Pennsylvania House of Representatives elections, 2020
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2020 Pennsylvania House Elections | |
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General | November 3, 2020 |
Primary | June 2, 2020 |
Past Election Results |
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2020 Elections | |
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Republicans gained two seats and kept their majority in the 2020 elections for Pennsylvania House of Representatives. All 203 seats in the chamber were up for election in 2020. Heading into the election, Republicans controlled 109 seats, Democrats controlled 93, and one was vacant. Republicans gained a net four seats and Democrats lost a net three seats, leaving the Republican Party with a 113-90 majority. In the 2018 elections, Republicans lost a net ten seats and maintained a 110-93 majority.
Ballotpedia identified thirty-two of the races as battlegrounds. Republicans held nineteen of these districts, while Democrats held thirteen.
This race had the potential to influence the trifecta status of the state. Pennsylvania had been under divided government since 2014 when Democrats took control of the governorship, breaking the state’s Republican trifecta that began after the 2010 elections. In order to achieve a trifecta, Democrats needed to flip at least five seats to take control of the State Senate and 10 seats to take control of the House.
Heading into the 2020 elections, Republicans held a majority in more chambers than Democrats. There was a Republican majority in 59 chambers and a Democratic majority in 39 chambers. In the Alaska House, there was a power-sharing agreement between the parties as part of a coalition.
Pennsylvania's 2020 state legislative elections affected partisan control of redistricting following the 2020 census. In Pennsylvania, the state legislature is responsible for congressional redistricting. Congressional maps are subject to gubernatorial veto. State legislative district maps are drawn by a commission comprising state legislators.
For detailed campaign finance information for the elections in this chamber, click here.
Election procedure changes in 2020
Ballotpedia provided comprehensive coverage of how election dates and procedures changed in 2020. While the majority of changes occurred as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, some changes occurred for other reasons.
Pennsylvania modified its absentee/mail-in voting procedures for the November 3, 2020, general election as follows:
- Absentee/mail-in voting: The mail-in ballot receipt deadline for the general election was extended to November 6, 2020. Drop boxes were made available to return ballots. The state provided prepaid return postage for all mail-in and absentee ballots.
For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.
Party control
Pennsylvania House of Representatives | |||
---|---|---|---|
Party | As of November 3, 2020 | After November 4, 2020 | |
Democratic Party | 93 | 90 | |
Republican Party | 109 | 113 | |
Vacancy | 1 | 0 | |
Total | 203 | 203 |
Districts
- See also: Pennsylvania state legislative districts
Use the interactive map below to find your district.
Candidates
General election
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Pennsylvania State House general election
- Incumbents are marked with an (i) after their name.
- = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
Office Democratic Republican Other District 1 Patrick Harkins (i)
Did not make the ballot:
Daniel Fishman (Libertarian Party)
Neal Gale (Green Party)
District 2 Robert Merski (i)
District 3 Ryan Bizzarro (i)
District 4 Curtis Sonney (i)
District 5 Barry Jozwiak (i)
District 6 Bradley Roae (i)
District 7 Mark Longietti (i)
District 8 Tim Bonner (i)
District 9 Chris Sainato (i)
Darryl Audia (Independent)
District 10 Aaron Bernstine (i)
Johnathan Peffer (United Party)
District 11 Marci Mustello (i)
District 12 Daryl Metcalfe (i)
District 13 John Lawrence (i)
District 14 Jim Marshall (i)
District 15 Joshua Kail (i)
District 16 Robert Matzie (i)
District 17 Parke Wentling (i)
District 18 K.C. Tomlinson (i)
District 19 District 20 District 21 Sara Innamorato (i)
District 22 Peter Schweyer (i)
Enid Santiago (Write-in)
District 23 Dan Frankel (i)
Jay Walker (Green Party)
District 24 Edward Gainey (i)
District 25 Brandon Markosek (i)
District 26 District 27 Daniel Deasy Jr. (i)
District 28 District 29 Meghan Schroeder (i)
Nathanael Schmolze (Abolitionist Society Pennsylvania Party)
District 30 Lori Mizgorski (i)
District 31 Perry Warren (i)
District 32 Anthony DeLuca (i)
District 33 Frank Dermody (i)
District 34 Summer Lee (i)
District 35 Austin Davis (i)
District 36 District 37 Mindy Fee (i)
District 38 District 39 Michael Puskaric (i)
District 40 Natalie Mihalek (i)
District 41 Brett Miller (i)
District 42 Dan Miller (i)
District 43 Keith Greiner (i)
District 44 Valerie Gaydos (i)
