State Rep. John Galloway (D-Bucks) has announced that he plans to resign from his seat in Harrisburg on December 15.

Galloway recently was elected magisterial district judge for Falls Township and his departure will create (another) 101-101 deadlock in the chamber.

He will fill retiring District Judge Jan Vislosky’s seat early in the new year.

Pennsylvania’s district courts serve as the lowest tier of the state’s Unified Judicial System. They handle a spectrum of matters from preliminary arraignments and hearings to civil claims not exceeding $12,000, making them a frequent point of contact for the public with the judicial system.

“I will be resigning my position as state representative as of December 15 of this year,” Galloway told LevittownNow.com.

That means another special election in the Commonwealth. There have been seven “specials” in 2023 alone, coming in the 21st, 32nd, 34th, 35th, 108th and 163rd legislative districts, as well as the 27th senatorial district. Democrats are 5-1 in the state House races and 0-1 in the senate.

Two candidates have announced their interest in succeeding Galloway – his chief of staff Melanie Bidlingmaier and realtor Donna Petrecco.

Pennsylvania holds special elections on Tuesdays, so working 60 days back from an anticipated writ would place the election on the following dates:

Special Election Date

January 23 – writ issued by November 24
January 30 – writ issued by December 1
February 6 – writ issued by December 8