Pennsylvania elections leave Democrats in narrow control of state House amid abortion fight


Pennsylvania voters on Tuesday kept the state House in Democratic control, advanced a Black woman as Philadelphia's likely 100th mayor, and blocked a Republican judge who halted certification of President Biden's 2020 victory from a seat on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, among other election results.
Democrats flipped 12 state House seats in the 2022 elections, giving them a one-vote majority in the lower chamber, but control of the legislature was once more up in the air when state Rep. Mike Zabel (D) resigned after a lobbyist accused him of sexual harassment. Democrat Heather Boyd won Tuesday's special election to fill Zabel's seat in a previously Republican bellwether district north of Philadelphia, defeating Republican Katie Ford.
Republican Michael Stender won a safe conservative House seat in a second special election Tuesday, keeping the central Pennsylvania district in GOP hands, but Boyd's win gives Democrats the opportunity to block a Republican push to put abortion limits before voters in a referendum. The race was important enough that Biden stepped in to endorse Boyd, saying the race "will determine the future of so many fundamental freedoms that Pennsylvanians hold dear."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In Philadelphia, former city councilor and state legislator Cherelle Parker won a nine-person race for the Democratic mayoral nomination. Parker, 50, is widely expected to beat Republican nominee David Oh in the heavily Democratic city, making her the first woman elected to lead Philadelphia. She was the only Black candidate among the five Democrats with a shot a the nomination, and campaigned on putting more cops on the street. Mayor Jim Kenny, who can't seek reelection due to term limits, did not endorse anyone in the primary but said he voted for Parker.
Both parties also selected their candidates for a state Supreme Court seat left vacant by the death of Chief Justice Max Baer last fall. Democrats, who currently hold a 4-2 majority on the seven-member court, selected Superior Court Judge Daniel McCaffery over fellow Superior Court Judge Deborah Kunselman. Republicans, meanwhile, nominated Montgomery County Judge Carolyn Carluccio over Commonwealth Court Judge Patricia McCullough. McCullough had ordered a halt to the certification of the 2020 election after Biden beat former President Donald Trump in the swing state. Both McCaffery and Carluccio were backed by their respective state party.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Judge: Trump's US attorney in NJ serving unlawfully
Speed Read The appointment of Trump's former personal defense lawyer, Alina Habba, as acting US attorney in New Jersey was ruled 'unlawful'
-
Third judge rejects DOJ's Epstein records request
Speed Read Judge Richard Berman was the third and final federal judge to reject DOJ petitions to unseal Epstein-related grand jury material
-
Texas OKs gerrymander sought by Trump
Speed Read The House approved a new congressional map aimed at flipping Democratic-held seats to Republican control
-
Israel starts Gaza assault, approves West Bank plan
Speed Read Israel forces pushed into the outskirts of Gaza City and Netanyahu's government gave approval for a settlement to cut the occupied Palestinian territory in two
-
Court says labor board's structure unconstitutional
Speed Read The ruling has broad implications for labor rights enforcement in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi
-
Feds seek harsh charges in DC arrests, except for rifles
Speed Read The DOJ said 465 arrests had been made in D.C. since Trump federalized law enforcement there two weeks ago
-
Trump taps Missouri AG to help lead FBI
Speed Read Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has been appointed FBI co-deputy director, alongside Dan Bongino
-
Trump warms to Kyiv security deal in summit
Speed Read Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called Trump's support for guaranteeing his country's security 'a major step forward'