AP Decision Notes: What to expect in the latest Pennsylvania House special election

WASHINGTON (AP) — Control of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives hangs in the balance in a special election on Tuesday in the Philadelphia suburbs. If that sounds vaguely familiar, it’s because it’s the fourth time in a year that a vacancy has put the majority up for grabs in the evenly-divided lower chamber.

Voters in the 140th state House district in Bucks County, sandwiched between Philadelphia and New Jersey, will pick a replacement for former Democratic state Rep. John Galloway, who was elected to a judgeship last year. Galloway’s departure once again deadlocked the chamber at 101-101.

The candidates vying to hand their party the critical 102nd seat for control of the House are Democrat Jim Prokopiak and Republican Candace Cabanas. Prokopiak, an attorney from Levittown, has served on the Pennsbury School Board since his election in 2021. He previously served on the Falls Township Board of Supervisors. Cabanas of Fairless Hills is a political newcomer who has worked in the home health care and hospitality industries.

In the 2022 midterm election, Democrats won a majority in the Pennsylvania House for the first time since 2010, but Republicans occupied more seats by the time the term began in January because of three vacancies that were created after the election. Democrats regained the majority last February after winning special elections to fill the three vacancies. Two additional vacancies forced another round of special elections in May where Democrats restored their slim 102-101 majority. Democrats beat back a third challenge to their majority in September after Democratic state Rep. Sara Innamorato resigned to focus on her successful bid for Allegheny County Executive.