Stender, other new House member to join legislature June 5

May 26—HARRISBURG — Two members elected to the Pennsylvania House through special elections at the May primary will be sworn into office on June 5, according to a spokesperson for Speaker Joanna McClinton.

The upcoming entry of Heather Boyd and Michael Stender will push the House to a full complement of 203 members but it won't change the majority makeup.

Democrats retain a one-seat majority. The split will be 102-101 with Republicans in the minority when the two new members take office.

Both the House and Senate return to session June 5 as the budget process picks up. The statutory deadline for a new budget is June 30.

Boyd, a Democrat, defeated Republican Katie Ford to fulfill the two-year term in the 163rd Legislative District, which encompasses parts of Delaware County. The term expires next year. The position was vacated by former Democratic representative Mike Zabel who resigned in March after allegations of sexual harassment surfaced publicly.

Boyd's win held the majority for Democrats, the party's first in 12 years.

Stender, a Republican, bested Democrat Trevor Finn, Montour County commissioner, to represent the 108th Legislative District — northern Northumberland County and all of Montour County. Republicans have held the 108th for 50 years.

Stender succeeds Lynda Schlegel Culver, the former longtime state representative who won a special election herself in January to join the state Senate.