Democrats sweep Pennsylvania vote

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Democrats won control of the Pennsylvania House in special elections Tuesday, wresting partial power from Republicans for the first time in a dozen years in the competitive swing state.

Democrats won all three vacant Pittsburgh-area House seats to claim a 113-90 edge over Republicans. Republicans still hold the Senate.

The special elections capped several months of electoral drama. The chamber elected Democratic Rep. Mark Rozzi as speaker as the new session began Jan. 3, but it has been frozen since Rozzi took over and has not passed internal operating rules, assigned members to committees or approved any legislation.

Republicans had a 113-90 majority last year, but once-adecade redistricting and strong performance in statewide races helped Democrats flip just enough seats in the fall election to control the House.

However, three of those seats became vacant after Rep. Tony DeLuca died of cancer and two others resigned after winning higher office. Rep. Summer Lee resigned after winning a U.S. congressional election and Rep. Austin Davis quit before being sworn in as lieutenant governor.

DeLuca’s former seat was won by Joe McAndrew, former executive director of Allegheny County’s Democratic committee. Lee’s former seat was won by Abigail Salisbury, a Democratic member of the Swissvale Borough Council. Matthew Gergely, a Democrat who works for the McKeesport city government, was elected to succeed Davis.

When the newly elected lawmakers take office, the House may still be one member short of its full complement. Republicans say Rep. Lynda Schlegel Culver, R-Northumberland, won a special election last month to fill a vacant state Senate seat.