Pennsylvania House Of Representatives Election, 2022

The 2022 elections for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives were held on , with all districts currently being decided. The term of office for those elected in 2022 began when the House of Representatives convened in January 2023. Pennsylvania State Representatives are elected for two-year terms, with all 203 seats up for election every two years.

In what was described as a "shocking upset", Democrats gained 12 seats, giving them a majority of 102 out of 203 seats and winning control of the chamber for the first time since 2010, despite losing the popular vote (although this was partly because there were many uncontested Republican districts). This defied many analysts’ predictions, including that of ''Sabato's Crystal Ball'', which had rated House control as "Likely Republican".

Special elections

19th legislative district

This election took place on April 5, 2022.

Democrat Aerion Abney was elected to finish the term of Jake Wheatley, who resigned to become the chief of staff to Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey.

24th legislative district

This election took place on April 5, 2022.

Democrat Martell Covington was elected to finish the term of Ed Gainey, who resigned to become the mayor of Pittsburgh.

116th legislative district

This election took place on April 5, 2022.

Republican Robert Schnee was elected to finish the term of Tarah Toohil, who resigned to become a judge on the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas.

Results summary

Redistricting

Due to redistricting after the 2020 United States census, several representatives were drawn into new districts, and some districts had no incumbent.

Retiring incumbents

Democrats

#District 7: Mark Longietti retired.
#District 50: Pam Snyder retired.
#District 113: Thom Welby retired.
#District 118: Mike Carroll retired.
#District 119: Gerald Mullery retired.
#District 156: Dianne Herrin retired.
#District 173: Michael Driscoll retired to run for Philadelphia City Council.
#District 180: Angel Cruz retired.
#District 182: Brian Sims retired to run for lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania.

Republicans

#District 4: Curt Sonney retired.
#District 33: Carrie DelRosso retired to run for lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania.
#District 12: Daryl Metcalfe retired.
#District 29: Meghan Schroeder retired.
#District 30: Lori Mizgorski retired to run for state senator from District 38.
#District 51: Matt Dowling retired (after winning his primary) after Pennsylvania State Police charged him with DUI.
#District 54: Bob Brooks retired.
#District 73: Tommy Sankey retired.
#District 83: Jeff Wheeland retired.
#District 87: Greg Rothman retired to run for state senator from District 34.
#District 98: David Hickernell retired.
#District 101: Frank Ryan retired.
#District 104: Sue Helm retired.
#District 105: Andrew Lewis retired.
#District 107: Kurt Masser retired.
#District 109: David Millard retired.
#District 116: Robert Schnee retired.
#District 117: Karen Boback retired.
#District 124: Jerry Knowles retired.
#District 129: Jim Cox retired.
#District 139: Michael Peifer retired.
#District 142: Frank Farry retired to run for state senator from District 6.
#District 147: Tracy Pennycuick retired to run for state senator from District 24.
#District 178: Wendi Thomas retired.
#District 189: Rosemary Brown retired to run for state senator from District 40.

Incumbents defeated in primary

Democrats

#District 24: Martell Covington lost renomination to La'Tasha Mayes.
#District 159: Brian Kirkland lost renomination to Carol Kazeem.
#District 194: Pam DeLissio lost renomination to Tarik Khan.
#District 200: Isabella Fitzgerald lost renomination to fellow incumbent Chris Rabb in a redistricting race.

Republicans

#District 39: Mike Puskaric lost renomination to Andrew Kuzma.
#District 47: Keith Gillespie lost renomination to Joe D'Orsie.
#District 55: Jason Silvis lost renomination to Jill Cooper.
#District 86: John Hershey lost renomination to fellow incumbent Perry Stambaugh in a redistricting race.
#District 94: Stan Saylor lost renomination to Wendy Fink.
#District 187: Gary Day lost renomination to fellow incumbent Ryan Mackenzie in a redistricting race.

Primary elections

Democratic primary

Republican primary

General election

Predictions

Overview

Close races

''Districts where the margin of victory was under 10%:''

District breakdown

Source: Pennsylvania Department of State

Aftermath

For months after the election, partisan control of the chamber was claimed by both parties, with three vacancies due to Democrats not being able to take their seats due to death or resignation. After protracted bipartisan negotiations, 16 Republicans joined all Democrats in voting for Mark Rozzi as Speaker, who subsequently announced that he would become an independent and no longer caucus with the Democrats. However, a special session to set operating rules in the House on November 9 was postponed indefinitely, and Jim Gregory, who nominated Rozzi as Speaker, called for him to resign, claiming that he had broken his promise to switch his party registration to independent. Rozzi never left the Democratic caucus, instead resigning the speakership after passing an amendment to provide relief for victims of childhood sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church. Joanna McClinton would be elected speaker in a party-line vote following special elections to fill the vacant seats in February 2023.

See also

* 2022 Pennsylvania elections
* Elections in Pennsylvania
* List of Pennsylvania state legislatures

References

External links

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* (State affiliate of the U.S. League of Women Voters)
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2022 Pennsylvania House of Representatives Districts

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2020
2022 Pennsylvania elections
2022 state legislature elections in the United States