The Democratic Party will maintain a slim majority in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives after a special election held yesterday in Allegheny County.
The election was for the vacant state house seat in the 21st district, and that race was won by Democrat Lindsey Powell. The special election was held to find someone to take over for Sara Innamorato, who stepped down in July to focus on her campaign for Allegheny County Executive. In beating Republican candidate Erin Connelly Autenreith, she gives the Democratic Party a 102-101 majority in the state house, which gives the party control of the floor calendar, deciding what bills come up for committee, which bills will receive a vote, and which bills can go to Governor Josh Shapiro’s desk for his signature.
State representative Jim Struzzi is happy that the election is over, and that State House will return to work next week.
Since Innamorato’s resignation in July, the state house has not been in session, even though work is still needed to complete the budget process. Powell is expected to join lawmakers in the house next week, but her win may not be certified until next month.
