PA Environment Digest

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Wolf, Casey Win, Democrats Add Members In Senate, House And Congress; What’s Next?

November 6 was a good night in Pennsylvania for Democrats with Gov. Tom Wolf and U.S. Senator Bob Casey both easily winning the statewide races. Click Here for detailed results.

Although the control of the state House and Senate have not changed, Democrats made gains in each chamber, primarily from districts in the Southeast.

Democrats won five state Senate seats from Republicans, with incumbent Republican Senators McGarrigle (Delaware) and Rafferty (Montgomery) losing. Republican Sen. Tomlinson (Bucks) won his seat with a 100 vote margin.

The split in the Senate is now 29 Republicans and 21 Democrats. It was 34 Republicans (including 1 vacant seat) and 16 Democrats. Click Here for detailed results.

In the House, Republican incumbents Alexander Charlton (Delaware), Rebecca Corbin (Chester), Kate Harper (Montgomery), Warren Kampf (Chester/Montgomery), Duane Milne (Chester), Thomas Quigley (Montgomery), Eric Roe (Chester) and James Santora (Delaware) lost their bid for reelection.

Democrats lost two incumbents -- Bryan Barbin (Cambria) and Helen Tai (Bucks).

The split in the House is now 110 Republicans and 93 Democrats (including some open seats). It was 121 Republicans and 82 Democrats. Click Here for detailed results.

Interesting fact: just short of 20 percent of the House and Senate combined will be new members to those chambers-- 49 new members out of 253-- with 1 vacancy in the House due to a death. An opportunity for education and exchanging information!

In U.S. House seats, Democrats picked up enough seats so the state Congressional delegation is evenly split between Republicans and Democrats 9 to 9. Click Here for detailed results.

Visit the Department of State Election Results website for all the details on statewide, House, Senate and Congressional election results.

Reaction

On November 7, the Conservation Voters of PA announced 24 new pro-environment leaders were elected in the state House and Senate during midterm elections Tuesday.

43 of Conservation Voters of PA’s 56 endorsed pro-environment candidates won their elections, with one race still too close to call.

“Harrisburg will be a lot greener, younger, and full of powerful women in January” said Josh McNeil, Executive Director of Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania. “In one of the most pro-environment elections in Pennsylvania history, voters sent dozens of champions for clean air and clean water to fight for all of us in the legislature.”

Conservation Voters of PA and its affiliated PACs made the largest investments in their history in the 2018 cycle to elect environmental champions to state and legislative offices, including investing more than $141,000 in independent expenditures in Chester County, a region where pipeline development is rapidly threatening drinking water quality and open space conservation.

In total, Conservation Voters of PA Victory Fund knocked 38,038 doors and made 74,000 phone calls, contacting 112,038 voters and helping to secure key victories for Melissa Shusterman, Chris Sappey, and Kristine Howard.

Conservation Voters of PA Action Fund partnered with the Sierra Club Pennsylvania Chapter to contribute $210,000 to legislative candidates, helping elect Danielle Friel Otten, Chris Sappey, Melissa Shusterman, Lindsey Williams, Tim Kearney, and Steve Santarsiero.

Conservation Voters and Sierra Club made their largest investment in Danielle Friel Otten, who ran because a pipeline threatened the backyard where her kids played. Friel Otten won a tough race in Chester County by almost 10 points.

“We believe that good environmental laws are made by good environmental lawmakers and leaders. That’s why we work to elect leaders committed to a cleaner, safer Keystone State. We’re proud to say that the majority of Pennsylvanians agreed with us today” said McNeil.

You can find a full list of candidates who won and more information about them is available online.

For more information on programs, initiations and upcoming events, visit the Conservation Voters of PA website. Questions should be directed to Josh McNeil by calling 215-564-3350 or send email to: joshua.mcneil@conservationpa.org.

What’s Next?

The House returns to Harrisburg November 13 and the Senate November 14 for the same purpose-- to elect their legislative caucus leaders for the new legislative session starting in January..

Because of retirements, House Republicans have the most slots to fill, including House Majority Leader, followed by House Democrats who need to fill their Whip and Appropriations Committee Chair positions.

The House also has the most new members-- Democrats with 23 and Republicans with 20-- which means most anything could happen in their selection of leaders.

Senate Republicans and Democrats, with fewer retirements, don’t have as many vacant leadership positions, but again, things happen.

After they adjourn this week, they will not return until January 1 at Noon to start the new 2019-20 legislative session.

Then it will be off to the races-- all bills needing to start over, new committee chairs and members to name, hearings in the Senate on Gov. Wolf cabinet nominations (because he has a new terms) and the Governor’s budget proposal.

NewsClips:

AP-Levy: Democrat Tom Wolf Wins 2nd Term As PA Governor

John Baer: What Will Gov. Wolf’s Second Term Look Like?

Meyer Podcast: The Election Is Over, What Lies Ahead For PA?

Thompson: 5 Takeaways From Midterm Election, PA Legislature Division

Esack: 5 Takeaways On PA Governor’s Race

Analysis: PA Sent Midterm Message To President Trump

Murphy: Meet John Fetterman, PA’s New Lt. Governor

Democrats Flip 5 Republican State Senate Seats

PA House, Senate Remain In Republican Control Despite Democratic Gains

AP-Scolforo: Republicans Absorb Losses In House, Senate But Retain Control

AP-Levy: Bob Casey Beats Trump-Backed Barletta In U.S. Senate Race