McClay Wins Pennsylvania House 121st District
Jessica McClay defeated Mike Harostock in the 121st District race, claiming the seat being vacated by longtime Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Jessica McClay won the Pennsylvania House 121st District race, receiving 9,240 votes or 58.14% to Mike Harostock's 6,652 votes or 41.86%. All 33 precincts reported full results in the unofficial tally reported Tuesday night.
Why it matters
McClay will succeed retiring longtime Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, bringing a new representative to the district in Pennsylvania's House. Her campaign centered on affordability, public school investment, and bringing back grant money rather than raising taxes.
McClay won 58.14% of the vote, or 9,240 ballots, against Harostock's 41.86% (6,652 votes) across all 33 precincts in the 121st District. The tally is unofficial, and certification is not addressed in the reporting.
The players
Jessica McClay
McClay is a Wilkes-Barre City Council member and former Fire Civil Service Board member who won the 121st District seat in the Pennsylvania House.
Mike Harostock
Harostock was McClay's opponent in the 121st District race and called her to offer congratulations after the results were reported.
Eddie Day Pashinski
Pashinski is the longtime Pennsylvania state representative who is retiring and whose seat McClay will assume.
The details
McClay, 52, was first sworn onto the Wilkes-Barre City Council in 2024 and previously served a decade on the Fire Civil Service Board, also sitting on the Planning Commission and Traffic Committee. Harostock called McClay to offer his congratulations after the results were reported.
Timeline
2024: McClay first sworn onto the Wilkes-Barre City Council.
October: McClay sat down with the Times Leader Editorial Board.
Tuesday night: Unofficial results reported and Harostock conceded by phone.
Political Context
McClay succeeds a longtime incumbent, marking a generational handoff in a seat Pashinski held for years. Her Wilkes-Barre council background and emphasis on affordability and school funding position her as the district's next representative.
As the 121st District's new state representative, McClay will influence state House votes affecting Pennsylvania residents in Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County and surrounding townships. Her campaign pledges on school investment and avoiding tax increases signal the policy priorities her constituents can expect to see.
The takeaway
A state House seat changing hands after a long incumbency can shift a district's priorities, so residents tracking school funding and tax policy should follow McClay's early votes in Harrisburg.
Further reading
For more on how state legislative races are decided, explore Elections coverage across Pennsylvania.
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