Complicated by Redistricting, Vacant PA House Seats to be Filled on Election Day

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf announced Wednesday that the special election to fill the vacancy in the state's 7th congressional district will take place on Tuesday, November 6th. This is the same day as the general election. The incumbent, Republican Pat Meehan, resigned last Friday.

Wolf said he will handle any subsequent openings the same way, unless they occur within 60 days of the general election. This will cover an upcoming vacancy in the 15th congressional district. That incumbent, Republican Charlie Dent, has announced his intention to resign at some point in the next few weeks.

Complicating matters is a new congressional map imposed by the state Supreme Court that will be effective - for representation - beginning with the new Congress in January. Voters in all of the state's 18 congressional districts will choose party nominees based on the new district lines in the May 15 primary, with the vote for a two-year term on Election Day, November 6th. However, any special election will take place based on the existing boundaries, with the winner serving out the final two months of the current congressional term. The respective parties will choose the nominees for any special election.

This sets up the possibility that the nominees and/or winner of any special election might be different than for the general election. The court ruling has made both successor districts more Democratic. The existing 7th congressional district voted for Clinton over Trump by 2% in 2016. The new 5th district voted for Clinton by 28%. It is rated safe Democratic for the general election.

Meanwhile, the existing 15th district voted for Trump by about 8% in 2016. The new 7th district - not to be confused with the existing one discussed in the prior paragraph - voted for Clinton by 1%. It is rated toss-up for the general election.

comments powered by Disqus

Headlines

Arizona Rep. Raul Grijalva Dies at Age 77

The 12 term Democrat had been receiving cancer treatment

Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire Not Running in 2026

She is the third Democrat to retire this cycle, all in states that represent Republican pickup opportunities

Overview and Live Results: March 11 State House Special Elections

State House vacancies in Iowa and Minnesota will be filled Tuesday. There is also a special State Senate primary in Alabama.

Inside Elections 2026 House Ratings

The forecaster's initial projection shows another tightly contested battle for control in 2026

Rep. Sylvester Turner of Texas Dies at 70

In November, the former mayor of Houston won the seat long-held by fellow Democrat Sheila Jackson Lee