Tuesday’s election marked the 13th time House Democrats have maintained their majority since winning control of the chamber for the first time in 12 years in 2022. (Photo by Peter Hall/Pennsylvania Capital-Star)
Democrats restored a 102-seat majority in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives by winning special elections in Allegheny and Lehigh counties on Tuesday.
Allentown School Board member Ana Tiburcio defeated former Republican school board member Robert E. Smith Jr. in the 22nd Legislative District election. She won more than 67% of the vote and will replace Democrat Joshua Siegel, who resigned his House seat to become Lehigh County executive.
Dormont Borough Councilwoman Jen Mazzocco won nearly 82% of the vote against Republican Joseph Leckenby in the 42nd Ward. Democrat Dan Miller resigned after winning a seat on Allegheny Common Pleas Court last year.
There were Tuesday’s elections 13th time House Democrats have been defending their “modest majority,” caucus leader Matt Bradford (D-Montgomery) said, since winning control of the chamber for the first time in 12 years in 2022.
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Three vacancies remain in the House, with all of the seats previously held by Republicans, leaving them with a 102-98 partisan split until they are filled.
Speaker Joanna McClinton (Philadelphia) also scheduled a March 17 election to fill the unexpired terms of former Reps. Louis Schmitt (R-Blair) and Toren Ecker (R-Adams). The special election to fill former Rep. Seth Grove’s (R-York) seat coincides with the May 19 primary election.
In the 79th District, where Schmitt resigned to take the oath of office as a Blair County Common Pleas Court judge, Republican Andrea C. Verobish of Duncansville will face Democrat Caleb McCoy of Altoona. Verobish is the field representative for the U.S. Rep. GT Thompson (R-15 District). McCoy is a registered nurse and National Guard veteran.
Ecker resigned from his 193rd District seat after being elected judge of the Adams County Court of Common Pleas. Republican Catherine Wallen of York Springs, a diminutive business owner and former employee in Ecker’s office, will face Democrat Todd Crawley of Shippensburg Township. Crawley works as an expert in public health, safety and the environment.
Grove resigned on Jan. 31 after accepting the job lead a sales groupbut said his resignation was unrelated. Republican George Margetas, a York attorney, is the only candidate listed in the May special election for the 196th District, although potential candidates have until March 30 to file nomination papers.
