Ken Martin, the newly elected Chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), began a national tour in McKeesport, where he met with local leaders and community members ahead of a special election.
In an off-year, Western Pennsylvania remains a key region in American politics. The McKeesport area will head to the polls on March 25 for a special election that will decide control of the deadlocked Pennsylvania House of Representatives. The 35th District includes McKeesport and nearby communities and has been vacant since the unexpected death of Democratic state Rep. Matt Gergely in January at the age of 45.
Martin, the former head of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, emphasized the importance of local elections and encouraged participation at every level of government.
“People say the Democratic Party is dead,” said Martin at a meeting with Allegheny County Democrats, but he argued the party’s woes are exaggerated. “The stakes are higher than they’ve ever been,” he added.
Martin said a Democratic victory in the special election would “send a signal to Democrats around the country that we’re willing to fight for our values at every single level.”
Appearing alongside Martin was Malcom Kenyatta, a state representative from Philadelphia and newly elected DNC vice chair. Kenyatta lost the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate to now-Senator John Fetterman in 2022 and was defeated by Republican Tim DeFoor in the 2024 general election for Pennsylvania Auditor General.
In the special election, McKeesport police officer Dan Goughnour, who also serves on the city school board, has been nominated by the Allegheny County Democrats. He will face Republican Charles Davis, a member of the White Oak borough council.
The late Matt Gergely was first elected in a 2023 special election after then-Rep. Austin Davis resigned to become Lieutenant Governor. Gergely’s brother, Marc Gergely, represented the area from 2003 until his resignation in 2017 following his conviction on gambling-related corruption charges.
The 35th District is located in southern Allegheny County and encompasses several Mon Valley communities. The cities of McKeesport and Duquesne are located in the district, along with the communities of Clairton, Duquesne, Homestead, Liberty, Lincoln, Munhall, Port Vue, South Versailles Township, Versailles, West Homestead, Whitaker, White Oak, and part of West Mifflin.
