2020 Pennsylvania House of Representatives election
The 2020 elections for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives was held on November 3, 2020, with all districts being decided. The term of office for those that were elected in 2020 began when the House of Representatives convened in January 2021. Pennsylvania State Representatives were elected for two-year terms, with all 203 seats up for election every two years.[2] The election was coincided with the 2020 United States presidential election, United States House of Representatives elections, and one-half of the State Senate.
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All 203 seats in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives 102 seats needed for a majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Elections in Pennsylvania |
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Republicans have controlled the chamber since 2010. In October 2020, The Washington Post identified this state election as one of eight whose outcomes could affect partisan balance during post-census redistricting.[3]
Special elections
8th legislative district
In the 2019 elections, Republican state representative Tedd Nesbit was elected to be a judge on the Mercer County Court of Common Pleas. A special election for the 8th legislative district was held on March 17 to fill his seat.
Democrats selected business owner Phil Heasley as their nominee, while Republicans nominated attorney Timothy R. Bonner.[4][5] Bonner won the special election in the heavily Republican district.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Timothy R. Bonner | 4,000 | 75.08 | |
Democratic | Phil Heasley | 1,328 | 24.92 | |
Total votes | 5,328 | 100.00 | ||
Republican hold |
18th legislative district
In the 2019 elections, Republican state representative Gene DiGirolamo was elected to be a Bucks County commissioner.[6] A special election for the 18th legislative district was held on March 17 to fill his seat.
Democrats selected union plumber Harold Hayes as their nominee.[7] Republicans nominated Kathleen "KC" Tomlinson, a funeral director and daughter of State Senator Tommy Tomlinson.[8] Both candidates also ran for their respective party's nomination for the general election.
After arguments by Democrats over holding this election during the COVID-19 pandemic, Tomlinson won the special election.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Kathleen C. Tomlinson | 4,516 | 55.23 | |
Democratic | Harold Hayes | 3,661 | 44.77 | |
Total votes | 8,177 | 100.00 | ||
Republican hold |
58th legislative district
In the 2019 elections, Republican state representative Justin Walsh was elected to be a judge on the Westmoreland County Court of Common Pleas.[9] A special election for the 58th legislative district was held on March 17 to fill his seat.
Democrats selected former Smithton mayor Robert Prah Jr. as their nominee, while Republicans nominated union carpenter Eric Davanzo.[10][11] Both candidates also ran for their respective party's nomination for the general election. Davanzo won the special election.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Eric Davanzo | 4,269 | 52.58 | |
Democratic | Robert Prah Jr. | 3,294 | 40.57 | |
Libertarian | Kenneth Bach | 556 | 6.85 | |
Total votes | 8,119 | 100.00 | ||
Republican hold |
190th legislative district
Democratic State Representative Movita Johnson-Harrell, elected to the seat in a 2019 special election, resigned her seat after less than a year upon being charged with stealing from her own charity.[12] A special election for the 190th legislative district was held on February 25 to fill Johnson-Harrell's vacancy.
Democrats selected local SEIU business agent Roni Green as their nominee, and Republicans nominated businesswoman Wanda Logan. Green easily won this heavily Democratic district.[13]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Roni Green | 2,651 | 86.27 | |
Republican | Wanda Logan | 422 | 13.73 | |
Total votes | 3,073 | 100.00 | ||
Democratic hold |
General election overview
Affiliation | Candidates | Votes | Vote % | Seats Won | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | 168 | 3,416,942 | 52.73% | 113 | |
Democratic | 164 | 3,017,689 | 46.57% | 90 | |
Libertarian | 6 | 23,268 | 0.36% | 0 | |
Green | 2 | 9,799 | 0.15% | 0 | |
Independent | 5 | 12,575 | 0.19% | 0 | |
Total | 345 | 6,480,273 | 100% | 203 |
Polling
Hypothetical polling in District 168 | ||||||||||||||
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Results by district
Source:[16]
Notes
- Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear
- Partisan clients
- The DLCC exclusively supports Democratic candidates
References
- "Lancaster County Rep. Bryan Cutler voted Speaker of Pennsylvania House of Representatives". fox43.com. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
- Wikisource:Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 1874/Article 2
- Phillips, Amber (October 2, 2020). "The state legislative battles to watch in 2020". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
- Cole, John (January 29, 2020). "HD8: Phil Heasley Selected as Dem Candidate for Special Election". PoliticsPA. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
- Cole, John (January 30, 2020). "HD8: Tim Bonner Nominated as GOP Candidate for Special Election". PoliticsPA. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
- Quann, Peg (January 3, 2020). "Rep. DiGirolamo 'bittersweet' about leaving state office for county seat". The Intelligencer. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
- Cole, John (January 27, 2020). "HD18: Harold Hayes Selected as Dem Candidate for Special Election". PoliticsPA. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
- Cole, John (January 16, 2020). "HD18: KC Tomlinson Selected as GOP Nominee for Special Election". PoliticsPA. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
- Cholodofsky, Rich (December 26, 2019). "Westmoreland County election winners sworn into office". triblive.com. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
- Cole, John (January 27, 2020). "HD58: Robert Prah Jr. Nominated as Dem Candidate for Special Election". PoliticsPA. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
- Cole, John (January 27, 2020). "HD58: Eric Davanzo Selected as GOP Candidate for Special Election". PoliticsPA. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
- McDaniel, Justine; Couloumbis, Angela (December 4, 2019). "Pa. Rep. Movita Johnson-Harrell, charged with stealing more than $500,000 from her own charity, will resign". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
- Cole, John (February 26, 2020). "HD190: Roni Green Coasts to Special Election Victory". PoliticsPA. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
- Turner, Ford (February 20, 2020). "Eight candidates running for two open Pa. House seats in Lehigh Valley, with property taxes a big issue". The Morning Call. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
- Turner, Ford (January 6, 2020). "Who's running for Lehigh Valley state House seats?". The Morning Call. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
- "Official Election Results". Pennsylvania Department of State. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
Further reading
- Amber Phillips (October 2, 2020), "The state legislative battles to watch in 2020", Washingtonpost.com,
Pennsylvania state House
. (About redistricting).
External links
- Electionreturns.pa.gov, Pennsylvania Department of State
- Government Documents Round Table of the American Library Association, "Pennsylvania", Voting & Elections Toolkits
- "Pennsylvania: Election Tools, Deadlines, Dates, Rules, and Links", Vote.org, Oakland, CA
- "League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania". (State affiliate of the U.S. League of Women Voters)
- National Institute on Money in Politics; Campaign Finance Institute, "Pennsylvania 2019 & 2020 Elections", Followthemoney.org