HARRISBURG (AP) – Democrats will maintain their narrow majority in the PA House after winning a special election in Delaware County. Tuesday’s win will also help them control how the chamber will handle issues such as abortion, gun rights, and election law legislation. Democrat Heather Boyd defeated Republican Katie Ford in a special election to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Democrat Rep. Mike Zabel. Zabel quit the Legislature in March, shortly after a lobbyist accused him of sexually harassing her. Boyd’s win gives Democrats 102 representatives, the minimum needed to control the agenda in the 203-seat state House. In a second House special election, Republican Michael Stender kept the central PA seat in GOP hands. He beat Democrat Trevor Finn to fill the seat previously held by former Rep. Lynda Schlegel Culver, the Republican who represented the district before winning a state Senate special election earlier this year.

MICHAEL STENDER

HEATHER BOYD