November 13, 2020
Election Update
Although Election Day was over a week ago, the results are still considered unofficial as mail-in and provisional ballots still need to be counted in some counties (mostly Allegheny and Philadelphia). However, it doesn’t appear much will change in terms of who controls the General Assembly in the 2021-2022 legislative session. All 203 state House seats and half of the 50-seat Senate were up for election this year, and despite the Democrats’ hopes of regaining a majority in at least one chamber, it appears that they may ultimately lose seats in both.
The current Senate is split 28 Republicans, 21 Democrats and 1 Independent. At this time, Senate Republicans flipped one seat previously held by a Democrat. In SD-37 (Allegheny), Devlin Robinson (R) defeated Sen. Pam Iovino (D). Conversely, Democrats picked up the SD-9 (Delaware) seat as John Kane (D) defeated Sen. Tom Killion (R). There is still one undecided race in SD-45 (Allegheny) where Sen. Jim Brewster (D) is facing Nicole Ziccarelli (R).
In the House, there were 110 Republicans and 93 Democrats. Currently, the Democrats flipped HD-152 (Montgomery), where Nancy Guenst (D) defeated Karen Houck (R). The seat was formerly held by Rep. Tom Murt (R). Republicans flipped HD-123 (Schuylkill), as Timothy Twardzik (R) defeated Peter Symons Jr. (D). The seat was formerly held by Rep. Neal Goodman (D). There were also three Democratic incumbents that were defeated by a Republican:
- HD-33 (Allegheny): Carrie Delrosso (R) defeated Rep. Frank Dermody (D) – current House Minority Leader
- HD-55 (Westmoreland): Jason Silvis (R) defeated Rep. Joe Petrarca (D)
- HD-143 (Bucks): Shelby Labs (R) defeated Rep. Wendy Ullman (D)
Additionally, the three statewide row office races were on the ballot. Republicans claimed two with Tim DeFoor (R) winning the Auditor General race and Stacy Garrity (R) unseating the incumbent Democratic Treasurer Joe Torsella. Democrat Josh Shapiro won his reelection race for Attorney General.
Furthermore, Pennsylvania’s 18 congressional seats were also on the ballot this year. Not one incumbent lost, meaning the state’s delegation will remain split, with nine Democrats and nine Republicans.
Below are the other new members of the General Assembly that will be sworn into office in 2021.
Open seats (incumbent not on the general election ballot)
- SD-19 (Chester): Carolyn Comitta (D) defeated Kevin Runey (R); retiring member: Sen. Andy Dinniman (D)
- SD-25 (Jefferson): Cris Dush (R) defeated Margaret Brown (D); retiring member: Sen. Joe Scarnati (R)
- HD-28 (Allegheny): Robert Mercuri (R) defeated Emily Skopov (D); vacancy created by the resignation of Rep. Mike Turzai (R)
- HD-36 (Allegheny): Jessica Benham (D) defeated Adrian Doyle (R); retiring member: Rep. Harry Readshaw (D)
- HD-38 (Allegheny): Nickolas Pisciottano (D) defeated Linda Book (R); retiring member: Rep. Bill Kortz (D)
- HD-66 (Jefferson): Brian Smith (R) won the primary election and did not have a general election opponent; Rep. Cris Dush (R) ran for Senate
- HD-75 (Clearfield): Michael Armanini (R) defeated Ryan Grimm (D); retiring member: Rep. Matt Gabler (R)
- HD-84 (Lycoming): Joseph Hamm (R) defeated Amanda Waldman (D); retiring member: Rep. Garth Everett (R)
- HD-86 (Perry): Perry Stambaugh (R) won the primary election and did not have a general election opponent; retiring member: Rep. Mark Keller (R)
- HD-125 (Schuylkill): Joseph Kerwin (R) won the primary election and did not have a general election opponent; retiring member: Rep. Mike Tobash (R)
- HD-127 (Berks): Manuel Guzman Jr. (D) defeated Vincent Gagliardo Jr. (R); retiring member: Rep. Tom Caltagirone (D)
- HD-131 (Lehigh): Milou Mackenzie (R) defeated Kevin Branco (D); retiring member: Rep. Justin Simmons (R)
- HD-138 (Northampton): Ann Flood (R) defeated Tara Zrinski (D); retiring member: Rep. Marcia Hahn (R)
- HD-147 (Montgomery): Tracy Pennycuick (R) defeated Jill Dennin (D); retiring member: Rep. Marcy Toepel (R)
- HD-154 (Montgomery): Napoleon Nelson Sr. (D) defeated Kathleen Bowers (R); retiring member: Rep. Stephen McCarter (D)
- HD-156 (Chester): Dianne Herrin (D) defeated Leonard Iacono (R); Rep. Carolyn Comitta (D) ran for Senate
- HD-160 (Delaware): Craig Williams (R) defeated Anton Andrew (D); retiring member: Rep. Stephen Barrar (R)
- HD-198 (Philadelphia): Darisha Parker (D) won the primary election and did not have a general election opponent; retiring member: Rep. Rosita Youngblood (D)
Incumbents that lost primary election
- SD-1 (Philadelphia): Sen. Larry Farnese (D) was defeated in the primary election by Nikil Saval (D). Saval did not have a general election opponent.
