For the first time since 2019, Democrats will hold the majority on Luzerne County Council — a comeback years in the making and one that signals the region’s political pendulum swinging back, at least for now.
According to unofficial results, Democrats flipped four of the five seats on the ballot Tuesday, giving them an 8–3 majority when the new members take office in January. It’s the first time in six years they’ve controlled the council.
Denise Williams led the ticket with 38,280 votes, followed by Republican incumbent John Lombardo at 37,374. Rounding out the winners were Steven Coslett with 36,053, Chris Belles with 35,986, and Dawn Simmons with 34,478. Falling short were Democrat Tony Perzia and Republicans Jackie Scarcella, Brian Thornton, Stephen J. Urban, and Greg Wolovich. Thornton and Wolovich were incumbents seeking second terms. Lombardo was the only incumbent to survive the night.
Democrats only needed two wins to retake the majority. They got four. Four years ago, Republicans swept all five open seats and controlled council 10–1. Democrats were nearly wiped off the map. That lopsided majority defined county government for the past several years, marked by infighting, resignations, and a budget process that left taxpayers frustrated. Now, the pendulum has swung back. Democrats will enter 2026 with a commanding 8–3 edge.
County Democratic Chairman Thomas Shubilla called it a sign of persistence. “Four years ago was a real wake-up call for a lot of people to really focus our time and efforts,” he said. “We’re still in the fight and out there winning elections with good candidates and hard work.”
Denise Williams, 63, of Kingston Township, topped the field. A retired resident and former chair of the county election board, Williams has been a visible advocate for election integrity and civic engagement. Steven Coslett, 56, of Forty Fort, retired last year as a corrections officer. Chris Belles, 39, of West Pittston, works as a data analyst. Dawn Simmons, 55, a U.S. Air Force veteran and real estate agent from Wilkes-Barre, ran on a platform of service and accountability. Tony Perzia, 75, was the lone Democrat not to win a seat. He’s a retired custodian and longtime Luzerne Borough council member. Lombardo, 32, of Pittston, a firefighter and EMT, remains the only Republican in the winners’ circle — and will soon lead a much smaller minority caucus.
Luzerne County Council members are part-time legislators paid $8,000 per year, with the chair earning $10,500. The body approves the county’s annual budget and oversees the appointed county manager, who runs the executive branch. Current manager Romilda Crocamo has proposed a $381.1 million budget for 2026 that includes a 1.9 percent property tax increase. Council must approve or amend it by December 15, meaning the outgoing Republican majority still gets one last say before the new council takes over in January. That may be where the tension starts — and where the new majority finds out that campaigning is easier than governing.
Voter turnout was 38 percent, with more than 78,000 ballots cast and another 23,000 mail ballots counted. It’s the strongest midterm participation the county has seen since before the pandemic. This election also fits into a broader pattern across Pennsylvania — Democrats making local gains in the early months of Trump’s second term. For Luzerne County, long viewed as part of the GOP’s growing stronghold in the northeast, Tuesday’s result was a reminder that nothing here stays fixed for long.
When the new council convenes in January, Lombardo will likely lose the gavel, and Democrats will have their first chance in years to prove they can govern as effectively as they campaigned. The voters have spoken — not with enthusiasm, but with intention. They’ve seen what one side can do. Now they’re giving the other a turn.
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