Pennsylvania House Republicans made a change in their leadership on Tuesday, electing Rep. Jesse Topper (R-Bedford) as minority party leader for the next session. While press conference On Tuesday night in Harrisburg, Topper introduced the rest of the party’s leadership and said the caucus would be focused on getting Pennsylvania back to work.
“We know that last Tuesday’s election results in Pennsylvania were quite mixed for the people you see before you at the statewide level,” Topper said. “I think we saw a victory for Republicans whose message promoted common-sense conversations with Pennsylvanians about where they were in their lives. Unfortunately, we are still in the minority. We acknowledge that, but we also acknowledge that this message resonates beyond just Pennsylvanians across the country. People don’t have enough money in their pockets.”
Despite an Election Day red wave that resulted in Republicans being elected to all three statewide government positions and adding two Republicans to Pennsylvania’s House delegation, the party was unable to gain a majority in the state House as Democrats maintained a one-seat advantage. In 2022, Democrats won a majority in the House of Representatives for the first time in 12 years.
Topper was first elected to his 78th District seat in 2014 and is currently serving his fifth term. During the 2023–2024 session, he served as the Republican chairman of the House Education Committee.
Outgoing House Republican Leader Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) wished Topper well in a statement Tuesday.
“His success means the Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus and the citizens of the Commonwealth will be better positioned to achieve their own goals,” Cutler said.
In addition to Topper, Rep. Tim O’Neal (R-Washington) was also elected as a GOP member; Rep. Jim Struzzi (R-Indiana) as Appropriations Chairman; The club’s president will be Rep. Martina White (Philadelphia); Rep. Clint Owlett (R-Tioga/Bradford) will be club secretary; Rep. Sheryl Delozier (R-Cumberland) will be the caucus administrator, and Rep. David Rowe (R-Snyder/Union/Mifflin/Juniata) will be chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee.
The House Democratic Caucus announced Tuesday that Republican Matt Bradford (R-Montgomery) will remain majority leader and House Speaker Joanna McClinton (R-Philadelphia) will remain in that position.
Rep. Mike Schlossberg (D-Lehigh) will take over as party member from Rep. Dan Miller (D-Allegheny), and Rep. Rob Matzie (D-Allegheny) will replace Schlossberg as caucus chair. All other roles will remain unchanged, with Rep. Tina Davis (D-Bucks) as caucus secretary, Rep. Leanne Kruger (D-Delaware) as caucus administrator, Rep. Ryan Bizzarro (D-Erie) as policy chair, and Rep. Jordan Harris (D-Philadelphia) ) as Appropriations Chairman.
The House has its final session scheduled for Wednesday, but no further dates are scheduled after that.
