Pennsylvania House Majority Still Unclear as New Speaker Named

The Capitol building in Pennsylvania's capital Harrisburg on Oct. 14, 2011. (Mladen Antonov/AFP via Getty Images)

Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives will be led by a Democrat who vows to become an independent, was nominated by Republicans, and has ties to Democrat Governor-Elect Josh Shapiro.

In a tense nomination process on Tuesday, Rep. Mark Rozzi of Berks County was named Speaker of the House, with 115 members voting for Rozzi and 85 members voting for Republican nominee Carl Walker Metzger.

At the time of the vote, the House had 99 Democrats, 101 Republicans, and three vacancies all in Democrat strongholds. It means Republicans are in the majority for now, but once the vacancies are filled, power will likely flip in Democrats’ favor: 102 to 101.

Rozzi is known for his relentless battle against childhood sexual abuse. He has said he was sexually abused by a priest in the 1980s when he was 13 years old, and from that, Rozzi has spent years advocating for victims of childhood sexual abuse. He worked closely with Attorney General Shapiro and victims who testified for the 2018 grand jury report detailing widespread abuse in Pennsylvania’s Catholic Churches. Much of Rozzi’s proposed legislation has centered on this issue.

Nominated by a Republican

State Rep. Mark Rozzi, speaking at a 2019 press conference at Muhlenberg High School about childhood sexual abuse. Behind him are Gov. Tom Wolf, Rep. Jim Gregory and then Attorney General Josh Shapiro. (Commonwealth Media Service)

Rep. Jim Gregory, a Republican from Blair County, nominated Rozzi for speaker of the House. Gregory is himself a survivor of sexual abuse and worked with Rozzi on some legislation.

“We must look at our razor thin majority and the likelihood of shifting majorities throughout this session,” Gregory told his colleagues in a prepared nominating speech on the House Floor.

“It is time to put aside the letters that come after our names; it’s time to focus on the titles in front of them. We are representatives. We are representatives of the people that sent us here, those people that put this House at the slimmest of majorities. While we cannot, or should not, lose our identities or the identities of our districts, it is time to put aside the primacy of our parties and find common ground for the people of this commonwealth.”

Republican Rep. Timothy O’Neal, seconded the nomination, calling Rozzi an independent.

“We need an independent voice and an independent mind, and that’s what we’re going to get with Representative Mark Rozzi,” O’Neal said. “I think that’s what the people asked for. I think that’s what the people want. And that’s why I’m seconding nomination for Mark Rozzi.”

Rep. Joanna E. McClinton, Democratic leader, called Rozzi a true leader and offered Democrat support for the nomination.

Someone quickly moved to close nominations after this first and only nomination for speaker. There were some loud groans and objections.

Republican Leader Bryan Cutler made a case for keeping nominations open. The House voted on it and decided, 99-101, to take more nominations. That is when Rep. Metzger was nominated.

Using their red and green voting buttons, 115 members hit the green button for Rozzi, 85 hit red for Metzger.

After he was sworn in, Rozzi, who has been a Democrat, called himself an independent and offered unifying comments.

“The Commonwealth that is home to Independence Hall will now be home to this commonwealth’s first Independent Speaker of the House,” Rozzi said. “I pledge to caucus with neither the Republicans nor the Democrats. My staff will be made up of people from both parties. I pledge my allegiance and my loyalty to no interest in this building, to no interest in our politics. I pledge my loyalty to the people of the commonwealth; the people who are tired of the hyper-partisanship on both parties ... the people who are tired of backroom deal-making, the people who are tired of dysfunction and obstruction, the people who feel as though their voice is not heard. And if they want to be heard, they must choose a side. Those folks deserve a seat at the table, and that seat is now the speaker’s chair.”

In a statement, Cutler said that as a former speaker, he could attest to the use of a speaker removing himself from his own political beliefs and putting the institution before individuals.

“I have known Rep. Rozzi for many years and know he will rise to the occasion and meet the moment as a truly independent leader for the Pennsylvania House.”

With Rozzi becoming an independent, the partisan makeup in the House is currently 101 Republicans, 98 Democrats, and one independent. If the three vacant seats are all filled by Democrats, the house will be equally divided, 101-101.