- SD-17 (Montgomery): Sen. Daylin Leach (D) was defeated in the primary election by Amanada Cappelletti (D). Cappelletti defeated Ellen Fisher (R) in the general election.
- HD-20 (Allegheny): Rep. Adam Ravenstahl (D) was defeated by Emily Kinkead (D) in the primary election. Kinkead did not have a general election opponent.
- HD-185 (Philadelphia): Rep. Maria Donatucci (D) was defeated in the primary election by Regina Young (D). Young did not have a general election opponent.
- HD-188 (Philadelphia): Rep. James Roebuck (D) was defeated in the primary election by Rick Krajewski (D). Krajewski did not have a general election opponent.
- HD-190 (Philadelphia): Rep. G. Roni Green (D) was defeated by Amen Brown (D) in the primary election. Brown defeated Wanda Logan (R) in the general election.
Official election results can be found on the Department of State website: https://www.electionreturns.pa.gov/
Weekly Wrap
While no votes took place this week, three of the four caucuses were in Harrisburg for 2021-2022 leadership elections. The Senate Democrats will choose their leadership at a later date.
House Republican Leadership
- Speaker-designee Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster).
- Leader Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre)
- Whip Donna Oberlander (R-Clarion)
- Appropriations Committee Chairman Stan Saylor (R-York)
- Policy Committee Chairman Martin Causer (R-McKean)
- Caucus Chairman Mike Reese (R-Westmoreland)
- Caucus Secretary Martina White (R-Philadelphia)
- Caucus Administrator Kurt Masser (R-Northumberland)
House Democratic Leadership
- Leader Joanna McClinton (D-Philadelphia)
- Whip Jordan Harris (D-Philadelphia)
- Appropriations Committee Chairman Matt Bradford (D-Montgomery)
- Policy Committee Chairman Ryan Bizzarro (R-Erie)
- Caucus Chairman Dan Miller (D-Allegheny)
- Caucus Secretary Tina Davis (D-Bucks)
- Caucus Administrator Mike Schlossberg (D-Lehigh)
Senate Republican Leadership
- President Pro Tempore Jake Corman (R-Centre)
- Leader Kim Ward (R-Westmoreland)
- Whip John Gordner (R-Columbia)
- Appropriations Committee Chairman Pat Browne (R-Lehigh)
- Caucus Chairman Bob Mensch (R-Montgomery)
- Caucus Secretary Ryan Aument (R-Lancaster)
The Week Ahead
Next week the House is scheduled to be in session Monday-Thursday. While the Senate recessed until the call of the President Pro Tempore, it’s expected they’ll be in session as well.
On Monday, the House Health Committee will consider H.R. 1087 (Klunk, R-York), which would direct the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct an audit of the data collection systems utilized by the Department of Health during the COVID-19 pandemic. The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee will consider S.B. 619 (Yaw, R-Lycoming), which would amend the Clean Streams Law by changing the definition of “pollution” and establishing a threshold of spill that would require reporting.
Tuesday, the House Human Services Committee will hold an informational meeting on Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) updates.
Numerous committee meetings should be added to the schedule, and a full list can be found here:
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