Democrats seize control of state House, gain in Senate

By Alex Roarty, PolitickerPA.com Reporter

House Democrats will expand their majority by one member and possibly two depending on the still undecided outcome of one race, according to Todd Eachus, chairman of the House Democratic Campaign Committee.

The Democrats lost three incumbents, he said: Chris King in the 142nd, Dan Surra in the 75th, and Vince Biancucci in the 15th. They also lost the seat held by retiring state Rep. Tom Tangretti in the 57th.

Frank Farry defeated King, Matt Gabler defeated Surra, Jim Christiana defeated Biancucci and Tim Kreiger defated John Boyle in the open-seat 57th.

They made up for the losses by picking up five Republican seats. Richard Mirabito won the open seat in the 83rd, Brandon Boyle won the open seat in the 170th, Steve Santarsiero won the open seat in the 31st, Paul Drucker unseated Guy Ciarrocchi in the 157th, and Matt Bradford unseated Jay Moyer in the 70th.

The only undecided state House race, Eachus said, is in the 13th Legislative District, where only about 100 votes separate Democrat Tom Houghton and Republican John Lawrence. Houghton has the edge, according the preliminary results, as each tries to replace Art Hershey.

Eachus said although saddened by the loss of three incumbents, the night was "successful."

<<back