Republicans in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives have turned to a lawmaker from rural Bedford County to be their floor leader for the coming two-year session.

Democrats had hoped to make a long-shot effort to flip the upper chamber, with Gov. Josh Shapiro endorsing just enough candidates to bring the Senate to an even split. But Republicans successfully fended off their challenges.

The former hedge-fund manager’s victory over Democratic incumbent Bob Casey brings the GOP total to 53 seats.

Republicans knocked off Democrats in two perennially contested U.S. House seats in eastern Pennsylvania while U.S. Rep. Scott Perry, one of the hardest right members of the chamber, survived a challenge in a southern Pennsylvania district with more moderate politics.

President-elect Donald Trump's Republican Party will control both houses of Congress when he takes office in January, Decision Desk HQ projected on Monday, enabling him to push an agenda of slashing taxes and shrinking the federal government.

Votes are still being counted in key U.S. House races, but according to CBS News projections, it looks like President-elect Donald Trump will take office with the Republicans holding majorities in both chambers of Congress.

The Republican Party is set to win a majority in the House of Representatives, giving Donald Trump effective control of both houses of Congress when he takes office in January.