House Democrats fire director of campaign committee over money mismanagement
The executive director of the Pennsylvania House Democratic Campaign Committee was dismissed this week after it was discovered during audits that proper financial procedures had not been followed.
Trevor Southerland served in that post with the caucus’ fundraising organization since May 2021. He helped lead the House Democrats’ effort to capture majority control of that chamber for the first time in a dozen years by flipping 12 seats that had been under Republican control.
Adam Bonin, lawyer for the HDCC, said in a statement, “For several months, HDCC leadership has worked to tighten internal controls and improve record keeping to ensure full and complete compliance with all applicable campaign finance laws. A comprehensive campaign compliance audit is underway to ensure that all reports of the committee are accurate, complete, and in full compliance.”
Bonin declined to say if law enforcement has been contacted about the situation or how much money was involved.
The HDCC’s success continued this year by winning in four special elections to fill vacant seats representing parts of Allegheny County — one of them held this week — to hold onto its 102-101 seat majority.
An attempt to reach Southerland for comment Thursday morning was unsuccessful.
An attempt to reach Rep. Tina Davis, D-Bucks County, for comment was not successful. Davis was named chair of the caucus’ campaign committee for the 2024 election cycle in July. She succeeds Rep. Leanne Krueger, D-Delaware County, who chaired the HDCC since 2019.
Krueger referred questions on the matter to Bonin, saying it is a human resources matter.
Southerland came to work for the HDCC after helping the Democrats gain majority control of the Virginia House of Delegates in 2019 for a two-year stint before the chamber returned to Republican hands in 2021. Before that, he worked in Democratic politics in several states including Michigan and Georgia, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Bonin brushed off concerns that this personnel matter might affect Democrats’ ability to hold on to its majority control in the Pennsylvania House next year when all 203 seats are up for election.
“Our biggest strength is our members and our message and that’s what we’re going to campaign on next year to retain and expand our majority,” he said.