The district is a Democratic stronghold Democratic strategists predict their party will be able to retain. A previous special election in which the Republican candidate lost by a wide margin may be why the GOP hasn’t drained its coffers to try to flip the seat, said Trevor Southerland, House Democratic campaign strategist. Several Democrat-led initiatives, such as whole home repair and broader protections for LGBTQ+ people, were critical pieces of legislation that didn’t move until Democrats reclaimed control of the state House earlier this year, she said. But the Legislature remains politically divided, with a firm Republican majority in the Senate that has sought to advance its own priorities, including school vouchers and constitutional amendments. She previously ran for the state House in 2000 but lost to the Democrat seeking reelection.

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Persons: Lindsay Powell, Republican Erin Connolly Autenreith, Sara Innamorato, Trevor Southerland, ”, “ We’re, “, Sam DeMarco, ” Powell, Sen, Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, Powell, Josh Shapiro, that’s, Autenreith, it’s, Innamorato, Joseph Rockey, John Galloway, ___ Brooke Schultz Organizations: Pennsylvania, Republican, Democratic, House Democratic, Republicans, U.S . Rep, New York Democrats, Pittsburgh, Democrat, Democrats, Gov, Senate, Capitol, Republican Party, Associated Press, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: HARRISBURG, Pa, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Harrisburg, McKees, Shaler, Bucks County