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Special election scheduled for late Rep. Tony DeLuca's seat

Special election scheduled for late Rep. Tony DeLuca's seat
TO CALL POLICE. IN TONIGHT’S COMMITMENT 2023 COVERAGE, PENNSYLVANIA’S HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ENDS ITS LEGISLATIVE SESSION TONIGHT, BUT WITHOUT A CLEAR IDEA OF WHO WILL CONTROL THE CHAMBER NEXT YEAR. WHEN THE CLOCK STRIKES MIDNIGHT, THERE WON’T BE A SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE ANYMORE. DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS ARE DISPUTING WHO IS ACTUALLY IN CHARGE. DEMOCRATS GAINED 12 SEATS IN THE HOUSE, REACHING 102 TOTAL. NORMALLY THAT WOULD GIVE THEM THE MAJORITY AND CONTROL OF THE CHAMBER BY ONE SEAT. HOWEVER, THE DEATH OF REPRESENTATIVE TONY DELUCA OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY LEAVES THE CHAMBER TIED AT 101. DELUCA DIED A MONTH BEFORE THE ELECTION, BUT HE WAS STILL ON THE BALLOT AND RE-ELECTED. HOUSE DEMOCRATIC LEADER JOANNA MCCLINTON SAYS HER PARTY WILL BE THE MAJORITY STARTING TOMORROW, BUT OUTGOING HOUSE SPEAKER BRYAN CUTLER ARGUES THAT’S NOT THE CASE. >> SO THEY CAN’T RELY ON SOMEONE WHO IS NO LONGER WITH US TO MAINTAIN THEIR MAJORITY. AND THE NUMBERS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. 101 TO 101. ANDREW: THIS DISPUTE IS EVEN AFFECTING A SPECIAL ELECTION TO REPLACE REPRESENTATIVE DELUCA. TODAY, CUTLER SCHEDULED A DATE FOR THE ELECTION. BUT MCCLINTON SAYS HE DOESN’T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO THAT AND SHE WILL SCHEDULE TH
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Special election scheduled for late Rep. Tony DeLuca's seat
A special election will be held to replace a Pennsylvania state lawmaker who died several weeks before voters elected him to another term, marking the first of several special elections to come in a nearly evenly split state House of Representatives.The only question may be who orders it.House Speaker Bryan Cutler on Wednesday scheduled the special election for Feb. 7 to fill the vacancy created by the death of Rep. Tony DeLuca, D-Allegheny. The earliest possible date to legally order the election is Jan. 31, according to Cutler's office. DeLuca, 85, died in October, after ballots were printed and after the legal deadline to substitute a candidate.While the Democrats appear to have a razor-thin majority at 102-101, DeLuca's death leaves the chamber tied at 101-101 between the parties.Cutler, R-Lancaster, issued the order on the last day of the two-year legislative session, but Democrats may also order a special election for the seat.Top-ranking Democrat Rep. Joanna McClinton - who, with her party potentially at the helm, could become the House's next speaker - said she plans to issue her own writ of election on Thursday.McClinton said the special election should be set for the earliest possible date, but contended that Cutler and House Republicans lack the authority to order one for the next legislative session, when they will be in the minority.Two other Allegheny County Democrats, Reps. Austin Davis and Summer Lee, each won another term but were also elected to higher office, Davis as lieutenant governor and Lee as a member of Congress.The Senate will also have a vacancy to fill, with Wednesday’s retirement of Republican Sen. John Gordner of Columbia County, with two years left in his four-year term.

A special election will be held to replace a Pennsylvania state lawmaker who died several weeks before voters elected him to another term, marking the first of several special elections to come in a nearly evenly split state House of Representatives.

The only question may be who orders it.

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House Speaker Bryan Cutler on Wednesday scheduled the special election for Feb. 7 to fill the vacancy created by the death of Rep. Tony DeLuca, D-Allegheny. The earliest possible date to legally order the election is Jan. 31, according to Cutler's office.

DeLuca, 85, died in October, after ballots were printed and after the legal deadline to substitute a candidate.

While the Democrats appear to have a razor-thin majority at 102-101, DeLuca's death leaves the chamber tied at 101-101 between the parties.

Cutler, R-Lancaster, issued the order on the last day of the two-year legislative session, but Democrats may also order a special election for the seat.

Top-ranking Democrat Rep. Joanna McClinton - who, with her party potentially at the helm, could become the House's next speaker - said she plans to issue her own writ of election on Thursday.

McClinton said the special election should be set for the earliest possible date, but contended that Cutler and House Republicans lack the authority to order one for the next legislative session, when they will be in the minority.

Two other Allegheny County Democrats, Reps. Austin Davis and Summer Lee, each won another term but were also elected to higher office, Davis as lieutenant governor and Lee as a member of Congress.

The Senate will also have a vacancy to fill, with Wednesday’s retirement of Republican Sen. John Gordner of Columbia County, with two years left in his four-year term.