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GraffitiTavern OP t1_izbaldd wrote

TL;DR

The state House saga continues. Essentially, House Dems have said since they won the majority(a 1-seat majority), they should get chamber leadership for now, even though they technically have the same votes as the Republicans, 101-101, since one of the elected Dems is dead. The issue is that the state House leader is the one who schedules special elections, and for now neither party has a voting majority. So Joanna McClinton has just been sworn in as House Majority Leader.

Two more Dem legislators, Austin Davis and Summer Lee, have just resigned and will need vacancies filled via special election as well. Which leaves Dems temporarily with leadership(and likely a legal challenge from the state Republicans) and 99 voting seats. All 3 special election districts are solid blue so it is very likely in a few months they will just have a normal(if slim) majority, but for now there is a weird legal limbo until at least February.

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MPA_Dad t1_izbqgwn wrote

Great summary. I’ll add that I know Leader McClinton to be a studious attorney, so this is not a move she would make without being completely sure that legal precedent is on her side. It’s going to be a very interesting few months while this gets sorted out!

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discogeek t1_izc6csk wrote

She's incredibly smart. Good choice for leader, she'll make us proud as our first female Speaker.

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IamSauerKraut t1_izemc77 wrote

I thought the situation is unique. Which means there is no precedent.

That said, Cutler should sit down.

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AlVic40117560_ t1_izcovi0 wrote

Did Davis and Lee both run for two offices and win them both? How are they still in the PA house while they were just elected to new positions?

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GraffitiTavern OP t1_izcpv2i wrote

You can run for two offices simultaneously, they both ran for and won reelection in their current state House Districts

EDIT: To clarify a bit further, they wouldn't have to vacate their current office until they are sworn into their new positions in January, but I think they resigned from both now to have the special elections completed sooner.

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IrrumaboMalum t1_izd4h95 wrote

That sounds like something that shouldn't be allowed, since it has the potential to create situations like this.

You should only be able to run for one office at a time, and you should have to resign from your previous office to run for another office.

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IamSauerKraut t1_izemhs8 wrote

This business of running for 2 concurrent offices is a pet peeve of mine. Pick one. In this instance, them running for 2 has created an unnecessary situation.

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