Maintaining Democrats' razor-thin majority control of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives again comes down to a special election as Republican voters attempt to flip power back to their caucus. It won't be easy, because the district leans Democratic. Via CBS News:
Democrat Lindsay Powell, 32, and Republican Erin Connolly Autenreith, 65, will face off for the Allegheny County state House seat on Sept. 19, one week before the chamber is scheduled to return to floor session in Harrisburg.
They are vying to replace a progressive Democrat, former state Rep. Sara Innamorato, who resigned in July to seek the county executive job. Her departure left the House at a 101-101 tie.
The district is a Democratic stronghold Democratic strategists predict their party will be able to retain. A previous special election in which the Republican candidate lost by a wide margin may be why the GOP hasn't drained its coffers to try to flip the seat, said Trevor Southerland, House Democratic campaign strategist.