District 45 District 46 Jason Ortitay (i)
District 47 Keith Gillespie (i)
District 48 Timothy O'Neal (i)
District 49 Bud Cook (i)
District 50 Pam Snyder (i)
District 51 Matthew Dowling (i)
District 52 Ryan Warner (i)
District 53 Steven Malagari (i)
Did not make the ballot:
John Waldenberger (Libertarian Party)
District 54 Robert Brooks (i)
District 55 Joseph Petrarca (i)
District 56 George Dunbar (i)
District 57 Eric Nelson (i)
District 58 Eric Davanzo (i)
District 59 Mike Reese (i)
District 60 Jeffrey Pyle (i)
District 61 Liz Hanbidge (i)
District 62 James Struzzi II (i)
District 63 Donna Oberlander (i)
District 64 R. Lee James (i)
Michael Bagdes-Canning (Green Party)
District 65 Kathy Rapp (i)
District 66 District 67 Martin Causer (i)
District 68 Clint Owlett (i)
Noyes Lawton (Libertarian Party)
District 69 Carl Metzgar (i)
District 70 Matthew Bradford (i)
Did not make the ballot:
Jim Saring
District 71 Jim Rigby (i)
District 72 Frank Burns (i)
District 73 Thomas Sankey (i)
District 74 Dan Williams (i)
District 75 District 76 District 77 H. Scott Conklin (i)
District 78 Jesse Topper (i)
District 79 District 80 James Gregory (i)
District 81 Richard Irvin (i)
District 82 District 83 Jeff Wheeland (i)
District 84 District 85 David Rowe (i)
District 86 District 87 Greg Rothman (i)
District 88 Sheryl Delozier (i)
District 89 Rob Kauffman (i)
District 90 Paul Schemel (i)
District 91 Dan Moul (i)
District 92 Dawn Keefer (i)
District 93 Mike Jones (i)
District 94 Stanley Saylor (i)
District 95 Carol Hill-Evans (i)
District 96 District 97 Steven Mentzer (i)
District 98 David Hickernell (i)
District 99 District 100 Bryan Cutler (i)
District 101 Francis Ryan (i)
District 102 Russell Diamond (i)
District 103 Patty Kim (i)
District 104 Susan Helm (i)
District 105 Andrew Lewis (i)
District 106 Thomas Mehaffie (i)
District 107 Kurt Masser (i)
Ryan Bourniski (Libertarian Party)
District 108 District 109 David Millard (i)
Roger Nuss (Independent)
District 110 Tina Pickett (i)
Lawrence Frey III (Libertarian Party)
District 111 Jonathan Fritz (i)
District 112 Kyle Mullins (i)
District 113 Martin Flynn (i)
District 114 District 115 Maureen Madden (i)
District 116 Tarah Toohil (i)
District 117 Karen Boback (i)
District 118 Mike Carroll (i)
District 119 Gerald Mullery (i)
District 120 Aaron Kaufer (i)
District 121 District 122 Doyle Heffley (i)
District 123 District 124 Jerry Knowles (i)
District 125 District 126 Mark Rozzi (i)
District 127 District 128 Mark Gillen (i)
District 129 Jim Cox (i)
District 130 David Maloney (i)
District 131 District 132 District 133 Jeanne McNeill (i)
District 134 Ryan Mackenzie (i)
District 135 Steve Samuelson (i)
District 136 Robert Freeman (i)
District 137 Joe Emrick (i)
District 138 District 139 Michael Peifer (i)
District 140 John Galloway (i)
District 141 Tina Davis (i)
District 142 Frank Farry (i)
District 143 Wendy Ullman (i)
District 144 District 145 Craig Staats (i)
District 146 Joseph Ciresi (i)
District 147 Jared Martin (Libertarian Party)
District 148 Mary Jo Daley (i)
District 149 Tim Briggs (i)
District 150 Joseph Webster (i)
District 151 Todd Stephens (i)
District 152 John Weinrich Sr. (Independent)
District 153 Ben Sanchez (i)
Marc Bozzacco (Libertarian Party)
District 154 District 155 District 156 Did not make the ballot:
Carolyn Comitta (i)
District 157 District 158 Christina Sappey (i)
District 159 Brian Kirkland (i)
District 160 District 161 Leanne Krueger (i)
District 162 David Delloso (i)
District 163 Michael Zabel (i)
District 164 Margo Davidson (i)
District 165 Jennifer O'Mara (i)
District 166 Gregory Vitali (i)
District 167 Kristine Howard (i)
District 168 District 169 Kate Klunk (i)
District 170 Martina White (i)
District 171 District 172 Kevin Boyle (i)
District 173 Michael Driscoll (i)
District 174 Ed Neilson (i)
District 175 Did not make the ballot:
Audrey McLain (Independent)
District 176 Jack Rader (i)
District 177 District 178 Wendi Thomas (i)
District 179 Jason Dawkins (i)
District 180 Angel Cruz (i)
District 181 Malcolm Kenyatta (i)
District 182 Brian Sims (i)
District 183 Zachary Mako (i)
District 184 District 185 District 186 Jordan Harris (i)
District 187 Gary Day (i)
District 188 District 189 Rosemary Brown (i)
District 190 District 191 Joanna McClinton (i)
District 192 Morgan Cephas (i)
District 193 Torren Ecker (i)
District 194 Pamela DeLissio (i)
Matt Baltsar (Libertarian Party)
District 195 Donna Bullock (i)
District 196 Seth Grove (i)
District 197 Danilo Burgos (i)
District 198 District 199 Barbara Gleim (i)
District 200 Christopher Rabb (i)
District 201 Stephen Kinsey (i)
District 202 Jared Solomon (i)
District 203
Primary election
The candidate lists below are based on candidate filing lists provided by the Pennsylvania Department of State. (I) denotes an incumbent.[1]
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Pennsylvania State House primary election
- Incumbents are marked with an (i) after their name.
- = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
Office Democratic Republican Other District 1 Patrick Harkins (i)
The Republican primary was canceled.
District 2 Robert Merski (i)
The Republican primary was canceled.
District 3 Ryan Bizzarro (i)
Greg Hayes (Write-in)
Did not make the ballot:
Greg Hayes
District 4 The Democratic primary was canceled.
Curtis Sonney (i)
District 5 Barry Jozwiak (i)
District 6 Bradley Roae (i)
District 7 Mark Longietti (i)
The Republican primary was canceled.
District 8 District 9 Chris Sainato (i)
District 10 Aaron Bernstine (i)
District 11 District 12 District 13 John Lawrence (i)
District 14 Jim Marshall (i)
District 15 Joshua Kail (i)
District 16 Robert Matzie (i)
District 17 The Democratic primary was canceled.
Did not make the ballot:
Jeffery Omelian
Parke Wentling (i)
District 18 K.C. Tomlinson (i)
District 19 The Republican primary was canceled.
District 20 The Republican primary was canceled.
District 21 Sara Innamorato (i)
District 22 The Republican primary was canceled.
District 23 Dan Frankel (i)
The Republican primary was canceled.
District 24 Edward Gainey (i)
Did not make the ballot:
William Anderson
The Republican primary was canceled.
District 25 Brandon Markosek (i)
District 26 District 27 Daniel Deasy Jr. (i)
The Republican primary was canceled.
District 28 District 29 District 30 Lori Mizgorski (i)
District 31 Perry Warren (i)
District 32 The Republican primary was canceled.
District 33 Frank Dermody (i)
District 34 The Republican primary was canceled.
District 35 Austin Davis (i)
The Republican primary was canceled.
District 36 Jessica Benham
Mark Johnson
Heather Kass
Ed Moeller
Did not make the ballot:
Jacob Nixon
District 37 Mindy Fee (i)
District 38 Did not make the ballot:
Tony DiCenzo
Victoria Schmotzer
Linda Book (Write-in)
District 39 District 40 Natalie Mihalek (i)
District 41 District 42 Dan Miller (i)
Kurt Korinko (Write-in)
District 43 No candidates filed for the Democratic primary
Keith Greiner (i)
District 44 District 45 District 46 Jason Ortitay (i)
District 47 Fred Owens (Write-in)
Keith Gillespie (i)
District 48 Timothy O'Neal (i)
District 49 District 50 Pam Snyder (i)
District 51 Kevin Jones (Write-in)
Matthew Dowling (i)
District 52 Ryan Warner (i)
District 53 Steven Malagari (i)
District 54 No candidates filed for the Democratic primary
Robert Brooks (i)
District 55 Joseph Petrarca (i)
District 56 The Democratic primary was canceled.
George Dunbar (i)
District 57 The Democratic primary was canceled.
Eric Nelson (i)
District 58 Eric Davanzo (i)
District 59 The Democratic primary was canceled.
Mike Reese (i)
District 60 The Democratic primary was canceled.
Jeffrey Pyle (i)
District 61 Liz Hanbidge (i)
District 62 Did not make the ballot:
Laura Thomas
James Struzzi II (i)
District 63 The Democratic primary was canceled.
Donna Oberlander (i)
District 64 The Democratic primary was canceled.
R. Lee James (i)
District 65 The Democratic primary was canceled.
Kathy Rapp (i)
District 66 The Democratic primary was canceled.
District 67 The Democratic primary was canceled.
Martin Causer (i)
District 68 The Democratic primary was canceled.
Clint Owlett (i)
District 69 The Democratic primary was canceled.
Carl Metzgar (i)
District 70 Matthew Bradford (i)
District 71 No candidates filed for the Democratic primary
Jim Rigby (i)
District 72 Frank Burns (i)
District 73 The Democratic primary was canceled.
