On Feb. 7, 2023, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives held elections to fill vacancies in Districts 32, 34, and 35.
The districts opened up following the Nov. 8, 2022, elections when one incumbent died and the other two were elected to different offices.
- In District 32, Joe McAndrew (D) defeated Clay Walker (R). McAndrew is a former director of the Allegheny Democratic Committee. Walker is an Army veteran and, at the time of the election, a pastor. Incumbent Anthony DeLuca (D) died on Oct. 9, 2022. His name remained on the ballot, and he was re-elected, creating a vacancy on Jan. 3, 2023, when members were sworn in.
- In District 34, Abigail Salisbury (D) defeated Robert Pagane (R). Salisbury ran her own practice and was previously a law professor. Pagane is a former law enforcement officer. Incumbent Summer Lee (D) won re-election but also won election to represent Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District. Lee resigned on Dec. 7, 2022, in preparation for the office change.
- In District 35, Matthew Gergely (D) defeated Don Nevills (R). At the time of the election, Gergely served as the McKeesport chief finance officer. Before that, Gergely served as a McKeesport school board member. At the time of the election, Nevills owned and operated a tattoo parlor and candy shop. Incumbent Austin Davis (D) won re-election but also won election as Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania. Davis resigned on Dec. 7, 2022, in preparation for the office change.
Democrats won a 102 to 101 majority in the chamber on Nov. 8, 2022, giving them majority control for the first time since 2010. However, Republicans gained a functional 101-99 majority when the legislative session began in early January because of the vacancies in Districts 32, 34, and 35.
When McAndrew, Salisbury, and Gergely are sworn in, House Democrats will have a 102-100 majority (with one vacancy).
The timing of the elections was the subject of a legal dispute. Under Pennsylvania law, the majority leader schedules state legislative special elections. In December 2022, Democrat Joanna McClinton scheduled the three special elections for February 7. McClinton said she was sworn in as majority leader on Dec. 7 on the grounds that Democrats won more districts on Election Day. Republican Bryan Cutler said McClinton’s swearing-in was not legitimate because Democrats did not have a majority and said he was sworn in as majority leader on Dec. 12. House Republicans filed a lawsuit Dec. 9 challenging the timing of the Districts 34 and 35 elections and alleging McClinton did not have the power to schedule the elections.
Both Republicans and Democrats agreed to hold the District 32 election on Feb. 7.
On Jan. 13, 2023, the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court ruled that all three elections should happen on Feb. 7.
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