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Commonwealth Court Sets House Special Election Dates For Feb. 7

Commonwealth Court judges

Tuesday, February 7 will be Super Tuesday in Allegheny County.

The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court ruled that the state House special elections in the 34th and 35th Districts will be held on that date, alongside the 32nd District election that was already agreed upon.

House Democrats and Republicans had sparred in recent weeks over who had the authority to call and schedule special elections. With the majority in the chamber in the balance, the outcome of the three Democratic-leaning district elections will likely determine who has the gavel for the 2023-24 session.

Democrats won 102 of the 203 contested races in the 2022 general election, but with the passing of Tony DeLuca and the resignations of Summer Lee and Austin Davis, Republicans occupied 101 of the 200 seats in the House, bringing into question the majority party.

House Republican Leader Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) expressed his disappointment with the decision in a statement.

“Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth Court today decided to ignore basic math and prior law in ordering all three of these elections be held together on Feb. 7. Instead of resolving a dispute where the answer was self-evident based on the numbers, the court took the path of least resistance and thereby weakened the foundations of our republic and faith in the rule of law.

“This case was about who can exercise certain functions based upon simple numbers. House Republicans remained steadfast and consistent in our desire to hold elections and fill these seats in the normal course of business, and not through illegitimate loopholes.”

“Today’s decision is good news for the nearly 200,000 Allegheny County residents currently without representation in the state House,” a spokesperson for the state House Democratic caucus said in a statement. “Now county elections officials can proceed to print ballots and make final preparations for special elections in the 32nd, 34th, and 35th legislative districts on February 7.”

Candidates that have announced their intention to run for the openings as of January 3 include:

State House of Representatives – 32nd District
D-Joe McAndrew
R-Clay Walker

State House of Representatives – 34th District
D-Abigail Salisbury
R-Robert Pagane

State House of Representatives – 35th District
D-Matt Gergely
R-Don Nevills

4 Responses

  1. It wasn’t the Commonwealth Court, it was a 3 judge panel of Democratic judges. And they didn’t rule Joanna was right, they couldn’t, there was no grounds to do so. They ruled they don’t have the right to intervene.

  2. What a total load of crap! I am beyond sick of the democrat and rino run underhanded way this state is run. If anything this has reinforced my total distrust of mail in cheating, ballot harvesting and print them till you win Brazilian half assed “elections” this state plays !





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