Republican control of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives has been lost.
According to Spotlight Pennsylvania, Democrats earned a one-vote majority in the chamber on Tuesday after resounding victory in three special elections in Allegheny County.
According to Fox News, the victories give Democrats their first majority in the Pennsylvania House in twelve years.
The Tuesday elections concluded a post-midterm era in which the chamber’s ruling party remained unknown.
Republicans lost 12 seats in the House in the midterm elections, reducing their 113-89 advantage to a near deadlock.
According to The New York Times, it looked as though Democrats had already clinched a majority in November, only for the death of one legislator and the resignations of two more to complicate the final outcome of the state house elections.
Democrats were elected to replace lawmakers who resigned in special elections.
Important news last night: Pennsylvania Dems won three special elections for the PA House, all to fill vacancies for seats they’d won in November.
As a result, Dems retake a 102/101 edge in the state House.
(Question now is if Dems move to make their preferred leader Speaker.)
— Taniel (@Taniel) February 8, 2023
Democrats easily swept the three empty state legislature seats in special elections, cruising to victories in seats in the Pittsburgh metro region.
Following the special elections, Joe McAndrew, Abigail Salisbury, and Matt Gergely will be seated.
According to Fox News, the victories might pave the way for a push to oust the independent-leaning speaker of the Pennsylvania House.
Republicans struck an agreement with Democrats to install Rep. Mark Rozzi as speaker, only for progressives in the chamber to become dissatisfied with his leadership.
new: Pennsylvania's House Speaker Mark Rozzi signaled for the first time that he would consider stepping down, after lawmakers pass long-awaited justice measures for victims of childhood sexual abuse.
https://t.co/cJ8fCfGbLa— Gillian McGoldrick (@gill_mcgoldrick) February 8, 2023
The special elections bring to a close a midterm election that was disastrous for Pennsylvania Republicans.
Republicans lost a U.S. Senate seat held by a retiring Republican incumbent and were soundly defeated in the state’s governor race.
Democrats now control both U.S. Senate seats in Pennsylvania, as well as the state legislature and the governor’s office.
Republicans have a razor-thin majority in the Pennsylvania State Senate.