Lindsay Powell declares victory in special election race, giving Dems slim majority in state House
Democrats have declared victory in an Allegheny County special election and are poised to claim a slim majority in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
Lindsay Powell, a Democrat from Lawrenceville, declared victory Tuesday night in the 21st District special election after receiving more than 65% of the vote with 96% of precincts reporting.
Her Republican challenger, Erin Connolly Autenreith, had about 34% of the vote, according to the unofficial tallies.
Powell, 32, said she is honored to represent the district.
“Our district is made up of hardworking families that deserve someone who will fight in Harrisburg to deliver good jobs, dignified pay, safe housing, strong schools and beautiful community assets,” she said in a statement. “I’m ready to get to work with our community and for our community to fight for the rights, health and freedom of all of our neighbors.”
Autenreith of Shaler conceded the race Tuesday night.
“I ran a good race with limited funds, and you have not heard the last of Erin Connolly Autenreith,” she said.
The 21st District includes Shaler, Etna, Reserve, Millvale and sections of the city of Pittsburgh, among them the Strip District, Lawrenceville, Troy Hill, Polish Hill, Spring Hill, as well as parts of East Allegheny, Bloomfield and Stanton Heights.
For the second time this year, the balance of the House was on the line thanks to an Allegheny County special election. In February, Democrats swept three special elections to give themselves a 102-101 majority in the state House.
The special election was triggered after former state Rep. Sara Innamorato, D-Lawrenceville, stepped down to focus on her run for Allegheny County executive.
Innamorato was first elected to the state House in 2018 in a wave with other progressive lawmakers like now-U.S. Rep. Summer Lee, D-Swissvale.
Powell, a director of workforce strategies at nonprofit InnovatePGH, has said she wants to follow in Innamorato’s footsteps. Her campaign focused on advocating for affordable housing, increasing investment in child care and addressing student debt.
She becomes the first Black woman to represent the district and just the third Black woman from the Pittsburgh area to be elected to the state legislature.
The DLCC, the Democrats‘ official committee dedicated to state legislative campaigns, also declared victory. DLCC Interim President Heather Williams congratulated Powell and said her race was an example of Democrats holding off Republicans who pursue extreme politics.
“In district after district, they’re finding an electorate that is fighting back against their extremist views and policies,” said Williams.
Ryan Deto is a TribLive reporter covering politics, Pittsburgh and Allegheny County news. A native of California’s Bay Area, he joined the Trib in 2022 after spending more than six years covering Pittsburgh at the Pittsburgh City Paper, including serving as managing editor. He can be reached at rdeto@triblive.com.
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