Thomas Sankey (i)
District 74 Dan Williams (i)
District 75 District 76 District 77 H. Scott Conklin (i)
District 78 The Democratic primary was canceled.
Jesse Topper (i)
District 79 District 80 The Democratic primary was canceled.
James Gregory (i)
District 81 Richard Irvin (i)
District 82 The Democratic primary was canceled.
District 83 Jeff Wheeland (i)
District 84 District 85 Katie Evans (Write-in)
David Rowe (i)
District 86 The Democratic primary was canceled.
District 87 Greg Rothman (i)
District 88 Sheryl Delozier (i)
District 89 The Democratic primary was canceled.
Rob Kauffman (i)
District 90 The Democratic primary was canceled.
Paul Schemel (i)
District 91 The Democratic primary was canceled.
Dan Moul (i)
District 92 Dawn Keefer (i)
District 93 The Democratic primary was canceled.
Mike Jones (i)
District 94 The Democratic primary was canceled.
Stanley Saylor (i)
District 95 Carol Hill-Evans (i)
District 96 The Republican primary was canceled.
District 97 Steven Mentzer (i)
District 98 David Hickernell (i)
District 99 District 100 The Democratic primary was canceled.
Bryan Cutler (i)
District 101 Francis Ryan (i)
District 102 Russell Diamond (i)
District 103 The Republican primary was canceled.
District 104 District 105 Andrew Lewis (i)
District 106 Did not make the ballot:
Jonathan Keeler
Thomas Mehaffie (i)
Mimi Legro
Chris Lupp
Did not make the ballot:
Bobby Jeffries
District 107 The Democratic primary was canceled.
Kurt Masser (i)
District 108 The Democratic primary was canceled.
District 109 David Millard (i)
District 110 The Democratic primary was canceled.
Tina Pickett (i)
District 111 The Democratic primary was canceled.
Jonathan Fritz (i)
District 112 Kyle Mullins (i)
Mary Noldy (Write-in)
Did not make the ballot:
Mary Noldy
District 113 Martin Flynn (i)
District 114 District 115 Maureen Madden (i)
District 116 Tarah Toohil (i)
District 117 The Democratic primary was canceled.
Karen Boback (i)
Did not make the ballot:
Patrick Musto
District 118 Mike Carroll (i)
District 119 Gerald Mullery (i)
Did not make the ballot:
Andy Gegaris
District 120 Aaron Kaufer (i)
District 121 The Republican primary was canceled.
District 122 The Democratic primary was canceled.
Doyle Heffley (i)
District 123 District 124 Jerry Knowles (i)
District 125 The Democratic primary was canceled.
District 126 Mark Rozzi (i)
District 127 Raymond Baker
Cesar Cepeda
Robin Costenbader-Jacobson
Manuel Guzman
Robert Melendez
Did not make the ballot:
Abraham J. Cepeda
District 128 The Democratic primary was canceled.
Mark Gillen (i)
District 129 Jim Cox (i)
District 130 David Maloney (i)
District 131 District 132 Michael Schlossberg (i) (Write-in)
Michael McCreary (Write-in)
District 133 Jeanne McNeill (i)
District 134 Marc Basist (Write-in)
Ryan Mackenzie (i)
District 135 Steve Samuelson (i)
District 136 Robert Freeman (i)
The Republican primary was canceled.
District 137 Joe Emrick (i)
District 138 District 139 Michael Peifer (i)
District 140 John Galloway (i)
District 141 Tina Davis (i)
District 142 Frank Farry (i)
District 143 Wendy Ullman (i)
District 144 District 145 Craig Staats (i)
District 146 Joseph Ciresi (i)
District 147 District 148 Mary Jo Daley (i)
District 149 Tim Briggs (i)
William Michael (Write-in)
District 150 Joseph Webster (i)
District 151 Todd Stephens (i)
District 152 District 153 Ben Sanchez (i)
The Republican primary was canceled.
District 154 Jay Conners
Jennifer Lugar
Napoleon Nelson
Adrienne Redd
Ray Sosa
Gretchen Wisehart
District 155 District 156 Carolyn Comitta (i)
District 157 Bryan Walters (Write-in)
District 158 Christina Sappey (i)
District 159 District 160 District 161 Leanne Krueger (i)
District 162 David Delloso (i)
District 163 Michael Zabel (i)
District 164 Margo Davidson (i)
The Republican primary was canceled.
District 165 Jennifer O'Mara (i)
District 166 District 167 District 168 District 169 The Democratic primary was canceled.
Did not make the ballot:
Kiem LeGrant
Kate Klunk (i)
District 170 Michael Doyle Jr. (Write-in)
Martina White (i)
District 171 District 172 Kevin Boyle (i)
District 173 Michael Driscoll (i)
The Republican primary was canceled.
District 174 Ed Neilson (i)
The Republican primary was canceled.
