Lead
On , Democrat Jennifer Mazzocco captured the special election for Pennsylvania’s 42nd House District, a collection of South Hills suburbs, winning decisively over Republican Joseph Leckenby. With 100% of precincts reported, unofficial totals showed Mazzocco at 10,419 votes (81.7%) to Leckenby’s 2,330 (18.3%), and 36 write-ins (0.28%). The Associated Press called the race shortly before 9 p.m. after early mail-in returns made the margin clear. Mazzocco will fill the vacant seat left by Dan Miller and has said she intends to run for the full two-year term next year.
Key Takeaways
- Jennifer Mazzocco won the Feb. 24, 2026 special election for PA House District 42 with 10,419 votes (81.7%).
- Joseph Leckenby received 2,330 votes (18.3%); 36 ballots (0.28%) were write-ins.
- The Associated Press projected Mazzocco’s victory just before 9 p.m. after 45% of votes were reported.
- All precincts were reported by nightfall and results posted as unofficial pending certification.
- District 42 includes Baldwin Township, Castle Shannon, Dormont, Mt. Lebanon and part of Upper St. Clair — areas with a roughly 2:1 Democratic voter registration advantage.
- Mazzocco, a Pittsburgh Public Schools teacher and Dormont councilmember, emphasized door-to-door outreach and plans to seek the full term in 2026 primaries and the 2026 general election.
- Party leaders framed the result as part of a broader Democratic run of special-election successes since 2017, drawing national attention despite modest turnout locally.
Background
The 42nd District seat became vacant late last year after incumbent Dan Miller departed, triggering the special election on Feb. 24, 2026. The district tilts Democratic, anchored by deep-blue Mt. Lebanon; registration in many precincts favors Democrats by nearly two to one, shaping expectations entering the contest. Historically, Democrats have performed strongly on mail-in ballots in the area — a pattern that continued in this special election and was decisive when returns first began to post.
Special elections in Pennsylvania often attract focused local campaigns and can serve as early indicators of broader trends ahead of midterms. In 2024, Joseph Leckenby challenged Miller and lost the mail-in vote by roughly a 3-to-1 margin, a factor that underscored the uphill path Republicans faced this cycle. Both parties used the contest as a rehearsal for organization, messaging and turnout efforts that will matter in the 2026 statewide and federal races.
Main Event
Election night unfolded quickly in favor of Mazzocco after county officials released the first batch of mail-in totals shortly after polls closed at 8 p.m. Those early returns vaulted her to a multi-to-one lead that persisted as in-person precincts finished counting. By the time 100% of precincts were reported, unofficial totals showed a lopsided victory: 10,419 votes for Mazzocco to 2,330 for Leckenby.
Mazzocco credited intensive neighborhood outreach for the result, saying campaigns in parts of Baldwin Township and Castle Shannon helped expand her reach beyond Mt. Lebanon’s Democratic base. She told supporters that door-knocking and direct conversations about local issues produced the margin that carried her to the win. She will serve the remainder of Miller’s term through the end of the year and has already begun gathering petitions to seek the full two-year term in 2027.
The contest drew attention beyond the district because special-election outcomes have occasionally signaled momentum for national parties. Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin issued a statement framing the win as evidence of Democratic energy and a rebuke of current Republican policy priorities. Republicans did not overturn the strong mail-in advantage and party strategists acknowledged the structural hurdle presented by the district’s registration gap.
Analysis & Implications
Mazzocco’s broad margin reinforces the 42nd District’s Democratic lean and highlights the continuing strength of mail-in ballots for Democrats in suburban Allegheny County. Strategically, the result underscores the value of targeted, precinct-level outreach in an era where absentee and mail-in returns can determine outcomes early on election night. For Republicans, the loss illustrates the difficulty of closing registration gaps and converting localized hometown advantages into broad, cross-precinct gains.
Statewide, the win helps Democrats maintain a narrow edge in the Pennsylvania House. The immediate practical effect is limited — Mazzocco fills a seat for less than a year — but the symbolic impact matters for messaging and fundraising as both parties prepare for the 2026 cycle. If Democrats convert this and similar special-election momentum into organized voter contact and candidate recruitment, it could influence close races next year.
Conversely, the margin serves as a warning to Republicans about resource allocation: investing in mail-in outreach, registration drives and persistent local engagement will be necessary to contest suburban districts with entrenched Democratic registration. For Mazzocco, translating a special-election victory into a durable incumbency will depend on constituent services and visibility across precincts that are less naturally Democratic.
Comparison & Data
| Race | Candidate | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Special (PA-42) | Jennifer Mazzocco | 10,419 | 81.7% |
| 2026 Special (PA-42) | Joseph Leckenby | 2,330 | 18.3% |
| 2026 Special (PA-42) | Write-ins | 36 | 0.28% |
This table shows the unofficial returns reported Feb. 24, 2026. The early advantage came from mail-in ballots, a pattern consistent with the district’s recent history; in 2024 Leckenby lost the mail-in portion by about a 3-to-1 margin when he challenged then-incumbent Dan Miller. Those comparative figures emphasize the importance of absentee outreach and suggest similar dynamics will shape future contests in the region.
Reactions & Quotes
Local reaction mixed celebration of ground-level organizing with acknowledgement of the district’s partisan tilt. Campaign remarks and national party statements framed the result differently, highlighting both grassroots effort and broader political narratives.
“We knocked a ton of doors,”
Jennifer Mazzocco
Before and after that remark, Mazzocco emphasized listening to residents across the district and said she wanted the result to help set a constructive tone heading into 2026. Her campaign highlighted petition-gathering on election day and expressed confidence she will appear on the ballot for the full term next year.
“Donald Trump and Republicans’ out-of-touch, billionaires-first agenda leaves working families worse off than ever before — and Pennsylvanians have had enough,”
Ken Martin, DNC chair
Ken Martin’s statement framed the victory as part of a wider pattern of Democratic wins in recent special elections. Party officials used the result to underscore a message of momentum and to encourage donors and organizers to continue investing in down-ballot races.
Unconfirmed
- Official certification: county canvass and state certification had not been completed at the time of the returns; figures reported were unofficial.
- Ballot status for 2026 full term: Mazzocco said she was confident about filing petitions; her official placement on the 2026 primary ballot will be confirmed by election officials.
- Broader national impact: whether this single special-election result will materially change fundraising or strategic priorities for national parties remains subject to subsequent campaign decisions and is not yet determined.
Bottom Line
Jennifer Mazzocco’s commanding special-election victory in the 42nd District reinforces the Democratic advantage in this South Hills seat and reflects the continuing weight of mail-in ballots and localized voter contact. The win fills the vacancy left by Dan Miller and gives Mazzocco short-term incumbency and momentum heading toward the 2026 filing and primary season. For Republicans, the result signals the need for intensified registration and mail-in outreach to compete in similar suburban districts.
Looking ahead, the practical stakes are modest — a single seat filled for less than a year — but the political messaging and organizational lessons matter. Observers should watch whether Mazzocco converts her special-election success into a durable incumbency and whether either party adjusts strategy statewide in response to the pattern of special-election outcomes.
Sources
- WESA (local public radio reporting)