Updated: 5:17 PM EST Jan 12, 2021 A federal judge has upheld the election win of a Democratic state senator from western Pennsylvania. Incumbent Sen. Jim Brewster of Allegheny County won reelection in the 45th Senate District by 69 votes, but his Republican opponent challenged the results.U.S. District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan rejected the argument by Nicole Ziccarelli that Allegheny County was not justified in counting 311 mail-in ballots without a handwritten date. The county’s decision had been upheld by the state Supreme Court.Tuesday s ruling came a week after a fight broke out on the floor of the Senate when Republican leaders refused to seat Brewster.Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman said Brewster will be sworn in Wednesday morning.Corman released the following statement:“In his decision today, Judge Ranjan further clarified the proper handling of undated ballots and we will seat Jim Brewster as the Senator for the 45th Pennsylvania Senate District at 11a
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U.S. Rep. Fred Keller, R-Kreamer, voted against certifying the state electoral votes along with other House Republicans.
The House and Senate met Wednesday night and into the early morning hours of Thursday to fulfill their duties to count the electoral votes following violent protests at the nation’s capital.
Keller noted that while the violence was an attack on the democratic republic, Democrats and Republicans came together to carry out the Constitution for the people.
“My objection during last (Wednesday) night’s joint session was narrowly focused on the constitutional violations that occurred in Pennsylvania. Governor Wolf, Secretary of State Boockvar, and the Pennsylvania Supreme Court robbed the state Legislature’s clear constitutional authority to set election proceedings, and Attorney General Shapiro turned a blind eye.