Pennsylvania State Representatives Donna Bullock and Stephen Kinsey Resign

Two Philadelphia state House representatives — Donna Bullock and Stephen Kinsey — resigned this week, leaving Democrats once again in the minority in the House of Representatives shortly before the end of the legislative session.

Bullock, who has represented her North Philadelphia district since 2015, and Kinsey, who has represented her Northwest Philly district since 2013, resigned on Monday and Tuesday, respectively, according to a spokeswoman for state House Speaker Joanna McClinton.

Bullock suggested last month that she would leave the House after the state budget is completed, having been named CEO of the nationally renowned homelessness nonprofit Project HOME. Kinsey also previously announced that he would not seek reelection, hoping to work in Philadelphia and spend more time with his family.

Although the vacancies eliminate Democrats’ one-seat majority in the House and leave Republicans with a slim majority in the House, the timing of the resignations was strategic for Democrats, as lawmakers began their summer recess after approving the state budget last week. Neither the state House nor the Senate are scheduled to return to Harrisburg until mid-September.

A special election will be held Sept. 17 to fill the vacancies, according to an election order signed by McClinton. Kinsey and Bullock’s districts are in blue strongholds and are expected to remain in Democratic control.

Bullock’s seat is open because she initially ran for re-election. At least three people — two district leaders and one of Bullock’s top staffers — have been rumored to be considering entering the race since last month, following news of Bullock’s fresh job at Project HOME.

Because Kinsey has already announced he will not seek reelection, voters have already selected a Democratic candidate to replace him: Andre Carroll, a 33-year-old Germantown resident who is challenging Kinsey in the 2022 primary. (Kinsey has said he will talk to candidates who would like to run in the runoff election, but he conceded that Carroll has an advantage as the Democratic candidate in the November election.)

In Bullock’s district, precinct leaders will be responsible for selecting a candidate to run in the September special election and the November ballot. Precinct leaders in Kinsey’s Northwest Philly district will select only those to run in the September special election, though they will likely nominate Carroll to fill the seat sooner.

The legislative session ends in November, meaning those elected to fill vacancies in September will serve for less than two months.

Kinsey, chairman of the House Human Services Committee, said he was considering choosing between two service-sector jobs outside state government.

“It’s been a wonderful journey these past 12 years,” Kinsey said. “The people I serve are family, and you don’t just abandon family.”

“I had to leave, but on the other hand, I’m not leaving my family. I’m still in the community. My family will just get bigger,” he added.

Democrats have had to defend their one-seat majority in numerous by-elections over the past year and a half.

State lawmakers from both parties will spend the summer campaigning, as all 203 House seats are up for election in November. Democrats hope to defend and expand their majority, while Republicans hope to regain control of the House.

Jason Gottesman, press secretary for House Minority Leader Bryan Cutler (R., Lancaster), criticized Democrats for holding the special election just seven weeks before candidates are due to appear on the ballot again in November.

“Given that these members will only serve a limited number of weeks before the general election, the only need for this costly special election at such a late date is so that House Democrats can continue to gerrymander House members’ constituencies,” Gottesman said in a statement. “We trust the people of Pennsylvania to hold House Democrats accountable for their continued political gamesmanship and open partisanship in November.”