Pennsylvania Democrats hold majority in state House of Representatives

Pennsylvania Democrats won a 102-101 majority in the state House of Representatives in the Nov. 5 election for the second consecutive campaign cycle, even as Republicans won several statewide elections.

In 2022, as Democrat Josh Shapiro defeated Republican Doug Mastriano in the Pennsylvania gubernatorial election by a decisive 57%-42% majority and Democratic nominee Jon Fetterman won an open U.S. Senate seat over Republican Mehmet Oz 51%-46%, Democrats took a one-seat majority in the state house, their first majority in the chamber in 12 years.

Pennsylvania Republicans had a much better election in 2024, with former President Donald Trump winning the state by two points and GOP candidates sweeping statewide attorney general, treasurer, and auditor contests. But despite a multimillion-dollar campaign, Republicans failed to gain any ground in the state House. 

“When the commonwealth was red in so many places, people in our respective constituents understood that it was the one-seat majority that stood in the gap to invest a historic amount of money in public education,” Democratic House Speaker Joanna McClinton said at a Nov. 12 press conference. “They understood it was the one-seat majority that delivered tax cuts to our seniors who are struggling to maintain their homes. They understood it was the one-seat majority that sent over to the Senate over 300 bills, some of which they should be working on right now.”

Republicans will continue to hold a majority in the Pennsylvania Senate, giving them the power to block popular proposals to protect contraception access, prevent gun violence, raise the minimum wage, and guarantee paid leave for employees.

Keeping a majority in one chamber, however, will allow Democrats to prevent GOP lawmakers from using a maneuver to circumvent Shapiro’s veto by putting policy proposals directly on the ballot. In 2022, when they controlled both chambers, Republicans attempted to put a constitutional amendment before voters that would have stated that the constitution guarantees no rights connected with abortion.

“For the past two years, House Democrats worked on the issues people care about, like cutting costs for working families, record investments in public education, delivering much-needed property tax and rent relief, keeping prescription costs down for seniors, strengthening our workforce and economy and making government work,” Pennsylvania House Democratic leaders said in a joint statement on Nov. 8. “The people returned our caucus to the majority, which is an affirmation of our agenda and a credit to the pragmatic and moderate stewardship of House Democrats and Governor Josh Shapiro.“