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Top Pa. Republican Senator Says He Favors Swearing In Democrat Lindsey Williams

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HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) -- The top-ranking Republican in the Pennsylvania Senate says he favors seating a Democrat who won a western Pennsylvania race last month now that he's looked into questions about the woman's residency.

President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati issued a statement Friday that said he will recommend that Lindsey Williams be sworn in along with other new members on Tuesday.

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Williams' fate has been up in the air while Republicans seek details about whether she meets a state constitutional requirement that senators be "citizens and inhabitants" of Pennsylvania for four years before they're elected.

Williams has said she stayed with Pittsburgh-area friends in 2014 and made plans to move to that city in time to meet the constitutional requirement.

The 35-year-old Williams defeated Republican Jeremy Shaffer by fewer than 800 votes.

(© Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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