voters reward them for Trump’s tax-and-spending law, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and for a House-passed measure aimed at limiting stock trading by lawmakers.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is preparing a cross-country trip to raise money and campaign for Republican candidates, AP reported. Republicans currently hold a fundraising edge over Democrats in the contest for House control.
Democrats are betting that disapproval of the Iran war, concern about prices and the usual midterm pressure on the president’s party will help them flip seats. AP reported that a June Supreme Court ruling on campaign finance could also shape the race because national parties can now make direct contributions to candidate campaigns.
This story draws on original reporting from Fortune.