Democrat Wins Special Election For State House Seat

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PITTSBURGH (AP) - A Democrat has won a special election to fill the unexpired term of a Pennsylvania House member who stepped down after pleading guilty to charges related to an illegal gambling machine operation.

Austin Davis won the race Tuesday to represent a district in the Monongahela Valley south of Pittsburgh.

The seat became vacant in November when eight-term Democratic Rep. Marc Gergely stepped down after he was sentenced to 18 months of house arrest for misdemeanor conspiracy and campaign violation counts.

Going into the election, there were 120 Republicans in the state House, 80 Democrats and three vacancies.

Special elections for the other two state House openings are scheduled for May in Washington and Bucks counties.

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