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Pennsylvania House of Representatives

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Pennsylvania House of
Representatives
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General Information
Party control:  Republican
Session start:  January 6, 2026
Session end:  November 30, 2026
Term length:  2 years
Term limits:  None
Redistricting:  Commission
Salary:  $110,015.54/year + per diem
Members
Total:  203
Democrats:  100
Republicans:  98
Other:  0
Vacancies:  5
Leadership
Speaker:  Joanna McClinton (D)
Maj. Leader:  Matthew Bradford (D)
Min. Leader:  Jesse Topper (R)
Elections
Last election:  November 5, 2024
Next election:  November 3, 2026


The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Alongside the Pennsylvania State Senate, it forms the legislative branch of the Pennsylvania state government and works alongside the governor of Pennsylvania to create laws and establish a state budget. Legislative authority and responsibilities of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives include passing bills on public policy matters, setting levels for state spending, raising and lowering taxes, and voting to uphold or override gubernatorial vetoes.

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives meets in the state capitol building in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

  • All 203 House seats were up for election in 2020. Click to read more »
  • In 2018, the chamber's Republican majority decreased from 120-79 (with four vacancies) to 110-93.
  • Pennsylvania has a divided government, and no political party holds a state government trifecta. A trifecta exists when one political party simultaneously holds the governor’s office and majorities in both state legislative chambers. As of February 23, 2026, there are 23 Republican trifectas, 14 Democratic trifectas, and 13 divided governments where neither party holds trifecta control. In the 2020 election, Republicans had a net gain of two trifectas and two states under divided government became trifectas. Prior to that election, Pennsylvania had a divided government. There were 21 Republican trifectas, 15 Democratic trifectas, and 14 divided governments.

    • This page contains the following information on the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

    Party control

    Current partisan control

    The table below shows the partisan breakdown of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives as of February 2026:

    Partisan composition, Pennsylvania House of Representatives
    As of February 2026
    PartyMembers
    Democratic100
    Republican98
    Other0
    Vacancies5
    Total203

    Members

    Leadership

    The speaker of the House is the presiding officer of the body.[1]

    Current leadership and members

    Salaries

    See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
    State legislative salaries, 2025[2]
    SalaryPer diem
    $110,015.54/year$198/day

    Swearing in dates

    See also: When state legislators assume office after a general election

    Pennsylvania legislators' terms officially begin on December 1 the year of their election. However, legislators take the oath of office the first Tuesday in January.[3][4]

    Membership qualifications

    See also: State legislature candidate requirements by state

    Under Article II of the Pennsylvania Constitution, Senators shall be at least twenty-five years of age and Representatives twenty-one years of age. They shall have been citizens and inhabitants of their respective districts one year next before their election (unless absent on the public business of the United States or of this State) and shall reside in their respective districts during their terms of service.

    Historical party control

    Democrats won a 102-101 majority in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2022, gaining control of the chamber for the first time since 2008. In 2024, Democrats maintained a 102-101 majority.

    The table below shows the partisan history of the Pennsylvania House following every general election from 1992 to 2024. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.

    Pennsylvania House of Representatives election results: 1992-2024

    Year '92 '94 '96 '98 '00 '02 '04 '06 '08 '10 '12 '14 '16 '18 '20 '22 '24
    Democrats 105 101 99 100 99 94 93 102 104 91 93 84 82 93 92 102 102
    Republicans 98 102 104 103 104 109 110 101 99 112 110 119 121 110 111 101 101


    Trifecta history

    A state government trifecta is a term that describes single party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government. Democratic Governor Tom Wolf won election in 2014, moving Pennsylvania's state government to divided control. Prior to that, Republicans controlled a trifecta resulting from the 2010 elections. The table below shows state government trifectas in Pennsylvania from 1992 to 2019.

    Pennsylvania Party Control: 1992-2026
    One year of a Democratic trifecta  •  Twelve years of Republican trifectas
    Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

    Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
    Governor D D D R R R R R R R R D D D D D D D D R R R R D D D D D D D D D D D D
    Senate R D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
    House D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R D D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R D D D D

    Elections

    Elections by year

    Pennsylvania state representatives serve two-year terms, with all seats up for election every two years. Pennsylvania holds elections for its legislature in even years.

