What to know about Pennsylvania’s 2026 special elections

Following resignations in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, multiple seats have been decided through special elections scheduled to fill vacancies in the chamber.

The resignations came after several lawmakers won elections for local office in November, and others resigned for various reasons. The lawmakers who have since departed the chamber are former state Reps. Torren Ecker, Dan Miller, Lou Schmitt, Josh Siegel, Seth Grove and Stephenie Scialabba.

Dates for all of the special elections are set after House Speaker Joanna McClinton signed writs of election to fill the now-vacant seats.

August 18, 2026: Democrats flip Butler County House seat

House District 12: Republican state Rep. Stephenie Scialabba announced her resignation from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives on March 24, 2026, stating her desire to spend more time with her family. "Over the years, we've found plenty of ways to make life easier for those of us who serve. I won't list all of the perks, but it's a pretty good gig. For families, it's just hard," Scialabba said at the time.

House Speaker Joanna McClinton scheduled a special election to replace Scialabba for Tuesday, Aug. 18. On Election Day, Democrat Brandon Dukes, a construction loan administrator, defeated Republican candidate Scott Timko, a military veteran and commercial pilot, to flip the seat in Democrats’ favor. The win marks the first time Democrats have held the 12th House District seat since the late 1990s.

According to unofficial election returns, Dukes received 8,434 votes compared to 8,346 votes for TImko, giving Democrats an 88-vote victory. 

May 19, 2026: An election to replace former state Rep. Seth Grove

House District 196: McClinton scheduled a special election for the vacant 196th House District for Tuesday, May 19, following the resignation of York County state Rep. Seth Grove in January. Throughout his tenure in the General Assembly, Grove served stints as chair of the House Appropriations Committee, the House State Government Committee and the House Government Oversight Committee, among other roles.

Grove accepted a position as president and CEO of Pennsylvania Aggregates and Concrete Association while still in office, a move that drew scrutiny from some lawmakers and advocacy groups who worried that his acceptance of the position, coupled with his role as minority chair of the House Labor & Industry Committee, created a conflict of interest. His resignation took effect on Jan. 31. In a statement, Grove said serving the community he grew up in was “the honor of a lifetime.” The 196th House District encompasses parts of York County.

Republican George Margetas defeated Democrat Ron Ruman, a West Manchester Township supervisor, on May 19 to keep the seat in Republican hands. Margetas was sworn in on June 9.

March 17, 2026: Republicans hold onto seats in Central Pennsylvania

House District 79: The special election for House District 79 was held on Tuesday, March 17. The seat was previously held by Schmitt, a Republican who was elected and recently sworn in as a judge on the Blair County Court of Common Pleas. The Blair County District encompasses Allegheny Township, the City of Altoona, Logan Township and Tunnelhill Borough.

In the 79th House District race, Republicans nominated Andrea Verobish, a staffer for U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson, as their nominee. Democrats picked registered nurse Caleb McCoy as their candidate in the special election to replace Schmitt. 

Verobish defeated McCory during the March 17 contest, winning the race with 56% of the vote, according to unofficial election returns. 

House District 193: The special election for House District 193 was also held on Tuesday, March 17.  The seat was previously held by Ecker, a Republican who was elected in November as a judge on the Adams County Court of Common Pleas. The 193rd House District encompasses parts of Cumberland County and parts of Adams County.

The GOP tapped Catherine Wallen, Ecker’s former district director and the owner and operator of a family farm, as the party’s nominee, while Democrats nominated Todd Crawley, a Shippensburg resident who most recently worked as Harrisburg Area Community College’s director of public and environmental health and safety.

Wallen beat Crawley on Election Day by a margin of 59.7% to 40.2%, holding the seat for Republicans.

Feb. 24, 2026: Democrats win in Allegheny and Lehigh counties

House District 22: The special election for House District 22 will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 24. The seat was formerly held by Siegel, a Democrat who was sworn in as Lehigh County Executive on Jan. 5. The Lehigh County district represents parts of the City of Allentown and Salisbury Township. 

Democrats nominated Allentown School Board director Ana Tiburcio for the Feb. 24 election, while Republicans picked Robert Smith, a former member of Allentown City Council as well as the Allentown School Board, as their nominee for the contest. 

Tiburcio retained the seat for Democrats on Election Day, beating Smith by a margin of 67% to 33%.

House District 42: The special election for House District 42 will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 24. The seat was most recently held by Miller, a Democrat who was elected as an Allegheny County Common Pleas judge in November. The Allegheny County district encompasses Baldwin Township, Castle Shannon Borough, Dormont Borough, Mount Lebanon Township and Upper St. Clair Township.

Both Republicans and Democrats have selected their special election candidates for the 42nd House District seat. Democrats picked Dormont Borough Councilmember Jennifer Mazzocco, and the GOP nominated recent law-school graduate Joseph Leckenby, who ran against Miller in 2024.

Democrats were also able to hold the 42nd House District seat, with Mazzocco securing nearly 82% of the vote, compared to Leckenby’s 18%.