Feb. 01, 2022
HARRISBURG – Speaker of the House Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) today ordered a special election to be held on Tuesday, April 5, to fill the vacant seat in the 19th Legislative District in Allegheny County.
The seat was vacated when Rep. Jake Wheatley left office to join the Mayor of Pittsburgh’s administration.
House rules state the speaker shall issue a writ for a special election to be held on a date which shall occur on or before the date of the first municipal election which occurs not less than 60 days after the issuance of the writ.
“Voters in Pennsylvania are already receiving a lot of information about new districts and major elections this year,” Cutler said. “Plus, voters in Pittsburgh have already been made aware of April 5 as a special election date for another district. These special elections are to complete the terms under the current, or old, map. Therefore, holding the elections on their own unique date, and not coinciding with the primary, eliminates potential confusion for voters.”
Candidates for the office will be selected by a process designated by their respective political parties, and the winner of the special election will take office after the results are confirmed.