    2026

    See also: Pennsylvania House of Representatives elections, 2026

    Elections for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives will take place in 2026. The general election is on November 3, 2026. The primary is May 19, 2026. The filing deadline is March 10, 2026.

    2024

    See also: Pennsylvania House of Representatives elections, 2024

    Elections for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives took place in 2024. The general election was on November 5, 2024. The primary was April 23, 2024. The filing deadline was February 13, 2024.

    In the 2024 elections, Democrats won 102 seats and Republicans won 101 seats.

    Pennsylvania House of Representatives
    Party As of November 5, 2024 After November 6, 2024
         Democratic Party 102 101
         Republican Party 101 101
         Vacancy 0 1
    Total 203 203

    2022

    See also: Pennsylvania House of Representatives elections, 2022

    Elections for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for May 17, 2022. The filing deadline was March 28, 2022.

    In the 2022 elections, Democrats won 102 seats and Republicans won 101 seats. One seat was won by a Democratic representative who passed away prior to the election.

    Pennsylvania House of Representatives
    Party As of November 8, 2022 After November 9, 2022
         Democratic Party 88 101
         Republican Party 113 101
         Vacancy 2 1
    Total 203 203

    2020

    See also: Pennsylvania House of Representatives elections, 2020

    Elections for the office of Pennsylvania House of Representatives took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for June 2, 2020. The filing deadline was February 18, 2020.

    In the 2020 elections, Republicans increased their majority in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 109-93 to 113-90.

    Pennsylvania House of Representatives
    Party As of November 3, 2020 After November 4, 2020
         Democratic Party 93 90
         Republican Party 109 113
         Vacancy 1 0
    Total 203 203

    2018

    See also: Pennsylvania House of Representatives elections, 2018

    Elections for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives took place in 2018. A closed primary election took place on May 15, 2018, and the general election was held on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline was March 6, 2018.

    In the 2018 elections, the Republican majority in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives was reduced from 120-79 to 110-93.

    Pennsylvania House of Representatives
    Party As of November 6, 2018 After November 7, 2018
         Democratic Party 79 93
         Republican Party 120 110
         Vacancy 4 0
    Total 203 203

    2016

    See also: Pennsylvania House of Representatives elections, 2016

    Elections for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election was held on April 26, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was February 16, 2016. All 203 seats in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives were up for election in 2016.

    Heading into the election, Republicans held a 119-84 majority. Republicans gained two seats in the election, giving them a 121-82 majority.

    Pennsylvania House of Representatives
    Party As of November 7, 2016 After November 8, 2016
         Democratic Party 84 82
         Republican Party 119 121
    Total 203 203

    Vacancies

    See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures

    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.[12]

    DocumentIcon.jpg See sources: Pennsylvania Cons. Art. II, §2

    District map

    See also: Pennsylvania state legislative districts

    The state of Pennsylvania has 203 state House districts. Each district elects one representative.

    Use the interactive map below to find your district.

    Redistricting

    See also: Redistricting in Pennsylvania

    In Pennsylvania, the statutory authority to draw congressional district boundaries is vested with the Pennsylvania General Assembly. These lines are subject to gubernatorial veto.[13]

    State legislative district lines are drawn by a politician commission. Established in 1968, the commission comprises five members:[13]

    1. The majority leader of the Pennsylvania State Senate appoints one member.
    2. The minority leader of the Pennsylvania State Senate appoints one member.
    3. The majority leader of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives appoints one member.
    4. The minority leader of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives appoints one member.
    5. The first four commissioners appoint a fifth member to serve as the commission's chair. If the commission is unable to reach an agreement, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court must appoint a commission chair.[13]


    The Pennsylvania Constitution requires that state legislative districts be contiguous and compact. Further, state legislative districts should "respect county, city, incorporated town, borough, township and ward boundaries." There are no such requirements in place for congressional districts.[13]

    2020

    See also: Redistricting in Pennsylvania after the 2020 census

    Upon completion of the 2020 census, Pennsylvania will draft and enact new district maps. According to a February 12, 2021, report from the Associated Press, Pennsylvania state Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman (R) said the state might have to postpone its 2022 primary, scheduled for May 17, 2022. "We’re not at the point where [we] have to put off the primary, but it’s something we have to consider if the data comes in so late," Corman said.[14][15]

