PA-HD35: Parties race to choose special-election nominees for Gergely's (D) 35th House district
amily, friends, and former colleagues marked the passing of House member Matt Gergely in a funeral service last week. This week begins the hurried process of finding candidates to replace him — with Democrats and Republicans following different processes to do so.
Gergely, who has represented the 35th House District since winning a special election in 2023, died Jan. 19 after suffering an undisclosed “medical emergency” over the holidays. Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton chose March 25 to hold the special election to replace him — about the fastest turnaround time possible under state law.
Doing so will speedily resolve a deadlock in the House — which is evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats as a result of Gergely’s death. But it also means the two parties have until only Feb. 3 — next Monday — to submit the names of their nominees for inclusion on the ballot.
Both parties are using familiar playbooks to choose their nominees, with Democrats choosing a more public approach as Republicans make their selection privately.
https://www.wesa.fm/politics-government/2025-01-27/parties-race-to-choose-special-election-nominees-for-gergelys-35th-house-district