Democrats sweep all 3 state House special elections, party to control chamber

The Democrats handily won in all three state House special elections Tuesday night, which will give them a majority in the House for the first time since 2010.

The margin of representation would be 102 Democrats to 101 Republicans.

According to unofficial returns from the Allegheny County Elections Division, the apparent winners are Joe McAndrew, 32nd District; Abigail Salisbury, 34th District; and Matthew Gergely, 35th District.

Their Republican opponents were Clayton Walker, Robert Pagane and Don Nevills, respectively.

Based on the large lead in the early returns, McAndrew declared victory.

“We’re looking forward to ushering a new era into the 32nd District and a new era for the state of Pennsylvania with Josh Shapiro as governor and a soon-to-be Democratic majority in the state House,” McAndrew said.

“I think overall people want to see an agenda that is going to move the needle for them. They want their necessities met. They want safe communities. They want good housing and to be able to get to those good jobs through public transportation.

“I think that messaging resonated with voters and pushed us over the top very handily.”

Democrats hold a significant voter registration advantage in all three districts and jumped out to a lead shortly after the polls closed due to mail-in and absentee votes.

According to final but unofficial results from the Allegheny County Elections Division:

• McAndrew beat Walker 9,515 votes (about 75%) to 3,185 (about 25%).

• With all but one precinct reporting, Salisbury collected 10,068 votes (87%) to Pagane’s 1,406 (12%).

• Gergely led Nevills 6,705 (73%) to 2,282 (about 25%) with 98% of precincts reported.

The newly elected representatives take their seats later this month.

Salisbury and Gergely take over for former state Reps. Summer Lee and Austin Davis, respectively.

Lee won election to Congress in November and Davis became lieutenant governor.

A special election was needed in the 32nd District when longtime state representative Tony DeLuca won reelection in November despite having died the previous month. No Republican candidate was on the ballot, as had been the case in at least the last three elections.

The 32nd District includes Oakmont, Penn Hills, Verona and a section of Plum.

The 34th District includes Pittsburgh’s Homewood, Wilkinsburg, Swissvale, Forest Hills, Braddock and other eastern suburbs. Swissvale Democrat Summer Lee was reelected in the district but vacated her seat after being elected to Congress.

In the 35th District, McKeesport Democrat Austin Davis also was reelected but vacated his seat to become Pennsylvania’s lieutenant governor. The district includes McKeesport, Homestead, Duquesne, Clairton and other Mon Valley communities.

McAndrew’s mother- and father-in-law, Debbie and Robert Bertoni of Lawrenceville, greeted voters at Penn Hills Elementary.

“He married my daughter (Michelle) seven years ago, and it was the best thing to happen to both of them,” Debbie Bertoni said. “They’re both politically driven, and Joe is very young and politically motivated. I honestly think he would be an extreme asset to the 32^nd District. I think politics in general need young people.”

Robert Bertoni said he knows Andrews has some legendary Democratic shoes to fill, and believes he is up for the challenge.

“I think he’s going to do excellent,” Robert Bertoni said. “Joe’s a good person. I think (DeLuca) did an excellent job and Joe’s going to do the same.”

Republicans were out in force at a variety of polling places in Plum and surrounding areas on Tuesday afternoon.

Walker, himself, and supporter Matt Carter greeted voters at that borough’s municipal building along Old Mine Road.

“I believe in his candidacy,” Carter said. “He’s a man of integrity and intelligence. It’s a rare combination. I think he’s the first Republican candidate to run in this district in I don’t know how many years.

“It’s been quite a while since there’s even been an alternative to Tony DeLuca. Simply him running gives (us) a chance to win. If you don’t run, you can’t win.”

Aaron Riggleman, a Republican from Hempfield, stumped for Walker with 58^th District state Rep. Eric Devanzo, R-Westmoreland County, outside Tenth Street Elementary in Oakmont.

“We (had) an opportunity here in Allegheny (County) to decide the fate of which party has control of the legislature,” Riggleman said.

“Just a couple years ago we saw (in District 33) Carrie DelRosso (R-Oakmont) do a similar thing with upsetting Frank Dermody, who was the minority leader at the time,” Riggleman said. “Tony DeLuca’s legacy here is unquestioned. But when you have the opportunity with two non-incumbent candidates, voters are really going to have a choice the first time in a long time to set the future for their district and their community and really pave the way forward. That’s why I think this election (was) so important.”