    On October 25, the Pennsylvania Legislative Reapportionment Commission announced it had certified U.S. Census data.[16] The deadline for the commission to draw legislative maps was 90 days after the certification of data.[17]

    2010

    Pennsylvania received its local census data on March 9, 2011. The state had a low 3.4 percent growth rate from 2000-2010. The five most populous cities showed mostly stagnation: Philadelphia grew by 0.6 percent, Pittsburgh decreased by 8.6 percent, Allentown grew by 10.7 percent, Erie decreased by 1.9 percent, and Reading grew by 8.5 percent. By county, the major standout was Forest County with a 56 percent rate of growth.[18]

    On August 17, 2011, the Commission approved the census data and went to work on a preliminary map, which it passed on October 31, 2011 by a vote of 3-2. Democrats were not happy with the plan or the negotiation process. Final maps were approved on December 12, 2011 by a 4-1 vote, moving a Senate district and five House districts from west to east. There was a 30-day window to file appeals, of which 11 were filed. The state Supreme Court threw out the maps on January 25, 2012 after appeals were heard.

    The commission met on April 12, 2012 to vote in favor of a compromise map, which contained two Senate district splits and 68 House splits. On June 8, the commission approved the final plan, which went to the state Supreme Court for final approval.

    Sessions

    Legislation

    The legislation tracker below displays all legislation that the Pennsylvania House of Representatives has approved in its most recent legislative session—this includes legislation that has been sent from the House to the Senate and legislation that has already been approved by both chambers and signed by the governor. Information on legislation provided below includes the bill number, its name, progress, most recent action date, and sponsor. The tracker is fully interactive. Scroll up and down and side to side to see more. Click the bill number to read its text in full and see its voting history. You can click the headings to sort the content in the column. You can also rearrange the order of the headings by clicking and dragging them. Finally, in the bottom-left corner of the tracker is a magnifying glass, which, when clicked, will allow you to search for specific terms. The legislation tracker is maintained and updated by BillTrack50.

    Dates of legislative sessions in Pennsylvania by year

    2025

    See also: 2025 Pennsylvania legislative session and Dates of 2025 state legislative sessions

    In 2025, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 7, 2025, and adjourn on December 31, 2025.



    About legislative sessions in Pennsylvania

    The Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution declares that any power not already given to the federal government is reserved to the states and the people.[36] State governments across the country use this authority to hold legislative sessions where a state's elected representatives meet for a period of time to draft and vote on legislation and set state policies on issues such as taxation, education, and government spending. The different types of legislation passed by a legislature may include resolutions, legislatively referred constitutional amendments, and bills that become law.

    Article II of the Pennsylvania Constitution establishes when the Pennsylvania General Assembly, of which the House of Representatives is a part, is to meet. Section 4 of Article II states that the General Assembly is to convene its regular session on the first Tuesday of January each year.

    Section 4 gives the Governor of Pennsylvania the authority to convene special sessions of the General Assembly either when he judges a special session to be in the public interest, or when a majority of each legislative House requests a special session.

    Legislative roles and procedures

    Every state legislature throughout the country features its own internal procedures that it uses to govern itself and how it interacts with other parts of state government. Ballotpedia's coverage of internal state legislative procedures includes veto overrides, the role of the legislature in the state budget, and procedures for filling membership vacancies.

    Veto overrides

    Veto Override Graphic-No party.png

    See also: Veto overrides in state legislatures

    State legislatures can override governors' vetoes. Depending on the state, this can be done during the regular legislative session, in a special session following the adjournment of the regular session, or during the next legislative session. The rules for legislative overrides of gubernatorial vetoes in Pennsylvania are listed below.

    How many legislators are required to vote for an override? Two-thirds of members in both chambers.

    Two-thirds of members in both chambers must vote to override a veto, which is 136 of the 203 members in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and 34 of the 50 members in the Pennsylvania State Senate. Pennsylvania is one of 36 states that requires a two-thirds vote from both of its legislative chambers to override a veto.

    How can vetoes be overridden after the legislature has adjourned?

