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Posted: 2023-09-20T03:36:29Z | Updated: 2023-09-20T19:26:04Z

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) Democrats will retain their one-vote majority in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives after voters in Pittsburgh on Tuesday elected former congressional aide Lindsay Powell.

Powells victory gives Democrats a 102-101 majority in the House. Republicans have a 28-22 majority in the Senate, creating a divided Legislature that has kept Democrats from passing priorities such as broadened protections for LGBTQ+ people and gun control measures and Republicans from wins on issues including school vouchers .

The divided Legislature has also meant Republican senators have been unable to take to voters proposed constitutional amendments limiting the governors power and implementing voter ID.

Most recently the division has mired the state in a two-month budget stalemate after negotiations soured over education funding, in part because of the voucher debate.

Powell identified affordable and dignified housing, a strong local economy and community assets such as robust recreation centers, libraries and strong infrastructure as top issues. Housing, she said, was a particular concern. People feel displaced by rising costs and seniors want to stay in their homes.

Im grateful. As someone whos been a lifelong public servant, this is the highest honor of my life, and I am so excited to be able to work on behalf of every single one of us, she said in an interview Tuesday night.