Outgoing state Reps. Joe Brennan (D-Lehigh) and Ken Smith (D-Lackawanna) didn’t win new terms on election day but they’ll be coming back to Harrisburg for work anyway.

While most Democrats surged on election day, the party stalled in the Pa. House – recovering zero seats from its 2010 shellacking. We talked with a dozen operatives about what the HDCC did wrong, what was out of their hands, and what it all means for 2014.

Kevin Deely, the Democratic challenger to state Rep. Justin Simmons (R-Lehigh), has conceded the race.

With Matt Smith ascending to the state Senate, a potentially competitive race is brewing to replace him in the state House. Here are some of the names we’re hearing.

Rick Saccone will start his second term much as he began his first: with a mandate of fewer than 200 votes. After all the absentee and provisional ballots were counted, the Republican had a 114 vote lead over Dem challenger David Levdansky.

Former Attorney General Jerry Pappert has taken a new position at Philadelphia Law Firm Cozen O’Connor.

Few changes are expected as incoming members of the Pa. House and Senate choose their party leaders for next year.

And then there were 3. Democrat Seamus Bonner conceded his challenge to Rep. Nick Micozzie, the Delaware County Republican said Thursday.

After months of campaigning, it appeared Tuesday night that at least 2 but no more than 5 state House seats would switch party control.