Republican David Rowe wins special election for state House seat formerly held by U.S. Rep. Keller

Republican David Rowe won a three-way special election for an open seat in the Pennsylvania House on Tuesday.

Rowe garnered 63 percent of the vote in the 85th District, according to unofficial results from the Department of State. 

Tuesday’s special election in the Susquehanna River Valley will pit Democrat against Republican — against Republican

Rowe, a Crossfit gym owner and township supervisor, bested Democrat Jennifer Rager-Kay, a UPMC doctor, and write-in candidate Clair Moyer, a registered Republican, to represent the Susquehanna River Valley district in Harrisburg.

Rager-Kay received roughly 37 percent of the vote. 

The district includes most of Union and Snyder counties, including Lewisburg, home of Bucknell University, as well as Mifflinburg and Selinsgrove.

Rowe will replace former state Rep. Fred Keller, a Republican who is now serving in Congress after winning a special election in May. 

Running as a conservative’s conservative, Rowe earlier told the Capital-Star he is the “pro-life, pro-Second Amendment, pro-business” candidate who favors keeping taxes low and cutting regulations.

Tuesday’s election means the lower chamber will be back at its full complement of 203 lawmakers when Rowe is sworn in. Republicans hold a 110-seat majority.

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