HARRISBURG — Democrats in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives are likely to make significant gains in the chamber, and some even see hope they could retake the majority once smoke clears from the Tuesday election they began with a 23-seat gap behind the Republicans.
With vote counting still underway, Democrats were facing a couple of potential losses in Western Pennsylvania and one in Wilkes-Barre, while Republicans were trailing in key races outside Philadelphia and others near Harrisburg, the Poconos and the Pittsburgh area.
Democratic House leaders said at a Wednesday news conference in Philadelphia that their survey of county election results and analysis of how uncounted mail-in and provisional ballots are likely to shake out gave them confidence they will return to the majority for the first time in 12 years.
“Here, in the birthplace of our nation, in the birthplace of our democracy, it is much more than symbolic that we will finally have a woman that has the gavel in the Pennsylvania House,” said Minority Leader Joanna McClinton, D-Philadelphia, in line to become speaker if her party’s predictions are correct.
Republicans hold the chamber 113-90, so Democrats would need a net pickup of 12 to retake the majority for the first time in 12 years. House Republican spokesperson Jason Gottesman cast doubt on Ms. McClinton’s prediction.
“We believe the Democrats claiming the majority at this time is premature, and we’re continuing to monitor several close races across the commonwealth,” Mr. Gottesman said.
More favorable district maps and wins by Democrats in high-profile races for governor and U.S. Senate, along with Republican retirements, contributed to the shift.
“Redistricting had an effect, but I mean the biggest thing was having fair districts,” said Trevor Southerland, executive director of the House Democratic Campaign Committee. “Pennsylvania, it’s a purple state and everybody knows that. It’s absurd to think our state House shouldn’t be competitive, and it was very competitive last night.”
With more members in the House, the GOP had more targets to defend. The state Senate is expected to remain in Republican control by a 28-22 count.
Democrats won three House races in Allegheny County districts in which their candidates are not expected to serve. State Rep. Summer Lee, D-Swissvale, was unopposed for another term in the 34th House District, but was also elected Tuesday to Congress in the 12th District. Rep. Austin Davis, D-McKeesport, won re-election in the House 35th District, but was also elected lieutenant governor, on the ticket with Attorney General Josh Shapiro. And Rep. Tony Deluca in the House 32nd House District easily won another term a month after his death from cancer.
Democratic leaders said Ms. Lee and Mr. Davis will be available to vote at the very start of the 2023-24 session in January, helping their party take over. It will be up to the House speaker to schedule special elections to fill those vacancies next year.
Rep. Chris Sainato conceded his race in the Lawrence County district he has represented in Harrisburg for 28 years.
A Democratic House majority would be a major boost to Mr. Shapiro. House Democrats said they would stick together to maintain a governing majority even if it’s narrow, pointing to their repeated votes to uphold vetoes of GOP bills during eight years under outgoing Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf.
Rep. Matt Bradford, of Montgomery County, the ranking Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, said at the news conference that a priority will be to give counties more advance time to start processing mail-in ballots before elections.
Majority status would also give Democrats greater leverage in dividing up billions in budget surplus, stimulus money and reserves, and would allow them to block five constitutional amendments that legislative Republicans have positioned for final votes early next year that could put them before voters in the May primary.
Over in the state Senate, no incumbents lost in Tuesday, but there will be plenty of new faces next year regardless — due to retirements and Sen. Pat Browne’s loss in the Republican primary.
The five departing Republican senators will all be succeeded by other Republicans. Sen. John Yudichak, an independent, didn’t seek re-election and his 14th District was shifted to the Lehigh Valley in redistricting. Democrat Nicholas Miller won the 14th District Senate race defeating Republican Dean Browning.
In Western Pennsylvania races, Lindsey Williams, D-West View, defeated state Rep. Lori Mizgorski, R-Shaler, in the 38th District. Democrats stand to pick up Ms. Mizgorski’s House seat, as well —- Democrat Arvind Venkat defeated Republican Cynthia Kirk in the 30th District, now represented by Ms. Mizgorski.
And Sen. Wayne Fontana, D-Brookline, ran unopposed in the 42nd District.
First Published: November 9, 2022, 10:23 p.m.