District 175 MaryLouise Isaacson (i)
Andre Del Valle
Jeff Dempsey
Vanessa McGrath
The Republican primary was canceled.
District 176 Jack Rader (i)
District 177 District 178 Wendi Thomas (i)
District 179 Jason Dawkins (i)
The Republican primary was canceled.
District 180 Angel Cruz (i)
The Republican primary was canceled.
District 181 Malcolm Kenyatta (i)
Did not make the ballot:
Charlotte Greer
The Republican primary was canceled.
District 182 District 183 Zachary Mako (i)
District 184 District 185 Maria Donatucci (i)
Regina Young
Did not make the ballot:
Wilson Alexander
Evette Thompson
The Republican primary was canceled.
District 186 Jordan Harris (i)
The Republican primary was canceled.
District 187 Gary Day (i)
District 188 James Roebuck Jr. (i)
Gregory Benjamin
Karen Dunn
Rick Krajewski
The Republican primary was canceled.
District 189 Rosemary Brown (i)
District 190 G. Roni Green (i)
Amen Brown
Danyl Patterson
Van Stone
Did not make the ballot:
Theodore Smith
Roi Ligon Jr.
Mike Horsey
District 191 Joanna McClinton (i)
The Republican primary was canceled.
District 192 Morgan Cephas (i)
Did not make the ballot:
D'Angelo Virgo
Jasmine Reavis-Brown
The Republican primary was canceled.
District 193 The Democratic primary was canceled.
Torren Ecker (i)
District 194 Pamela DeLissio (i)
Did not make the ballot:
Bernard Strain
District 195 Donna Bullock (i)
The Republican primary was canceled.
District 196 The Democratic primary was canceled.
Seth Grove (i)
District 197 Danilo Burgos (i)
The Republican primary was canceled.
District 198 Fareed Abdullah
Supreme Dow
Darisha Parker
Bernard Williams
Did not make the ballot:
Nikki Bagby
Michael Cogbill
The Republican primary was canceled.
District 199 Barbara Gleim (i)
District 200 Christopher Rabb (i)
The Republican primary was canceled.
District 201 Stephen Kinsey (i)
The Republican primary was canceled.
District 202 Jared Solomon (i)
The Republican primary was canceled.
District 203 The Republican primary was canceled.
Campaign finance
The section and tables below contain data from financial reports submitted to state agencies. Districts and elections are grouped in sections of 10. To view data for a district, click on the appropriate bar below to expand it. The data is gathered and made available by Transparency USA.
2020 battleground chamber
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives was among 24 state legislative chambers Ballotpedia identified as battleground chambers for the 2020 cycle. Click here for more information on state legislative battlegrounds.
What was at stake?
- Democrats needed to gain 10 seats to take control of the chamber in 2020.
Why was it a battleground?
- Seats needed to flip: Democrats needed to win 10 of the 203 seats up (5%) in order to gain control of the chamber.
- Seats decided by 10% or less in 2018: In the 2018 elections, there were 31 races (representing 15% of the chamber) decided by margins of 10% or smaller.
- More seats flipped in 2018 than needed to flip in 2020: The number of seats flipped in the 2018 elections (17) was greater than the number of seats that needed to flip to change control of the chamber in 2020 (10).
- Race ratings: The Cook Political Report rated the Pennsylvania House of Representatives a leans Republican chamber in 2020, meaning that both parties had a good chance at winning control of the chamber but that Republicans were slightly favored to retain control.[2]
Battleground races
Heading into the election, Ballotpedia identified thirty-two battleground races in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives 2020 elections, nineteen of which were Republican-held seats and thirteen of which were held by Democrats. Based on analysis of these districts' electoral histories, these races had the potential to be more competitive than other races and could possibly have led to shifts in a chamber's partisan balance.
To determine state legislative battleground races in 2020, Ballotpedia looked for races that fit one or more of the four factors listed below:
- In the last state legislative election, the winner received less than 55% of the vote.
- The presidential candidate who won the district in 2016 is of a different party than the most recent state legislative election winner in the district, and the most recent state legislative election winner won by a margin of 10 percentage points or less.
- The presidential candidate who won the district in 2016 is of a different party than the most recent state legislative election winner in the district, and the incumbent is not on the ballot this year.
- The presidential candidate who won the district in 2016 is of a different party than the most recent state legislative election winner in the district, and that presidential candidate won the district by a margin of 20 percentage points or more.
