Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has hailed a Democratic state senate seat victory in Pennsylvania as the start of the party’s comeback against the Trump administration.
The win for James Malone in the 36th senatorial district–where Trump beat Kamala Harris by more than 15 points last November–was a major upset for Republicans.
Now AOC has claimed it should be the grassroots blueprint for rebuilding the party following the crushing presidential election defeat and months of internal turmoil.
“A Pennsylvania State Senate district that Trump had won by 15 points just flipped blue tonight. This is how it’s done,” the New York Rep. posted on X.
“Run everywhere. Run down ballot. Focus on local elections ASAP—from school board to councils to state legislatures. We build from there. Great job PA!”
Malone’s victory will narrow the GOP majority in the Pennsylvanian Senate to 27-23.
Pennsylvania has a Democratic Governor, Josh Shapiro, but is traditionally a battleground state, and it will be key in determining the 2028 White House race.
After a difficult few months, Democrats finally had something to crow about.
“Tonight in Lancaster County, Pennsylvanians rejected a candidate who embraced the extremism and division coming out of DC. In a district carried comfortably by Donald Trump just a few months ago, they chose a better way forward—an embrace of competence, commonsense, and a desire to bring people together,” wrote Shapiro on X.
Malone, who won the state senate seat by 482 votes, told WGAL-TV: “I’m very excited and really, really happy that all the work we put in has paid off. Everyday voters are not liking what they’re seeing at the federal level, they don’t like the chaos. We want to be sure that we, as Pennsylvania, are standing up for our neighbors and are standing up for our state.
“And, brotherly love is Pennsylvania, and that just proved out. Kindness over criticism, right? So that’s what we’re trying to do, and I think that that really is what we’re looking at moving forward.”
Also, on Tuesday in Pennsylvania, Dan Goughnour won a seat to preserve the party’s narrow control in the state house.
“It’s only March, and Democrats have defied the odds again with another upset victory in Republican territory,” said Heather Williams, president of the Democratic legislative campaign committee.
“Democrats are on a roll in state legislative races in 2025, from flipping red seats to defending one-seat majorities, which should put Republicans on edge. Both wins affirm Democratic leadership in a moment when GOP power is synonymous with chaos.”
AOC is on a nationwide tour with Sen. Bernie Sanders, drawing large crowds and trying to stoke the embers of opposition in a party that is struggling to find a way to tackle the Trump effect.
The ‘Fight Oligarchy’ tour has been critical of the party leadership and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, in particular. He has been singled out for criticism over his decision to allow the GOP spending bill to pass.
