FILE – Pennsylvania House Democratic Leader Joanna McClinton, D-Philadelphia, speaks in Philadelphia, Monday, Nov. 7, 2022. Democrats in the Pennsylvania House are moving to control the chamber after they barely won back enough seats in November but one of their incumbents died and two others won higher office. Shortly after McClinton was sworn in on the House floor on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022 she scheduled special elections for Feb. 7 for all three seats. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
By MARK SCOLFORO Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The Pennsylvania House’s Republican leader is seeking to wait until the May primary before holding special elections in two vacant districts. The filing of election paperwork Thursday by Republican Leader Bryan Cutler of Lancaster County is the latest move in a power struggle over control of the nearly evenly divided chamber. Democrats won barely enough seats in November to reclaim the majority. But one of their successful candidates died of cancer in October and two others have just resigned after being elected to Congress and as lieutenant governor. Cutler has sued over Democratic Leader Joanna McClinton’s decision to file separate paperwork seeking to hold all three contests on Feb. 7.