Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
State Sen. Steve Santarsiero, who is also chairperson of the Bucks County Democratic Committee, celebrated Democratic state house election victories on Wednesday.
The Lower Makefield Township-based elected official said he believes the final results will show his party will hold six of 10 in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. In the Levittown area, state representatives Tina Davis and John Galloway held onto their seats.
Advertisements
The race in the 142nd Legislative District remains extremely close with Democrat Mark Moffa, of Penndel Borough, only two votes ahead of Republican Joe Hogan, of Middletown Township. The race tightened as ballots were counted early Wednesday and remained extremely close as of 8 p.m.
“Our high water mark before was four seats. That was just for two years, and I believe we are going to be at six seats,” Santarsiero said. “As I said at the community college on Sunday, there was talk of a red wave, but that red wave wound up crashing into a wall of blue, and that wall of blue was made up of Democrats, independents, and moderate Republicans.”
“This is a great moment for us. It is the work of outstanding candidates, outstanding campaigns, and committee people and volunteers across Bucks County who just did amazing work,” he added.
Advertisements
Moffa said he was “not surprised” his race with Hogan was so close.
“We ran such an aggressive and intelligent campaign. I think we worked very hard in the 142nd and I personally knocked 10,000 doors during the entire campaign,” Moffa said.
Advertisements
Hogan’s campaign didn’t comment on the close race.
At a Wednesday afternoon press conference, Pennsylvania House Democrats said they believe they will win enough state house seats to take the majority when the legislature’s new session starts in the new year.
Moffa’s race isn’t the only close one that could decide the balance of power in the state house.
Advertisements
Republican State Rep. Todd Stephens, of Montgomery County’s 151st Legislative District, had a 26-vote lead over Democrat Melissa Cerrato by late Wednesday afternoon, but some votes still had to be tallied.
State representatives Davis and Galloway, both veteran Lower Bucks County Democratic lawmakers, relished a chance to be in the majority. Davis, who is in her caucuses’ leadership, said the Democrats’ success was due to listening to voters and what mattered to them.
Advertisements
“They just want to be heard,” she said of Republicans she talked to and vowed to vote for her. “They want to be safe. They want their kids in a good school. And that’s what we try to provide.”
Santarsiero said voters were “alarmed” by the repeal of Roe v. Wade and extreme candidates like GOP gubernatorial nominee Doug Mastriano, who lost to Democratic Attorney General Josh Shapiro.
Advertisements
“They said no to the extremism of Doug Mastriano. No to the extremes of the Republican Party that doubted and denied the outcome of the election two years ago. No to the extremism of the Republican Party that sought to take away the right to an abortion in Pennsylvania,” he said.
Santarsiero, who only became chairperson of the county party in summer, called the results “historic” and celebrated the strength of the candidates and campaign workers and volunteers.
Advertisements
Bucks County Clerk of Courts Brian Munroe, who won a seat as a state representative in Central Bucks County, said Democrats were helped by moderate voters.
Democrats likely also benefit from new legislative maps that rolled out following the release of new Census data. There was a focus when creating the maps to make them more fair, as past maps were considered gerrymandered.
The Democrat’s success in state government did not carry over to the U.S. House of Representatives. Bensalem Township Democrat Ashley Ehasz was clobbered by incumbent Republican Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick.
Advertisements
Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, a Democrat, won his high-profile U.S. Senate race against Republican Mehmet Oz.
With Santarsiero at the helm of the county Democrats, he has brought new approach and focus on getting more Democrats in office.
Advertisements
Looking forward, Santarsiero said there are more seats that can be turned blue. He noted the Bucks County Commissioners are up for election in 2023.
“We are going to be playing for every municipal seat and every school board seat throughout Bucks County next year,” he said. “I am confident that we are going to experience a similar increase next year.”
Report a correction via email | Editorial standards and policies
