Pennsylvania House Majority Battle: Special Elections Scheduled?

December 15, 2022

Pennsylvania House Majority Battle: Special Elections Scheduled?

When we went to press, the battle over which party could claim the Majority in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives as well as who currently has the power to schedule special elections for the three vacant positions in the chamber remained ongoing. As we previously reported, Democrats won 102 seats while Republicans won 101 in November. However, three of the seats won by the Democrats are now vacant due to two members, Austin Davis (incoming Lieutenant Governor) and Summer Lee (incoming member of Congress), winning election to other offices and longtime state Representative Anthony DeLuca winning reelection to his seat despite passing away in October. Some say this results in the Republican party retaining control of the chamber for the first several months of the new session with its 101-99 majority, while it is anticipated that the Democrats will assume control after the special elections mentioned above. In the meantime, House Democrats have elected and sworn in Representative Joanna McClinton (D-Philadelphia) to serve as House Majority Leader. McClinton then scheduled special elections for February 7th to fill the three vacant House seats. In response, Republican leaders have said that McClinton had no right to schedule the special elections and have sworn in Representative Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) as majority leader. Additionally, and before the 2021-22 two-year legislative session ended in November, then current House Speaker Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) called a special election for February 7th to fill the vacant House 32^nd District seat, the seat held by the late Representative Ton DeLuca (D-Allegheny). As the fight over who has the power to call special elections rolls on, we anticipate an even bigger showdown to take place on January 3rd when lawmakers are sworn into office and the 2023-24 legislative session begins. Typically, this is also the day where the entire chamber elects a new speaker, who we should point out has the power to moderate floor debate, call up bills for votes, name committee chairs, and schedule special elections.

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State:

Pennsylvania

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