After making historic gains on election night, Gov. Josh Shapiro announced that his administration, along with Democratic leaders from the Pennsylvania House and Senate, is preparing a legislative agenda to kick off the first 100 days of his second term in office.
Pennsylvania House Democrats expanded their narrow majority by adding at least 11 new members to the chamber, while Senate Democrats took control of the chamber for the first time in more than 30 years, giving Democrats their first legislative trifecta since 1993. A trifecta in state government refers to one party controlling the state Senate, state House, and governor’s mansion at the same time.
“Soon, we will all stand before you and announce our agenda for the first 100 days, but here’s what I can guarantee you we will get done,” Shapiro said at a press conference outside the governor’s residence in Harrisburg on Wednesday.
He added, “We will fund mass transit. We will raise the minimum wage. We will make sure that women have a right to reproductive freedom here in this commonwealth. We will build more housing. We will allow survivors of abuse the ability to confront their abusers in court.”
Shapiro easily defeated his Republican opponent, Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity, by more than 20 points on Tuesday, marking the largest victory for a Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate this century. Apart from securing his own reelection, Shapiro also focused on flipping the upper chamber since he launched his campaign in January.
By the end of the cycle, Shapiro had spent more than $10 million to help buoy down-ballot races and recorded televised ads with the four Democratic Senate candidates who flipped the chamber.
Republicans in the Pennsylvania Senate have stalled hundreds of bills passed by House Democrats over the past two legislative sessions, and according to Spotlight PA, the last two years have been the least productive for the Pennsylvania General Assembly since 1973-74.
“ These are all things that have been inexplicably blocked by Republicans who have led the Senate, even though broad bipartisan majorities support these items, and we will move swiftly to put them in place and deliver for the good people of Pennsylvania,” Shapiro told reporters.
On Tuesday night, Brian Wrightson defeated state Sen. Rosemary Brown (R-Monroe), Lehigh County Controller Mark Pinsley defeated state Sen. Jarrett Coleman (R-Lehigh), Chris Thomas defeated state Sen. Tracy Pennycuick (R-Montgomery), and Eileen Hartnett Albillar defeated state Sen. Frank Farry (R-Bucks), giving Democrats a 26-24 majority over Republicans.
Related: Josh Shapiro makes pitch to union voters ahead of November’s election
Following Tuesday’s victory, Pennsylvania House and Senate Democratic lawmakers, newly elected members, staffers, union leaders, and others gathered on the State Capitol steps in Harrisburg on Wednesday to celebrate the historic event.
”Far too often, hundreds of our bills got stuck in a drawer over in the Senate Republican Majority Caucus room,” Pennsylvania House Speaker Joanna McClinton said, prompting jeers directed at Republicans.
Some bills that Senate Republicans have stalled over the past four years include raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour, establishing paid family leave, regulating data centers, legalizing adult-use cannabis, regulating skill games, and more.
“It’s extraordinary,” state Sen. Nikil Saval (D-Philadelphia) said in an interview in Harrisburg on Wednesday.
“We’re going to be able to do major things, and I think that one of the biggest things that this has given me, and I think it’s given us, is the ability to think bigger and dream big and, and, of course, fight hard for the issues that we care about.”
