Bucks County Democrats hopeful as they expect majority in PA state House for first time in 12 years

Bucks County Democrats are looking to a new era — one with more power and impact in Harrisburg — after a successful Election Day here and statewide.

"It's a lifetime opportunity," said newly elected Tim Brennan, of Doylestown Borough, who won the state House seat for the redistricted 29th district in Central Bucks.

Longtime state Rep. Tina Davis, of Bristol Township, became emotional at the prospect that she no longer will be a member of the minority party in the state Legislature. She won her re-election bid easily Tuesday.

"I am so happy. I have worked in the minority for 12 years ... I don't mean to bubble up," she said, noting that the Democrats will get a majority in the state House and may be able to get legislation passed that House Republicans have thwarted.

Newly re-elected State Sen. Steve Santarsiero, who also serves as chair of the Bucks County Democratic Party, hosted a press briefing Wednesday morning, where several of the Bucks Democratic winners in Tuesday's General Election showed up including Brennan, Davis and newly re-elected state Reps. Perry Warren of Newtown and, John Galloway of Falls.

County Clerk of Courts Brian Munroe, who is leading in the race for the 144th District against incumbent Republican Todd Polinchock, and Democrat Mark Moffa of Penndel, who is down by just three votes in his race with Republican Joseph Hogan of Middletown for the 142nd District, also attended.

Santarsiero said that the extreme views of state Republican candidate for governor Doug Mastriano may have helped Democrat Josh Shapiro win. It also could have aided Democrat John Fetterman's successful bid for U.S. Senate over Dr. Mehmet Oz, and helped the Democratic candidates for the state House and Senate.

He believes the state House will change to Democratic control once all the ballots are counted.

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He said the early returns show the Democrats gaining one more Senate seat to 22 and taking control of the state House with a majority of the 203 seats.

"When Mark wins, we will be at 102 which will be a majority." The party chair said that if another seat in Montgomery County goes Democratic as expected, it will be an insurance seat and for the first time in 12 years, the Democrats will have a majority.

Santarsiero said the Republicans in the state House will have to compromise and that's a good thing. "The dynamic will have to change," he said. "There will be a terrific team. It will be exciting to see."

More:Fitzpatrick says win reflects 1st District voters' desire for unity, moderation

Galloway and Munroe said that when they were canvassing their districts they heard the concerns of voters in their "moderate districts."

"In Bucks County, most of us are in the middle," Munroe said.

Santarsiero said that people were upset when Roe vs. Wade was overturned. "It was much more of an issue than we would like to believe," he said. He said people kept bringing it up to him when he canvassed.

But that wasn't the only issue that had people voting Democratic.

He said the Democrats are the party that created Social Security and Medicare and stood up for union members and other working people, issues important as inflations is hitting people in their pockets.

Galloway said that the Democratic Party in Bucks County has been the party of working and middle- class families for 100 years, but this year, the team fielded a great slate of candidate.

Noticeably absent from the meeting was Democrat Ashley Ehasz of Bensalem, who ran against Republican incumbent Brian Fitzpatrick and lost, and Ann Marie Mitchell of Northampton, who ran against state Rep. Frank Farry of Langhorne for the 6th District Senate seat, which Farry won. Both were facing longtime legislators.

Santarsiero said he contacted Ehasz on Wednesday morning.

He said "it takes a lot to be able to unseat an incumbent. I take my hat off to her for running the campaign she did....It's important for our democracy that there are races."

He said an historic amount of money was spent on the elections this year and that should alarm everyone. He said it takes a lot of resources to run for Congress, and much of the money comes from super PACs (political action committees) and other outside the district sources.

Santarsiero said that once the election is over, he hopes that those elected from both parties will be able to work together to get legislation passed.

"We put the elections aside and work together. I'll work with Frank Farry and the other Republican legislators as will these guys ... We'll work with Brian (Fitzpatrick) too," he said. "When we have federal issues or opportunities together, we'll do those things."

"Elections are one thing, governing is a different thing. .. At the end of the day, we have a two party system and a two party system requires us to work together and compromise."

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Bucks County Democrats hopeful to take PA State House