Battleground races map
Incumbents who were not re-elected
Incumbents defeated in the general election
Three incumbents lost in the Nov. 3 general election. Those incumbents were:
Name | Party | Office |
---|---|---|
Frank Dermody | Democratic | House District 33 |
Joseph Petrarca | Democratic | House District 55 |
Wendy Ullman | Democratic | House District 143 |
Incumbents defeated in primary elections
Four incumbents lost in the June 2 primaries. Those incumbents were:
Name | Party | Office |
---|---|---|
Adam Ravenstahl | Democratic | House District 20 |
Maria Donatucci | Democratic | House District 185 |
James Roebuck Jr. | Democratic | House District 188 |
Roni Green | Democratic | House District 190 |
Retiring incumbents
There were 17 open seats where the incumbent legislator did not file for re-election in 2020.[3] Those incumbents were:
Name | Party | Office |
---|---|---|
Mike Turzai | Republican | House District 28 |
Harry Readshaw, III | Democratic | House District 36 |
William Kortz, II | Democratic | House District 38 |
Cris Dush | Republican | House District 66 |
Matt Gabler | Republican | House District 75 |
Garth Everett | Republican | House District 84 |
Mark Keller | Republican | House District 86 |
Neal Goodman | Democratic | House District 123 |
Mike Tobash | Republican | House District 125 |
Thomas Caltagirone | Democratic | House District 127 |
Justin Simmons | Republican | House District 131 |
Marcia Hahn | Republican | House District 138 |
Marcy Toepel | Republican | House District 147 |
Thomas Murt | Republican | House District 152 |
Steve McCarter | Democratic | House District 154 |
Stephen Barrar | Republican | House District 160 |
Rosita Youngblood | Democratic | House District 198 |
17 open seats was lower than the decade-high 31 open seats in 2018. During the preceding five elections, the average number of open seats per cycle was roughly 20. The table below shows the number of open seats in each election held between 2010 and 2020.
Open Seats in Pennsylvania House of Representatives elections: 2010 - 2020 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Year | Total seats | Open seats | Seats with incumbents running for re-election |
2020 | 203 | 17 (8 percent) | 186 (92 percent) |
2018 | 203 | 31 (15 percent) | 172 (85 percent) |
2016 | 203 | 15 (7 percent) | 188 (93 percent) |
2014 | 203 | 18 (9 percent) | 185 (91 percent) |
2012 | 203 | 16 (8 percent) | 187 (92 percent) |
2010 | 203 | 18 (9 percent) | 185 (91 percent) |
Redistricting in Pennsylvania
- See also: Redistricting in Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania, the statutory authority to draw congressional district boundaries is vested with the Pennsylvania General Assembly. These lines are subject to gubernatorial veto.[4]
State legislative district lines are drawn by a politician commission. Established in 1968, the commission comprises five members:[4]
- The majority leader of the Pennsylvania State Senate appoints one member.
- The minority leader of the Pennsylvania State Senate appoints one member.
- The majority leader of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives appoints one member.
- The minority leader of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives appoints one member.
- The first four commissioners appoint a fifth member to serve as the commission's chair. If the commission is unable to reach an agreement, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court must appoint a commission chair.[4]
The Pennsylvania Constitution requires that state legislative districts be contiguous and compact. Further, state legislative districts should "respect county, city, incorporated town, borough, township and ward boundaries." There are no such requirements in place for congressional districts.[4]
Process to become a candidate
Generally speaking, there are two types of petition forms that prospective candidates may need to file in order to gain access to the ballot.
- Nomination petitions: These are the petition forms used by political party candidates.
- Nomination papers: These are the petition forms used by independent and political party designation candidates.
For party candidates
See statutes: Pennsylvania Election Code, Chapter 14, Article 9
Party candidates for state office must file nomination petitions with the Pennsylvania Secretary of State. Signature requirements are summarized below (for more information regarding nomination petitions, see "Nomination petitions" below).[5]
Nomination petition signature requirements in Pennsylvania | ||
---|---|---|
Office sought | Required signatures | |
U.S. Senator | 2,000 | |
U.S. House Representative | 1,000 | |
Governor | 2,000 | |
Lt. Governor | 1,000 | |
State senator | 500 | |
State representative | 300 |
Each candidate must file a candidate affidavit with his or her nomination petition. The affidavit must include the candidate's address, election district, the name of the office being sought, a statement verifying the candidate's eligibility for said office, and a statement verifying that the candidate will not "knowingly violate any provision of this act [i.e., the election code], or of any law regulating and limiting nomination and election expenses and prohibiting corrupt practices in connection therewith."[6]
The candidate must also pay a filing fee. Filing fees must be submitted with nomination petitions. Fees are summarized in the table below.[7]
Filing fees in Pennsylvania | ||
---|---|---|
Office sought | Fee | |
United States Senator, governor, lieutenant governor, treasurer, auditor general, attorney general | $200 | |
United States Representative | $150 | |
State legislator | $100 |
In addition, a candidate for state office must file a statement of financial interests with the state ethics commission. A copy of this statement must be attached to the nomination petition submitted to the Pennsylvania Secretary of State, as well.
