Pennsylvania state legislative special elections, 2016
Five seats were vacated in the Pennsylvania State Legislature in 2016. All five vacancies were filled through special elections. The following districts had a vacancy:
- State House District 57: The seat was vacant following Tim Krieger's (R) resignation on December 29, 2015.[1] He resigned after he was elected to the Westmoreland County Court of Common Pleas in Pennsylvania.
- State House District 192: The seat was vacant following Louise Williams Bishop's (D) resignation on December 17, 2015, as part of a plea deal in a corruption case.
- State House District 200: The seat was vacant following Cherelle Parker's (D) resignation in January 2016 after she was elected to the Philadelphia City Council.
- State Senate District 9: The seat was vacant following Dominic Pileggi's (R) resignation on January 5. He resigned after being elected to a county judgeship.
- State House District 168: The seat was vacant following Thomas Killion's (R) election to the state Senate.
Breakdown of 2016 special elections
Across the country in 2016, special elections for state legislative positions were held for a variety of reasons:
- 23 were due to appointment, election, or the seeking of election to another position
- 11 were due to a retirement
- 11 were due to the incumbent accepting another job
- 12 were due to a death
- 4 were due to a conviction
- 3 were due to filling a remaining term
- 1 was due to an expulsion
The partisan breakdown for vacancies were as follows:
- 37 Democratic seats
- 28 Republican seats
| Partisan Change from Special Elections | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of Vacancy | After Special Election | |
| Democratic Party | 37 | 39 | |
| Republican Party | 28 | 24 | |
| Independent | 0 | 2 | |
| Total | 65 | 65 | |
Note: The table above reflected information for elections that were held—not total vacant seats.
How vacancies are filled
If there is a vacancy in the Pennsylvania General Assembly, a special election must be held to fill the vacant seat. The presiding officer in the house where the vacancy happened must call for an election. There are no deadlines set in the state constitution on when a special election can be held.[2]
See sources: Pennsylvania Cons. Art. II, §2
Special elections
March 15, 2016
| ☑ Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 57 | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
A special election for the position of Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 57 was called for March 15. Candidates were nominated by their parties rather than through primaries.[3] The seat was vacant following Tim Krieger's (R) resignation on December 29, 2015.[4] He resigned after he was elected to the Westmoreland County Court of Common Pleas in Pennsylvania.[3] Linda Iezzi (D) was defeated by Eric Nelson (R) in the special election.[5][6][7]
| |||||||||||||||||||||
| ☑ Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 192 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
A special election for the position of Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 192 was called for March 15. Candidates were nominated by their parties rather than through primaries.[3] The seat was vacant following Louise Williams Bishop's (D) resignation on December 17, 2015, as part of a plea deal in a corruption case.[8] Lynwood Savage (D) defeated Robert Bedford (R) and Leon Williams (Leon's Education Party) in the special election.[9][10][11]
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ☑ Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 200 | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
A special election for the position of Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 200 was called for March 15. Candidates were nominated by their parties rather than through primaries.[3] The seat was vacant following Cherelle Parker's (D) resignation in January 2016 after she was elected to the Philadelphia City Council.[3] Tonyelle Cook-Artis (D) defeated Latryse McDowell (R) in the special election.[12][13][14]
| |||||||||||||||||||||
April 26, 2016
| ☑ Pennsylvania State Senate District 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
A special election for the position of Pennsylvania State Senate District 9 was called for April 26. Candidates were nominated by their parties rather than through primaries.[3] The seat was vacant following Dominic Pileggi's (R) resignation on January 5. He resigned after being elected to a county judgeship.[3] Martin Molloy (D) was defeated by Thomas Killion (R) in the special election.[15][16]
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
July 12, 2016
| ☑ Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 168 | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
A special election for the position of Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 168 was called for July 12. Candidates were nominated by their parties rather than through primaries.[17] The seat was vacant following Thomas Killion's (R) election to the state Senate. He was sworn-in to the chamber on May 11, 2016.[18] Christopher Quinn (R) defeated Diane Levy (D) in the special election.[19][20]
| |||||||||||||||||||||
See also
- State legislative special elections, 2016
- State legislative special elections, 2015
- Pennsylvania House of Representatives elections, 2014
- Pennsylvania State Senate elections, 2014
- Pennsylvania House of Representatives elections, 2012
- Pennsylvania State Legislature
- Pennsylvania state legislative special elections: 2013, 2012
Footnotes
- ↑ TribLive, "Rep. Krieger to resign from state House on Dec. 29," accessed January 6, 2016
- ↑ State of Pennsylvania, "Pennsylvania Constitution," accessed February 15, 2021 (Article II, Section 2)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Centre Daily.com, "Special elections set for Pennsylvania Legislature vacancies," accessed January 6, 2016 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "centre" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ TribLive, "Rep. Krieger to resign from state House on Dec. 29," accessed January 6, 2016
- ↑ triblive.com, "Nelson nails landslide victory in race for 57th House seat," accessed March 16, 2016
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "List of Candidates," accessed February 2, 2016
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "Representative in the General Assembly," accessed April 5, 2016
- ↑ Philly.com, "Rep. Bishop drops claim of racial targeting in sting, resigns," accessed December 17, 2015
- ↑ philly.com, "Democrats win 2 special House elections in Phila.," accessed March 16, 2016
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "List of Candidates," accessed February 2, 2016
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "Representative in the General Assembly," accessed April 5, 2016
- ↑ philly.com, "Democrats win 2 special House elections in Phila.," accessed March 16, 2016
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "List of Candidates," accessed February 2, 2016
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "Representative in the General Assembly," accessed April 5, 2016
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "Official results," accessed May 19, 2016
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "List of Candidates," accessed February 2, 2016
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "Calendar for the Special Election to be held July 12, 2016 Representative in the General Assembly for the 168th District in the County of Delaware," accessed May 19, 2016
- ↑ pasenategop.com, "Senator-Elect Tom Killion to Be Sworn Into Office Wednesday, May 11," accessed May 11, 2016
- ↑ Philly.com, "Republican Chris Quinn wins special election for 168th House District," accessed July 13, 2016
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "Unofficial List Of Candidates," accessed May 26, 2016
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