HARRISBURG, Pa. - The latest iteration of Pennsylvania's General Assembly will take the oath of office at noon Tuesday, kicking off what likely will be a tumultuous few weeks in state politics.
- The November elections are over, but the parties still are jockeying for control of the Pennsylvania House
- The Lehigh Valley's statehouse delegation features some new faces, including two new state senators
- Governor-elect Josh Shapiro will be sworn into office later this month
The 2023 session hasn't yet begun, but politicians already are fighting over the leadership of the House of Representatives.
For the first time in over a decade, Democrats won a majority of the 203 seats, but the numbers have grown complicated.
Democrats held a single-seat advantage following the election. But between resignations and a death, Republicans now outnumber Democrats, at least until special elections are held to fill the vacancies.
None of the empty seats are in politically competitive districts, and most political observers are confident Democrats will retain their narrow majority.
Even if that occurs, that still leaves the House in conflict for the first few weeks of 2023. The two parties quarreled through most of December as to when special elections should be held to fill the vacancies before agreeing on Feb. 7.
Rep. Valerie Gaydos (R-Allegheny) has said she will challenge Rep. Joanna McClinton for the role of House Speaker (D- Delaware/Philadelphia), which could mean control of the House will shift.
Governor-elect Josh Shapiro will take the oath of office later this month.
Meanwhile, the Lehigh Valley's delegation to the statehouse will see some new faces.
District 14 - Sen. Nick Miller — Miller, (D-Lehigh/Northampton), will be among the youngest lawmakers in Harrisburg. His district is new to the Lehigh Valley and the only one in the state to change party hands this election.
District 16 - Sen. Jarrett Coleman — Coleman (R-Bucks/Lehigh) shocked state political circles when he defeated longtime incumbent Pat Browne in the Republican primary. He campaigned on a platform of reigning in school spending.
District 18 - Sen. Lisa Boscola — Boscola (D-Northampton) has represented parts of Northampton County in the senate since 1998. She was the main sponsor of Act 77, the law that allowed widespread mail-in voting in Pennsylvania.
District 22 - Rep. Josh Siegel — Siegel (D-Lehigh) resigned from Allentown City Council last month. Like Miller, he'll be among the younger lawmakers in Harrisburg.
District 131 - Rep. Milou Mackenzie — Mackenzie (R-Berks/Lehigh/Northampton) became the first mother to serve in the House alongside her son when she took office in 2021. The communities in northeast Berks County are new to her district.
District 132 - Rep. Michael Schlossberg — With Browne out of office, Schlossberg (D-Lehigh) is the only member of the Lehigh Valley's delegation who holds a leadership position in his or her party.
District 133 - Rep. Jeanne McNeill — McNeill (D-Lehigh) is a vocal labor advocate. She was appointed to her office following the death of her husband, Rep. Dan McNeill, in 2017 and has won the seat in her own right three times.
District 134 - Rep. Peter Schweyer — A former member of Allentown City Council, Schweyer won his fourth term in November. Redistricting shifted his seat so it now centers around South Allentown and Emmaus.
District 135 - Rep. Steve Samuelson — Samuelson (D-Northampton) is among the delegation's old guards. He's represented the Bethlehem area for 24 years.
District 136 - Rep. Bob Freeman — Freeman (D-Northampton County) is the region's most experienced lawmaker. This January marks the 40th anniversary since he first was sworn into office.
District 137 - Rep. Joe Emrick — Emrick's district shifted from the Republican stronghold based around Bangor Area School District to the political battleground of Northampton County's suburbs. He'll begin his seventh term this January.
District 138 - Rep. Ann Flood — Flood (R-Northampton) won her second term this November. Prior to serving in public office, she was the president of the Greater Bath area Chamber of Commerce.
District 183 - Rep. Zach Mako — In terms of party registration, Mako (R-Lehigh/Northampton) represents the most conservative section of the Lehigh Valley. He has occasionally taken leaves to serve as a National Guard helicopter pilot.
District 187 Rep. Ryan Mackenzie - Redistricting pitted Mackenzie (R-Lehigh) against fellow incumbent Gary Day in the Republican primary. Mackenzie survived the costly primary and won his sixth full term in an uncontested general election.
