Democrats Keep House Majority as Heather Boyd Wins Special Election

Heather Boyd won her Delaware County special election for the 163rd House District. Her victory allows Democrats to keep their  102-101 majority in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

Pennsylvania Democrats will keep control of the state House after Heather Boyd won the special election for the 163rd House District on Tuesday. The Delaware County seat was vacated by former Rep. Mike Zabel who resigned because of sexual harassment allegations.

Boyd defeated Katie Ford, the Republican nominee, for the seat. 

 A former history teacher, Boyd also founded the Delaware County chapter of the National Organization of Women (N.O.W.)  and worked as chief of staff for Rep. Leanne Kruger (D-Delaware) and district director for US Rep. May Gay Scanlon (D-Delaware). 

Democrats will maintain a one-seat majority in the House because Republicans won the special election to fill a vacant seat in the 108th House District, previously held by State Sen. Lynda Culver (R-Columbia). Culver vacated the seat after winning a special election for the 27th Senate District in January.  

Boyd’s victory will allow House Democrats to continue advancing their agenda in the coming months. They  started the spring session by passing the Fairness Act, which offers non-discrimination protections to the LGBTQ community, addressing the teacher shortage and protecting workers rights. A package of gun-reform legislation is ready for a vote after the House returns on May 22.  

The Pennsylvania Democratic Party and the Pennsylvania House Democratic Campaign Committee spent over $1 million in the weeks leading up to the special election to hold onto the seat. Boyd also picked up the endorsement of President Biden on Monday.