    Vetoes can be overridden when the next regular session convenes, provided that an election has not occurred.[37]

    Authority: Article IV, Section 15 of the Pennsylvania Constitution.

    "Every bill which shall have passed both Houses shall be presented to the Governor; if he approves he shall sign it, but if he shall not approve he shall return it with his objections to the House in which it shall have originated, which House shall enter the objections at large upon their journal, and proceed to re-consider it. If after such re-consideration, two-thirds of all the members elected to that House shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent with the objections to the other House by which likewise it shall be re-considered, and if approved by two-thirds of all the members elected to that House it shall be a law; but in such cases the votes of both Houses shall be determined by yeas and nays, and the names of the members voting for and against the bill shall be entered on the journals of each House, respectively."

    Role in state budget

    See also: Pennsylvania state budget and finances
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    Check out Ballotpedia articles about policy in your state on:
    Budgets • Civil liberties • Education • Elections • Energy • Environment • Healthcare • Pensions

    The state operates on an annual budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:[38]

    1. Budget instructions are sent to state agencies in August.
    2. State agencies submit their requests to the governor in October.
    3. Agency hearings are held between December and January.
    4. The governor submits his or her proposed budget to the state legislature in February. In a governor's first term, the budget proposal is submitted in March.
    5. The legislature adopts a budget by June 30. A simple majority is required to pass a budget. The fiscal year begins July 1.

    Pennsylvania is one of 44 states in which the governor has line item veto authority.[38][39]

    The governor is legally required to submit a balanced budget proposal. Likewise, the legislature is required to pass a balanced budget.[38]

    Committees

    See also: List of committees in Pennsylvania state government

    Every state legislature and state legislative chamber in the country contains several legislative committees. These committees are responsible for studying, amending, and voting on legislation before it reaches the floor of a chamber for a full vote. The different types of committees include standing committees, select or special, and joint.

    • Standing committees are generally permanent committees, the names of which sometimes change from session to session.
    • Select or special committees are temporary committees formed to deal with specific issues such as recent legislation, major public policy or proposals, or investigations.
    • Joint committees are committees that feature members of both chambers of a legislature.

    Ballotpedia covers standing and joint committees. The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has 27 standing committees:

    Constitutional amendments

    In every state but Delaware, voter approval is required to enact a constitutional amendment. In each state, the legislature has a process for referring constitutional amendments before voters. In 18 states, initiated constitutional amendments can be put on the ballot through a signature petition drive. There are also many other types of statewide measures.

    The methods by which the Pennsylvania Constitution can be amended:

    See also: Article XI of the Pennsylvania Constitution and Laws governing ballot measures in Pennsylvania

    The Pennsylvania Constitution provides for one mechanism for amending the state's constitution—a legislative process. However, the state constitution does not mention a constitutional convention process, and the legislature has called constitutional conventions in the past. Pennsylvania requires a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) for voters to approve constitutional amendments.

    Initiative

    See also: Initiated constitutional amendment

    In Pennsylvania, citizens do not have the power to initiate ballot measures at the state level.

    Legislature

    See also: Legislatively referred constitutional amendment

    According to Article XI, the state Legislature can refer constitutional amendments to the ballot for voters to decide. A simple majority vote is required during two successive legislative sessions for the Pennsylvania State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 102 votes in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and 26 votes in the Pennsylvania State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.

    When the Legislature finds that a "major emergency threatens or is about to threaten the Commonwealth," a constitutional amendment can be referred to the ballot with a two-thirds vote during one legislative session.


    See also

    Elections Pennsylvania State Government State Legislatures State Politics
    Ballotpedia Elections Badge-VOTE-no shadow-Square.jpg
    Pennsylvania State Flag-Close Up.jpg
    State Houses-Tile image.png
    State Courts-Tile image.png

