Pennsylvania House Republicans chose new leaders for the upcoming 2024-2025 session (Photo via Pa. House GOP)
Pennsylvania House Republicans made changes to their leadership on Tuesday, electing Rep. Jesse Topper (R-Bedford) as the minority party’s leader for the next session. During a press conference Tuesday evening in Harrisburg, Topper introduced the rest of the party’s leadership team and said the caucus would be focused on getting Pennsylvania back to work.
“We know that last Tuesday produced election results in Pennsylvania that were somewhat of a mixed bag for the folks you see in front of you from a statewide level,” Topper said. “We saw Republicans win with, I think, with a message that promoted common sense talk to the people of Pennsylvania about where they were in their lives. Unfortunately, we find ourselves still in the minority. We acknowledge that, but we also acknowledge that that message is one that is resounding not just with Pennsylvanians across the country. People don’t have enough money in their pockets.”
Despite a red wave on election day that saw Republicans elected to all three statewide row offices and added two Republicans to Pennsylvania’s U.S. House delegation, the party was unable to win a majority in the state House, as Democrats retained their one-seat lead. Democrats won a majority in the House in 2022 for the first time in 12 years.
Topper was first elected to his seat in the 78th District in 2014, and is now in his fifth term. During the 2023-24 session, he served as Republican chairman of the House Education Committee.
Outgoing House Republican Leader Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) wished Topper success in a statement Tuesday.
“His success means the Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus and the people of this Commonwealth will be better positioned for their own achievement,” Cutler said.
In addition to Topper, Rep. Tim O’Neal (R-Washington) was elected GOP party whip; Rep. Jim Struzzi (R-Indiana) as appropriations chair; Rep. Martina White (R-Philadelphia) will be caucus chairperson; Rep. Clint Owlett (R-Tioga/Bradford) will be caucus secretary; Rep. Sheryl Delozier (R-Cumberland) will be caucus administrator and Rep. David Rowe (R-Snyder/Union/Mifflin/Juniata) will be the House Republican Policy Committee chairperson.
The House Democratic Caucus announced Tuesday that Rep. Matt Bradford (D-Montgomery) will remain majority leader and House Speaker Joanna McClinton (D-Philadelphia) will stay in that role.
Rep. Mike Schlossberg (D-Lehigh) will take over from Rep. Dan Miller (D-Allegheny) as party whip, and Rep. Rob Matzie (D-Allegheny) will take Schlossberg’s place as caucus chairperson. All other roles would remain unchanged with Rep. Tina Davis (D-Bucks) as caucus secretary, Rep. Leanne Kruger (D-Delaware) as caucus administrator, Rep. Ryan Bizzarro (D-Erie) as policy chairperson, and Rep. Jordan Harris (D-Philadelphia) as appropriations chairperson.
The House has one final session day scheduled Wednesday but no further dates scheduled after that.