For other candidates
See statutes: Article 9, Part (b) of the Pennsylvania Election Code
Like party candidates participating in the primary, independent, minor political party, and political body candidates for state office (including the Pennsylvania General Assembly) must submit candidate affidavits and statements of financial interests to the Pennsylvania Secretary of State. Candidates must also pay the same filing fees as primary candidates. Independent, minor party, and political body candidates must also file nomination papers (not to be confused with the nomination petitions party candidates participating in the primary must complete). Candidates filing nomination papers must obtain signatures from electors of the district equal to at least 2 percent of the largest entire vote cast for an elected candidate in the last election within the district.[8][9] For more information regarding nomination papers, see "Nomination papers" below.[10]
For write-in candidates
Pennsylvania does not require write-in candidates to file paperwork in order to have their votes tallied.
2020 ballot access requirements
The table below details filing requirements for Pennsylvania House of Representatives candidates in the 2020 election cycle.
Filing requirements for state legislative candidates, 2020 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chamber name | Party | Signatures required | Filing fee | Filing deadline | Source |
Pennsylvania House of Representatives | Qualified party | 300 | $100.00 | 2/18/2020 | Source |
Pennsylvania House of Representatives | Unaffiliated | 2% of the largest entire vote cast for an elected candidate in the last election within the district | $100.00 | 8/3/2020 | Source |
Qualifications
Under Article II of the Pennsylvania Constitution, senators shall be at least twenty-five years of age and representatives twenty-one years of age. They shall have been citizens and inhabitants of their respective districts one year before their election (unless absent on the public business of the United States or of this State) and shall reside in their respective districts during their terms of service.
Salaries and per diem
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
State legislative salaries, 2024[11] | |
---|---|
Salary | Per diem |
$106,422.33/year | $185/day |
When sworn in
Pennsylvania legislators assume office on the first day of December after a general election.[12]
2020 battleground chamber
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives was among 24 state legislative chambers Ballotpedia identified as battleground chambers for the 2020 cycle. Click here for more information on state legislative battlegrounds.
What was at stake?
- Democrats needed to gain 10 seats to take control of the chamber in 2020.
Why was it a battleground?
- Seats needed to flip: Democrats needed to win 10 of the 203 seats up (5%) in order to gain control of the chamber.
- Seats decided by 10% or less in 2018: In the 2018 elections, there were 31 races (representing 15% of the chamber) decided by margins of 10% or smaller.
- More seats flipped in 2018 than needed to flip in 2020: The number of seats flipped in the 2018 elections (17) was greater than the number of seats that needed to flip to change control of the chamber in 2020 (10).
- Race ratings: The Cook Political Report rated the Pennsylvania House of Representatives a leans Republican chamber in 2020, meaning that both parties had a good chance at winning control of the chamber but that Republicans were slightly favored to retain control.[13]
Pennsylvania political history
Trifectas
A state government trifecta is a term that describes single-party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government.
Pennsylvania Party Control: 1992-2024
One year of a Democratic trifecta • Twelve years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.
Year | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Governor | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
Senate | R | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
House | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D |
Presidential politics in Pennsylvania
2016 Presidential election results
U.S. presidential election, Pennsylvania, 2016 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | Electoral votes | |
Democratic | Hillary Clinton/Tim Kaine | 47.5% | 2,926,441 | 0 | |
Republican | Donald Trump/Mike Pence | 48.2% | 2,970,733 | 20 | |
Libertarian | Gary Johnson/Bill Weld | 2.4% | 146,715 | 0 | |
Green | Jill Stein/Ajamu Baraka | 0.8% | 49,941 | 0 | |
Constitution | Darrell Castle/Scott Bradley | 0.3% | 21,572 | 0 | |
- | Other/Write-in | 0.8% | 50,076 | 0 | |
Total Votes | 6,165,478 | 20 | |||
Election results via: Federal Election Commission |
Voter information
How the primary works
A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Pennsylvania utilizes a closed primary process. Voters are required to register with a political party to vote in the primary election.[14][15]
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
Poll times
In Pennsylvania, all polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[16]
Registration requirements
- Check your voter registration status here.
To register to vote in Pennsylvania, an applicant must be a citizen of the United States for at least one month before the next election, a resident of the district in which he or she is registering for at least 30 days before the next election, and at least 18 years old by the day of the next election.[17] The deadline for registering to vote is 15 days before the election.[17] Registration can be done online, in person, or by mail. Prospective voters can register in person at the county voter registration office or at a number of state agencies, including Pennsylvania Department of Transportation centers. The Pennsylvania voter registration application is available online and can be mailed to the county voter registration office.[18] On September 19, 2023, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) announced that the state had implemented automatic voter registration.[19]
Automatic registration
Pennsylvania practices automatic voter registration.[20]
Online registration
- See also: Online voter registration
Pennsylvania implemented an online voter registration system in 2015.[21] Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.