    Footnotes

    1. ↑ Pennsylvania House of Representatives, "Officers of the House," accessed June 6, 2014
    2. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2025 Legislator Compensation," December 2, 2025
    3. ↑ Pennsylvania Constitution, "Article II, Section 2," accessed November 19, 2012
    4. ↑ Pennsylvania Constitution, "Article II, Section 4," accessed November 19, 2012
    5. ↑ Follow the Money, "Pennsylvania House of Representatives 2012 Campaign Contributions," accessed May 2, 2014
    6. ↑ Follow the Money, "Pennsylvania House of Representatives 2010 Campaign Contributions," accessed May 2, 2014
    7. ↑ Follow the Money, "Pennsylvania House of Representatives 2008 Campaign Contributions"
    8. ↑ Follow the Money, "Pennsylvania House of Representatives 2006 Campaign Contributions," accessed May 2, 2014
    9. ↑ Follow the Money, "Pennsylvania House of Representatives 2004 Campaign Contributions," accessed May 2, 2014
    10. ↑ Follow the Money, "Pennsylvania House of Representatives 2002 Campaign Contributions," accessed May 2, 2014
    11. ↑ Follow the Money, "Pennsylvania House of Representatives 2000 Campaign Contributions," accessed May 2, 2014
    12. ↑ State of Pennsylvania, "Pennsylvania Constitution," accessed February 15, 2021 (Article II, Section 2)
    13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 All About Redistricting, "Pennsylvania," accessed May 8, 2015
    14. ↑ Associated Press, "Pennsylvania may need to delay 2022 primary, lawmaker says," February 12, 2021
    15. ↑ Pennsylvania Redistricting, "Welcome to Pennsylvania Redistricting," accessed October 3, 2018
    16. ↑ Pennsylvania Redistricting, "October 25 - Legislative Reapportionment Commission Certifies U.S. Census Data Sets As Usable," October 25, 2021
    17. ↑ WSKG, "PA Redistricting Panel Now On Deadline To Draft First Map," October 26, 2021
    18. ↑ Census.gov, "U.S. Census Bureau Delivers Pennsylvania's 2010 Census Population Totals, Including First Look at Race and Hispanic Origin Data for Legislative Redistricting," March 9, 2011
    19. ↑ The Philadelphia Inquirer, "Pennsylvania legislature will vote remotely as coronavirus spreads," March 16, 2020
    20. ↑ The Inquirer, "S&P threatens to cut Pa. credit rating," July 6, 2017
    21. ↑ The Morning Call, "Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf to let budget become law," July 11, 201
    22. ↑ U.S. News, "Pennsylvania Budget Takes Effect Amid Fight Over Funding It," July 10, 2017
    23. ↑ U.S. News, "Pennsylvania Senate Approves Higher Taxes to Balance Budget," July 27, 2017
    24. ↑ NBC 10, "Budget Bills Are Ugly But Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf Has Little Choice But to Sign," October 28, 2017
    25. ↑ The Inquirer Daily News, "Wolf signs bills to balance Pa. budget with gambling and borrowing, hints of veto of education bill," October 30, 2017
    26. ↑ The Morning Call, "Pennsylvania's budget still not finished," July 5, 2017
    27. ↑ The Inquirer, "PA. budget talks drag on," July 5, 2017
    28. ↑ Lehigh Valley, "House, Senate send Pennsylvania budget to Gov. Wolf," June 30, 2017
    29. ↑ Penn Live, "New year, old issues: Pennsylvania legislative leaders meet on budget Tuesday," accessed January 6, 2016
    30. ↑ Law 360, "Pennsylvania Legislation And Regulation To Watch In 2015," accessed January 22, 2015
    31. ↑ Penn Live, "Pa. Senate Prez: Do away with 'obsolete, unsustainable' pensions or face budget crash: Friday Morning Coffee," January 10, 2014
    32. ↑ Post-Gazette, "Pennsylvania lawmakers start settling in," January 2, 2013
    33. ↑ The Reporter Online, "Triple-dipping loophole in Pa. unemployment law finally closed," accessed December 6, 2013
    34. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2011 Legislative Sessions Calendar," accessed June 6, 2014(Archived)
    35. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2010 session dates for Pennsylvania legislature," accessed June 6, 2014(Archived)
    36. ↑ Find Law, "Tenth Amendment - U.S. Constitution," accessed May 20, 2017
    37. ↑ Pennsylvania Code, "§ 9.127. Passage of vetoed bill.," accessed July 3, 2017
    38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 38.2 National Association of State Budget Officers, "Budget Processes in the States, Spring 2021," accessed January 24, 2023
    39. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Separation of Powers: Executive Veto Powers," accessed January 26, 2024
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