Democratic Phila. Helps State House GOP Grow Its Majority
By Tony Romeo
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A special election for a state House seat in Northeast Philadelphia this past week highlights the paradox that is the current political landscape in Pennsylvania, where a Democrat is in the governor's office and the big Republican majority in the legislature just got bigger.
The seat formerly held by now Democratic Congressman Brendan Boyle went to Martina White, who will now become only the second Republican member of Philadelphia's delegation to the state House.
Franklin and Marshall College pollster and political analyst, Terry Madonna says, White's victory had much to do with political divisions among city Democrats, but he says nonetheless Democrats in deep blue Philadelphia did contribute to her win.
"[It is] absolutely a huge irony that Democrats elected a Republican to the state House," Madonna says, "thereby increasing the large Republican majority in the state House by one, 120."
120 House Republicans, compared to just 83 Democrats, Republicans who Madonna says will make it difficult for Democratic Governor Tom Wolf to enact his agenda.
