With more than two dozen House of Representatives candidates undecided as of Wednesday afternoon, Democrats projected they would take control of the lower house of the General Assembly.
House Democratic leaders said their confidence in the projections was boosted by wins in unexpected districts, Democrats’ trend of still counting absentee ballots and competing districts created in last year’s redistricting process.
“We just needed honest maps. And when you have fair maps, Democrats win,” said Rep. Jordan Harris of Philadelphia, the Democratic whip. “And that’s what you saw on Election Day. And that way we can confidently predict that Democrats in the House of Representatives will win a majority.”
The Associated Press has not called the House in the race that will decide control of the 203-member chamber. The Republican caucus, which has controlled the House since 1994 except for the Democratic interregnum from 2007 to 2010, could lose as many as a dozen seats based on races Democrats had already won or were holding as of Wednesday afternoon.
If the predictions are correct, Rep. Joanna McClinton of Philadelphia, who is currently minority leader, will become the first woman elected speaker of the House.
“Pennsylvania voters overwhelmingly rejected fear. Pennsylvania voters overwhelmingly rejected hate. “Pennsylvania voters overwhelmingly rejected apportionment,” McClinton said. “And the fact that it’s happening here, in the birthplace of our nation and our democracy, is more than symbolic that we will finally have a woman with a hammer in Pennsylvania.”
McClinton said Democratic control of the chamber will have a significant impact on Democratic Gov.-elect Josh Shapiro’s ability to advance his agenda and enact policy over the next two years.
While Republicans will have control of the state Senate, it will be a smaller majority than last session, and Democratic control of the House would give Shapiro an advantage in negotiations with the General Assembly.
Democratic successes included victories in many newly created districts, including Allegheny County’s 30th Legislative District, where, according to unofficial records, political newcomer Dr. Arvind Venkat defeated former Republican County Council member Cynthia Kirk by an 11-point margin.
Unofficial records show that in the 33rd Legislative District, Democrat Mandy Steele defeated Republican Ted Tomson by 9 points in the race to represent the economically diverse suburbs of Allegheny County, seen as a combative Democratic race.
Democrat Paul Takac Jr. in Center County’s newly created 82nd District, according to unofficial results. he defeated Republican Justin Behrens by a 12-point margin.
However, not all of the districts drawn were considered competitive, but Democrats won decisively.
Unofficial records show that in the 142nd District, where longtime state Republican Frank Farry ran for state Senate this year, at the time of publication, Republican Joe Hogan and Democrat Mark Moffa were split by two votes.
