Pa. House: Democrat holds lead in pivotal race

Democrat Melissa Cerrato has taken the lead in the pivotal 151st District seat, leaving Pennsylvania House Democrats in Harrisburg on the cusp of claiming a majority for the first time since 2010.

With all ballots counted except for 59 provisional ballots that will be considered by the Montgomery County Board of Elections on Friday, Ms. Cerrato had 16,761 votes, to incumbent Rep. Todd

Stephens’ 16,724.

That’s a tall order for Mr. Stephens to overcome, because he would have to prevail by a 4-1 margin to make up that difference, even if every provisional vote was counted. There may be some follow-up court challenges to county officials’ decisions.

If Ms. Cerrato’s lead holds, she would be the nominal 102nd seat for the House Democrats, with

Republicans holding 101.

The thornier problem for Democrats may be actually making their majority count.

One of their elected members, Rep. Tony DeLuca, D-Penn Hills, died in October; and a second, Rep. Summer Lee, D- Swissvale, is scheduled to be sworn into Congress on Jan. 3 after winning her race for a U.S. House seat on Nov. 8. That same Jan. 3 date is when the Pennsylvania House is scheduled to convene for swearing-In ceremonies and the election of the speaker.

So even if current results hold, Republicans could have more voting members on the floor — 101 — during the first few months of the legislative session, until replacements for DeLuca, Ms. Lee and Rep. Austin Davis, D-McKeesport, who will become lieutenant governor later in January, are elected.

Adding to the Democrats’ problems, dates for the special elections can’t be held until March, since the vacancies technically aren’t occurring until the new Legislature is seated in January. Then, state law requires a 60-day window for parties to select candidates and a condensed campaign.

It is likely that Democrats will win those seats back; all of the districts, based in Allegheny County, are considered safe seats based on past voter performance.

Democratic staff could not be reached for comment on their plans.

House Republicans, meanwhile, still weren’t ready to concede their majority Wednesday.

“It’s very important, we’ve said all along, that the votes need to be counted and that’s what we’re going to do,” said current House Speaker Bryan Cutler, R-Lancaster. “And then, we’ll make an appropriate statement at that time.”

Republican Joe Hogan emerged Wednesday with a lead for a still-undecided state House seat in Bucks County after counting of all remaining approved provisional and flagged mail-in ballots.