Pennsylvania Democrats Break Republican Senate Supermajority, Make Gains in House

 

 

 

WASHINGTON — With some results outstanding, the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) and Pennsylvania Senate Democrats have shattered the Republican supermajority in the state Senate, flipping at least five seats from red to blue with an additional race headed to a recount. In the state House, the DLCC and Pennsylvania House Democrats made strong gains in the state’s lower legislative chamber, picking up 11 seats.

 

With these gains, Democrats are positioned to flip both chambers in 2020, ahead of critical redistricting.

 

“Congratulations to Pennsylvania House and Senate Democrats, to Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, and to Senate Democratic Campaign Committee Chairman Vincent Hughes!” said DLCC Executive Director Jessica Post. “By breaking the Republican supermajority in the state Senate and expanding our numbers in the state House, Pennsylvania Democrats will have a stronger voice as they fight to deliver affordable health care and quality public education to Pennsylvania families. The DLCC invested more than $700,000 in Pennsylvania to hire staff early in the cycle, run digital ads, TV spots, and other paid communications, and for our data modeling to help execute a strong field program. Democratic supporters knocked on over one million doors to drive voter turnout. With our victories tonight, the DLCC and Pennsylvania Democrats are positioned to reclaim majorities in 2020 and ensure fair district lines are drawn in this key swing state.”

 

Democrats’ impressive slate of 200 candidates included over 80 first-time candidates, almost 90 women, and dozens of educators.

 

Tonight’s victors included many DLCC Spotlight candidates, such as Representatives-elect Joe Ciresi,Carolyn Comitta, David Delloso, Danielle Friel Otten, Liz Hanbidge, Joe Hohenstein, Kristine Howard, Christina Sappey, Melissa Shusterman, Joe Webster, Dan Williams, and Mike Zabel, and Senators-elect Lindsey Williams, Maria Collett, Tim Kearney, and Katie Muth.

 

This year Democrats ran over 5,300 candidates – the most candidates for state legislatures since 1982. Nearly half of those candidates are women, and more than 1,100 are candidates of color. The DLCC knows that when Democrats hold the majority in state legislatures, more policies are passed into law that help all Americans. The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee is the only organization exclusively committed to electing Democrats to state legislatures all over the country and winning Democratic control of chambers. For over two decades, the DLCC has been working with state legislative leaders to invest strategically in state programs and rebuild the Democratic Party from the ground up. This cycle, the DLCC held 40 trainings with more than 800 candidates and staff to prepare state Democrats for success. With the help of the DLCC, state Democrats are leading the resistance against the Trump administration’s extremist policies while moving our nation forward one state at a time.

 

For more information or to schedule an interview with the DLCC, please contact Alexandra Weinroth at [email protected].