Democrats restored their 102-seat majority in the Pennsylvania House by winning special elections in Allegheny and Lehigh counties on Tuesday.
Allentown School Board member Ana Tiburcio defeated Republican former 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 from the House to take office as Lehigh County executive.
Dormont Borough Councilwoman Jen Mazzocco won nearly 82% of the vote against Republican Joseph Leckenby in the 42nd District. Democrat Dan Miller resigned from the post after winning an Allegheny Common Pleas Court seat last year.
Tuesday’s elections were the 13th time House Democrats have defended their “humble majority,” in the words of caucus Leader Matt Bradford (D-Montgomery), since winning control of the chamber for the first time in 12 years in 2022.
Three vacancies remain in the House, all seats previously held by Republicans, making the partisan divide 102-98, until they are filled.
Speaker Joanna McClinton (D-Philadelphia) has also scheduled elections on March 17 to fill the unexpired terms of former Reps. Louis Schmitt (R-Blair) and Toren Ecker (R-Adams). A special election to fill former Rep. Seth Grove’s seat (R-York) is scheduled to coincide with the May 19 primary election.
In the 79th District, where Schmitt resigned to be sworn in as a Blair County Common Pleas Court judge, Republican Andrea C. Verobish of Duncansville will face Democrat Caleb McCoy of Altoona. Verobish is a field representative for U.S. Rep. G.T. Thompson (R-15th District). McCoy is a registered nurse and an Army National Guard veteran.
Ecker resigned from his 193rd District seat after being elected judge on the Adams County Court of Common Pleas. Republican Catherine Wallen of York Springs, a small business owner and former staffer in Ecker’s office, will face Democrat Todd Crawley of Shippensburg Township. Crawley works as a public and environmental health and safety expert.
Grove resigned Jan. 31 after taking a job leading a trade group, but said his resignation was unrelated. Republican George Margetas, a York attorney, is the only candidate listed for the 196th District special election in May, although prospective candidates have until March 30 to file nominating papers.
Source: PA Capital-Star