Uncontested special elections on Tuesday allow Pa. House Democrats to maintain one-seat majority

Pennsylvania Capitol Building on Tuesday, May 24, 2022. (Photo by Amanda Berg, for the Capital-Star).

Democrats Keith Harris and Andre Carroll won uncontested special elections for two Philadelphia state House districts on Tuesday, according to unofficial results, meaning Democrats will maintain a one-seat majority in the state legislature’s lower chamber.

Harris and Carroll each received about 3,100 votes in the elections for the 195th and 201st legislative districts, respectively, according to election returns published by the Pennsylvania Department of State. The results are unofficial until certified by Philadelphia election officials and the Pennsylvania Department of State.

Former Rep. Donna Bullock (D-Philadelphia) resigned from her 195th Legislative District seat to become CEO of the nonprofit homeless support group Project HOME. Bullock has represented the 195th Legislative District since 2016.

Former Rep. Stephen Kinsey (D-Philadelphia) announced in January that the current legislative session would be his last. Kinsey has served as state representative for the 201st Legislative District since 2013.

Both officially resigned in July . Their northwest Philadelphia districts were considered safe for Democrats, who hold a 102-seat majority in the House, which the caucus has maintained through a series of special elections this session.

The House is scheduled to return to session Sept. 23 but will not hold votes until Oct. 1.

According to his campaign website, Harris began his work in community service in 1984 with the Philadelphia anti-graffiti network, served as 28th Ward leader, and as Philadelphia City Council’s sergeant at arms.

Carroll says on his campaign website that he was raised by his grandmother because his father was incarcerated and his mother struggled with substance abuse. His grandmother’s lessons of hard work, perseverance and identifying opportunity gave him the motivation to graduate from school, earn a degree while working full time and become a teacher in the public school system.

(This article was updated at 3:55 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, to include information about certification of the election results)