Four special elections will take place this winter to fill vacancies in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
State House Speaker Joanna McClinton, D-Philadelphia, has signed four writs of election, two for seats formerly held by Republicans in south-central Pennsylvania and two for seats formerly held by Democrats in Allegheny and Lehigh counties.
On Friday, McClinton announced the signing of writs of election for special ballots on March 17 to fill vacancies created by the resignations of state Reps. Lou Schmitt, who represented the 79th Legislative District in Blair County, and Toren Ecker, who represented the 193rd Legislative District in Adams and Cumberland counties.
Both seats are being vacated by Republicans.
On Dec. 17, McClinton announced the signing of writs of election for special ballots on Feb. 24 to fill vacancies created by the resignations of state Reps. Dan Miller, who represented the 42nd Legislative District in suburban Pittsburgh, and Josh Siegel, who represented the 22nd Legislative District in the Lehigh Valley.
Both of those seats are being vacated by Democrats.
According to the House Rules, a spokeswoman for McClinton said, the Speaker must issue a writ within 10 days following a vacancy.
The vacancies maintain a one-vote edge for the Democrats in the state House, at 100 to 99. At full strength the lower chamber had a 102-101 Democratic edge.