Pennsylvania State Legislative Special Elections, 2015

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In 2015, eight seats were vacated and filled by special elections in the Pennsylvania State Legislature. The following districts had a vacancy in 2015:

  • State House District 170: The seat was vacant following Brendan Boyle's (D) election to Congress.
  • State Senate District 5: The seat was vacant following Mike Stack's (D) election to Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania.
  • State House District 87: The seat was vacant following Glen Grell's (R) resignation to become the Executive Director of the Public Schools Employee Retirement System (PSERS).
  • State House District 161: The seat was vacant following Joe Hackett's (R) decision to explore a return to the District Attorney's Criminal Investigation Division.
  • State House District 174: The seat was vacant following John Sabatina, Jr.'s (D) election to the Pennsylvania State Senate.
  • State House District 191: The seat was vacant following Ronald Waters' (D) resignation on June 1, 2015, after he pleaded guilty to accepting $8,750 in cash payments in exchange for political actions.
  • State House District 195: The seat was vacant following Michelle Brownlee's (D) resignation on June 8, 2015, after she pleaded guilty to conflict of interest.
  • State Senate District 37: The seat was vacant following Matthew Smith's (D) resignation on June 21, 2015, to become president of the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce.

Breakdown of 2015 special elections[edit]

In 2015, the reasons prompting state legislative special elections were as follows:

  • 38 due to appointment, election or seeking election to another position
  • 14 due to a retirement
  • 15 due to the incumbent accepting another job
  • 1 due to an invalidated 2014 election result
  • 1 due to a disqualification in the 2014 elections
  • 9 due to a death
  • 6 due to legal issues
  • 3 due to moving
  • 2 due to filling a remaining term

The partisan breakdown for vacancies were as follows:

  • 42 Democratic seats
  • 46 Republican seats
  • 1 Independent seat

Note: This table reflects information for elections that were held and not total vacant seats.

Partisan Change from Special Elections
Party As of Vacancy After Special Election
     Democratic Party 42 38*
     Republican Party 46 50*
     Independent 1 1
Total 89 89

*In 2015, Democrats lost nine seats in special elections, but gained six seats. Republicans lost five seats in special elections, but gained eight seats.
*Although Edwin Gomes won election to the Connecticut State Senate as a Working Families Party candidate, after swearing in he was listed as a Democratic senator.
*Although Diane Richardson won election to the New York State Assembly as a Working Families Party candidate, after swearing in she was listed as a Democratic representative.
*Although Jay Mathis won election to the Mississippi House of Representatives as a Nonpartisan candidate, after swearing in he was listed as a Republican representative.

How vacancies are filled[edit]


If there is a vacancy in the Pennsylvania General Assembly, a special election must be held to fill the vacant seat. The presiding officer in the house where the vacancy happened must call for an election. There are no deadlines set in the state constitution on when a special election can be held.[1]

DocumentIcon.jpg See sources: Pennsylvania Cons. Art. II, §2


Special elections[edit]

March 24, 2015[edit]



May 19, 2015[edit]



August 4, 2015[edit]



August 11, 2015[edit]



November 3, 2015[edit]



See also[edit]

  • State legislative special elections, 2015
  • Pennsylvania State Senate elections, 2014
  • Pennsylvania House of Representatives elections, 2014
  • Pennsylvania State Senate elections, 2012
  • Pennsylvania House of Representatives elections, 2012
  • Pennsylvania State Legislature
  • Pennsylvania state legislative special elections: 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010

Footnotes[edit]

  1. ↑ State of Pennsylvania, "Pennsylvania Constitution," accessed February 15, 2021 (Article II, Section 2)
  2. ↑ politicspa.com, "HD-170: Kaplan Passes on Third-Party Run," January 28, 2015
  3. ↑ politicspa.com, "BREAKING: HD-170: White Wins Special Election," March 24, 2015
  4. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "Special Election - 170th Legislative District," accessed July 21, 2015
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Politics PA, "HD-170: Special Election to Fill Boyle’s Seat Scheduled for March 24th," January 12, 2015
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 philadelphiavotes.com, "2015 Primary Election Candidates," accessed April 8, 2015
  7. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "Results of for Special Election - 5th Senatorial District," accessed June 23, 2015
  8. ↑ Philly.com, "Stack to resign Senate seat on inauguration day," January 8, 2015
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 abc27.com, "Special election set for 87th House seat," accessed May 14, 2015
  10. ↑ abc27.com, "Grell to leave state House for PSERS post," accessed April 15, 2015
  11. ↑ pennlive.com, "'A very good challenge' awaits Rep. Glen Grell as new head of school pension systems," accessed April 15, 2015
  12. ↑ cumberlink.com, "Candidates chosen to compete for seat vacated by Rep. Glen Grell," accessed June 10, 2015
  13. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "87th Legislative Special Election," accessed August 5, 2015
  14. ↑ philly.com, "Pa. state Rep. Hackett to resign," accessed April 3, 2015
  15. ↑ delcotimes.com, "Dems tap Krueger-Braneky again to run in 161st special election," accessed June 10, 2015
  16. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "161st Legislative Special Election," accessed August 5, 2015
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 philly.com, "Want to represent Phila.? Three state House seats up for grabs," accessed June 16, 2015
  18. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "Unofficial list of candidates," accessed June 23, 2015
  19. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "Results for the 174th Legislative Special Election," accessed August 12, 2015
  20. ↑ philly.com, "Want to represent Phila.? Three state House seats up for grabs," accessed June 16, 2015
  21. ↑ pennlive.com/, "Pa. State Rep. Ron Waters pleads to accepting cash for official action; will resign seat today," accessed June 1, 2015
  22. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "Unofficial candidate list," accessed June 23, 2015
  23. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "Results for the 191st Legislative Special Election," accessed August 12, 2015
  24. ↑ philly.com, "Want to represent Phila.? Three state House seats up for grabs," accessed June 16, 2015
  25. ↑ triblive.com, "Fourth official pleads guilty in legislative sting case," accessed June 8, 2015
  26. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "Unofficial candidate list," accessed June 26, 2015
  27. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "Results for the 195th Legislative Special Election," accessed August 12, 2015
  28. ↑ post-gazette.com, "State Senate vacancy attracts candidates," accessed June 25, 2015
  29. ↑ Politics PA, "BREAKING: State Sen. Matt Smith Resigning," accessed May 28, 2015
  30. ↑ politicspa.com, "SD-37: Heather Arnet Wins Democratic Nomination," accessed August 5, 2015
  31. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "37th Senatorial Special Election," accessed November 25, 2015
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