Death of Democratic lawmaker leaves Pennsylvania House deadlocked at 101-101

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A Democrat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives has died, the House Democratic caucus announced Sunday evening, leaving the chamber deadlocked with a 101-101 partisan divide.

Rep. Matt Gergely, D-Allegheny, died Sunday. He was 45, House Democrats said.

Neither House Democrats nor Gergely’s family have revealed the cause, although they have said two weeks ago that he suffered a “holiday medical emergency requiring hospitalization” in the days before the chamber’s two-year session convened earlier this month.

House Democrats won by a one-seat margin in the November elections, the same one-seat margin that Democrats maintained in the last legislative session. Gergely’s death means the House will be tied at 101-101 until a special election is held to fill the seat in the heavily Democratic Pittsburgh-area district.

During the last two-year session, the House Democratic majority managed through various vacancies in their ranks, sometimes slowing the pace of lawmaking during the two-year legislative session.

In their statement Sunday evening, House Democrats said a special election to fill Gergely’s seat would be called by Speaker Joanna McClinton, a Philadelphia Democrat, at a later date.

“Matt will be desperately missed in Harrisburg and we know his passing is a tremendous loss to his communities across Western Pennsylvania. Please join us in keeping his wife and family in your thoughts and prayers during this tragic time,” House Democrats said.