Pennsylvania primaries spotlight House flips

Pennsylvania’s May 19 primary elections gave Democrats their nominees in four House districts that NBC News identified as central to the 2026 fight for control of the chamber. Bob Brooks won the Democratic nomination in the 7th District, Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti advanced in the 8th, Janelle Stelson won in the 10th and Bob Harvie secured the nomination in the 1st, where Republican Rep. (nbcnews.com) Brian Fitzpatrick is seeking another term, according to Pennsylvania’s election reporting site and NBC News. Democrats need a net gain of three seats to retake the House, NBC reported. The Pennsylvania contests stood out because they are concentrated in districts already familiar to both parties as expensive, closely watched targets. NBC News reported that the four Democratic primaries in the state had already drawn a combined $50 million in advertising dollars spent on or committed to the races, citing AdImpact. (electionreturns.pa.gov) That spending came before the general-election campaign has fully begun. ### Which Pennsylvania races are now set for November? Unofficial Pennsylvania returns showed Brooks winning the Democratic primary in the 7th District with 41.74% of the vote, ahead of Carol Obando-Derstine, Lamont McClure and Ryan Crosswell. He will face Republican Rep. Ryan Mackenzie in the Allentown-area seat in November. (nbcnews.com) In northeastern Pennsylvania, Cognetti won the Democratic nomination in the 8th District and is set to face Republican Rep. Rob Bresnahan Jr. In central Pennsylvania, Stelson won the Democratic primary in the 10th District and will run against Republican Rep. Scott Perry. In the Philadelphia suburbs, Harvie won the Democratic nomination in the 1st District and will face Fitzpatrick. (nbcnews.com) ### Why did NBC single out Pennsylvania? NBC News said four Pennsylvania districts would play an “outsized role” in deciding the House majority next year. The outlet’s framing reflects the narrow margin Democrats must overcome: a net gain of three seats. (electionreturns.pa.gov) Ben Kamisar of NBC also reported that the Pennsylvania primaries drew support from across the Democratic coalition and from outside groups. In the 7th District, Brooks had backing from Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Sen. Bernie Sanders, while other candidates drew support from labor groups, veterans’ organizations and outside political committees. (electionreturns.pa.gov) ### What happened outside Pennsylvania on the same primary night? Kentucky’s 4th District produced one of the night’s most closely watched results when Rep. Thomas Massie lost his Republican primary to Navy veteran Ed Gallrein, according to NBC News. The race had drawn national attention because President Donald Trump had targeted Massie after disagreements on high-profile issues. (nbcnews.com) Georgia and Oregon also featured notable contests on the May 19 primary calendar, NBC said, as both parties continued to shape their House and statewide tickets ahead of the midterms. NBC’s national primary tracker listed House primary results from Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Georgia and Oregon among the latest returns. (nbcnews.com) ### Where does Nancy Mace’s amendment fit into this week? Nancy Mace, a Republican from South Carolina, said on May 20 that she had introduced a joint resolution for a constitutional amendment requiring members of Congress, federal judges and Senate-confirmed officers to be natural-born citizens. Her office said the proposal would extend a requirement now applied to the president and vice president. (nbcnews.com) Mace said the amendment would take effect for representatives and senators on January 3 of the first odd-numbered calendar year after ratification, and for federal judges and Senate-confirmed officers six months after ratification. Her office said the measure would need two-thirds approval in both chambers of Congress and ratification by three-fourths of state legislatures. (nbcnews.com) ### What comes next in the House fight? Pennsylvania’s election site said the May 19 results remained unofficial as counties continued tallying and reporting votes on May 21. The next step is certification by the Secretary of the Commonwealth, after which the nominees will turn fully to the November general election matchups in districts that both parties see as central to House control. (mace.house.gov) (electionreturns.pa.gov)