Democrat Lindsay Powell won the open state House seat in a special election in Allegheny County, restoring a one-seat Democratic majority in the swing state.

Democrat Lindsay Powell, a nonprofit worker and former staffer for the city of Pittsburgh, won a special election Tuesday and gave her party control of the state House of Representatives, The Associated Press projected.

Powell triumphed in a Democratic-leaning district in Allegheny County vacated by former state Rep. Sara Innamorato. Innamorato left office to run for Allegheny County executive and will be the Democratic nominee for that office in the November general election.

Powell’s victory was expected due to the blue hue of the open district, but it’s still important because it tips the balance of power in the statehouse’s lower chamber back to Democrats, who will hold 102 seats after she is seated, compared to Republicans’ 101 seats.

Democrats won the state House majority in 2022 for the first time since 2010, running on maps that were drawn by a state court. But they soon lost full control over the chamber due to vacancies in three seats. In February, after three special elections in Allegheny County, Democrats took back the majority.

  • @jeffw
    10•1 year ago

    Not really a big deal. First, this was a super predictable election. If it hadn’t gone for the dems, it would’ve been a massive shock.

    Second, the PA Senate is dominated by the GOP. Luckily we’ve avoided the veto-proof majorities that they’ve held in the past, but they still possess a lot of power.