(File Photo of The Pennsylvania State Capitol Building, in downtown Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.)
By MARK SCOLFORO Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania’s statewide elections agency says it’s moving ahead with plans for special elections to fill three state House vacancies in early February unless a court orders otherwise. The Department of State submitted a 17-page response Friday to the lawsuit by Lancaster County Republican state Rep. Bryan Cutler. He’s seeking to stop scheduled Feb. 7 special elections in Pittsburgh-area districts held most recently by Democrats. Control of the House hangs in the balance after Democrats netted 12 seats in the November election, enough for a one-seat majority. But one member died in the month before he was reelected and two others resigned after winning higher offices.