Same-day registration
Pennsylvania does not allow same-day voter registration.
Residency requirements
Prospective voters must be residents of the district in which they are registering for at least 30 days before the next election.
Verification of citizenship
Pennsylvania does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual applying to register to vote must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury.
All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[22] As of November 2024, five states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, and New Hampshire — had passed laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration. However, only two of those states' laws were in effect, in Arizona and New Hampshire. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allowed noncitizens to vote in some local elections as of November 2024. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.
Verifying your registration
The Pennsylvania Department of State allows residents to check their voter registration status online by visiting this website.
Voter ID requirements
Pennsylvania does not generally require voters to present identification while voting. However, a voter who is voting at a polling place for the first time must present identification.[23]
Voters can present the following forms of identification. This list was current as of October 2024. Click here to ensure you have current information.
“ | Approved forms of photo identification include:
If you do not have a photo ID, you can use a non-photo identification that includes your name and address.
|
” |
Early voting
Pennsylvania voters can cast mail ballots in person. According to the Pennsylvania Department of State's Office of Communications and Press, "Once a county’s ballots are finalized and printed, a registered voter can apply for their mail ballot in person at their county election office, complete it, then submit it all in one visit. Voters should check their county's website to see when they have final ballots available and what hours their election office is open."[25] For more information, visit this website.
Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.
As of February 2024, 47 states and the District of Columbia permitted no-excuse early voting.
Absentee voting
Beginning with the April 28, 2020, primary election, all Pennsylvania voters are eligible to cast absentee ballots. The change came about as a result of SB421, an omnibus election law bill which Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf (D) signed into law on October 31, 2019.[26][27]
See also
- Pennsylvania House of Representatives
- Pennsylvania State Legislature
- State legislative elections, 2020
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "Unofficial Candidate Listing," accessed February 20, 2020
- ↑ The Cook Political Report, "July Update: Handicapping the 2020 State Legislature Races," July 22, 2020
- ↑ Ballotpedia defines an incumbent as retiring if the incumbent did not file for office or filed for office but withdrew, was disqualified, or otherwise left a race in a manner other than losing the primary, primary runoff, or convention. If an incumbent runs as a write-in candidate, Ballotpedia does not consider them to be retiring. If an incumbent runs in the same chamber for a different seat, Ballotpedia does not consider them to be retiring.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 All About Redistricting, "Pennsylvania," accessed May 8, 2015
- ↑ Pennsylvania Election Code, "25 Pa. Stat. § 2872.1 (2022)," accessed May 30, 2023
- ↑ Pennsylvania Election Code, "25 Pa. Stat. § 2870 (2022)," accessed May 30, 2023
- ↑ Pennsylvania Election Code, "25 Pa. Stat. § 2873 (2022)," accessed May 30, 2023
- ↑ Note: As the result of a court order (Constitution Party v. Cortés (No. 12-2726; E.D. Pa. 2015), political body candidates seeking statewide office may submit signatures totaling 2.5 times the requirement for political party candidates seeking placement on the primary election ballot.
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "Third Party Nomination Paperwork," accessed May 30, 2023
- ↑ Pennsylvania Election Code, "25 Pa. Stat. § 2872.2 (2022)," accessed May 30, 2023
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
- ↑ Pennsylvania Constitution, "Article II, Section 2," accessed November 1, 2021
- ↑ The Cook Political Report, "July Update: Handicapping the 2020 State Legislature Races," July 22, 2020
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures Website, "State Primary Election Types," accessed September 24, 2024
- ↑ Casetext, "25 Pa. Stat. § 299," accessed September 24, 2024
- ↑ Department of State, “First Time Voters,” accessed March 21, 2023
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Department of State, “Voter Registration Application,” accessed March 21, 2023
- ↑ Department of State, “Contact Your Election Officials,” accessed March 21, 2023
- ↑ Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, "Governor Shapiro Implements Automatic Voter Registration in Pennsylvania, Joining Bipartisan Group of States That Have Taken Commonsense Step to Make Voter Registration More Streamlined and Secure," September 19, 2023
- ↑ NBC, "Pennsylvania rolls out automatic voter registration," September 19, 2023
- ↑ The Patriot-News, “Thousands take advantage of new online voter registration in Pennsylvania,” September 2, 2015
- ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
- ↑ Department of State, "First Time Voters," accessed March 21, 2023
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Janie Valentine, "Email communication with Amy Gulli," September 10, 2024
- ↑ PennLive, "Pa. Gov. Tom Wolf signs historic election reform bill into law," October 31, 2019
- ↑ Pennsylvania.gov, “Voting in Pennsylvania,” accessed October 1, 2019