Pennsylvania State Representatives Donna Bullock, Esq. of the 195th legislative district and Steve Kinsey of the 201st district both announced via letters on July 16, 2024, that as of that date, they were resigning from their positions as state representatives. Both are Democrats, and both have enjoyed stellar records while in office. So what gives? Why did both of them announce (suddenly) that they were resigning, and what happens next?
Pennsylvania State Representative Darisha Parker was the first elected official I connected with, who gave some of the intel on what’s been happening as it relates to these sudden developments. Darisha Parker shared, “Honorable Donna Bullock and Honorable Steve Kinsey have submitted their resignations. What does that mean? That means that registered voters in the 195th and 201st District will have to vote in September during a special election to replace these two vacated seats. Then you will also have to vote again for these two seats in November.”
These two resignations have made for vacancies in the state house and essentially eliminated Democrats one one-seat majority. Republicans are up by one representative, giving them the majority for now. Political insiders are saying this is a strategic move on the part of the Democrats, and they have a plan. The plan still isn’t clear to this columnist, but Dems say they have a plan to keep PA State Representative and Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton in the position she currently holds.
State Legislators are not slated to return to Harrisburg until mid-September, which gives them time to stump for votes back at home in their respective districts. In the case of the special election for Philadelphia legislators in the 195th and the 201st District, the special election will be held on Tuesday, September 17, 2024.
The Pennsylvania General Assembly is the Pennsylvania State Legislature, seated at the state capital, Harrisburg. It has been a bicameral legislature since 1790. Bicameralism is a type of legislature that is divided into two separate assemblies, chambers, or houses, known as a bicameral legislature. Bicameralism is distinguished from unicameralism, in which all members deliberate and vote as a single group.
The General Assembly consists of an upper house, the Pennsylvania State Senate, and a lower house, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Pennsylvania has a divided government where neither party holds a trifecta. The Democratic Party controls the office of governor and the lower chamber of the state legislature, while the Republican Party controls the upper chamber of the state legislature.
As of August 1, 2024, in Pennsylvania, there are 100 Democratic State Representatives and 101 Republican State Representatives. On the Senate side in Pennsylvania, there are currently 22 Democrats in the State Senate and 28 Republicans.
Rep. Darisha Parker also reminded us that, in Pennsylvania, State Reps have to run every two years. State Senators run every four years, and they don’t all run at the same time. This year, for example, state senators in odd-numbered districts are up for reelection in Pennsylvania. We also have United States Senators running this year, and in Pennsylvania, we also have our row offices up for grabs, i.e., PA Attorney General, PA Auditor General, and PA Treasurer.
Parker stressed,” Everybody needs to understand that our democracy is at stake, and we need to make sure our democracy is heard because it is definitely on the line.”
I repeat, registered voters who live in the 195th legislative district or who live in the 201st legislative district, there will be special elections in your area of the city on Tuesday, September 17, to vote to replace Steve Kinsey in the 201st District and Donna Bullock in the 195th district.
Also, don’t forget to vote in the Tuesday, November 5, 2024 General Election. If you request a vote by mail ballot, you can vote before November 5.
Call the Philadelphia City Commissioner’s Office at 215-686-3462 to find out how you can get a vote by mail ballot or how and where to get blank voter registration forms so you can be prepared for election day.
What is civics? A part of it is being engaged and participating in each and every political election. We have elections twice a year–a primary election in the spring and a general election every Fall. It’s the American way. Get used to it and participate. That’s what grown folks do.
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