Candidates who won in Franklin County lost in Pennsylvania

Democrat Josh Shapiro won big statewide to become Pennsylvania's governor-elect, but Republican Doug Mastriano won his home county in a landslide.

Mastriano, a conservative state senator representing the eastern half of Franklin County who became one of the most controversial politicians in the country during the campaign, won 65.57% of the vote in the county. According to the unofficial results, including mail-in and absentee ballots, Mastriano received 42,526 votes to Shapiro's 21,193.

Mastriano won most of the county's 73 precincts. Shapiro, currently Pennsylvania's attorney general, won six of the nine precincts in the Borough of Chambersburg and West End Shippensburg.

Statewide, Shapiro was winning 55.8% of the vote Wednesday afternoon, with 94% of precincts reporting and mail-in votes still being counted in some areas. While Mastriano won the most counties, Shapiro won the more populous, left-leaning areas. Nearby, the governor-elect won Cumberland County.

Franklin County's chosen candidate for U.S. senator also lost the statewide race.

Republican Mehmet Oz won 68.2% of Franklin County votes, beating Democrat John Fetterman by 26,276 votes. Fetterman won three of the county's 73 precincts, all within the Borough of Chambersburg.

Statewide the Senate race was tighter than the governor's race. Fetterman clinched the race, and by Wednesday afternoon won 50.5% of votes.

Former President Donald Trump endorsed both Mastriano and Oz.

Irvin wins in new 81st District

There was only one contested Franklin County race in this election. In the 81st Legislative District, Republican Rich Irvin beat Democrat Ian Kidd with more than 78% of the vote.

Irvin was an incumbent, but the boundaries of his district changed and now cover part of Franklin County. It includes Fannett, Letterkenny, Lurgan, Metal, Southampton and St. Thomas townships and the boroughs of Orrstown and Shippensburg's West End, as well as part of Huntingdon County.

State representatives Rob Kauffman, 89th Legislative District, and Paul Schemel of the 90th Legislative District ran unopposed.

Turnout was high

Just over 65% of the county's 99,955 registered voters cast ballots, according to the unofficial results. That's the highest turnout for a midterm election in the county going back to at least 2010, the oldest midterm results available on the county website. In 2018, turnout was about 59%.

The 2016 and 2020 presidential elections had turnouts of 76.31% and 80.42%, respectively.

There were 10,680 votes cast by mail-in and absentee ballots, according to a report on the county elections website. The county had sent ballots to 11,828 people who requested them.

Democratic voters returned 5,625 mail-in and absentee ballots, while Republicans submitted 3,932. Independents and members of other parties returned 1,123 ballots.

Amber South can be reached at asouth@publicopinionnews.com.