In Harrisburg, Philadelphia voters are preparing to participate in special elections on Tuesday to fill two empty state House seats. Each of these races features a Democratic candidate as the sole contender on the ballot. Keith Harris is running to take over for Rep. Donna Bullock, while Andre Carroll is set to succeed Rep. Stephen Kinsey. Bullock and Kinsey resigned from their positions in mid-July, with Bullock moving on to work for Project HOME, a non-profit organization dedicated to tackling homelessness, and Kinsey departing earlier than planned to pursue a different job opportunity.
Neither Harris nor Carroll will face opposition in the general election scheduled for November 5th, where they hope to secure full two-year terms. Harris, aged 63, is a Democratic ward leader and community activist known for his efforts in combating graffiti in Philadelphia, specifically in the northern region of the city. On the other hand, Carroll, aged 33, has experience working in various capacities within city and state government. The district he aims to represent is located in northwest Philadelphia and boasts a predominantly Democratic voter registration demographic, characterized as older and less financially prosperous compared to the state’s overall population.
With the inclusion of the Bullock and Kinsey seats, the House currently holds a slim Democratic majority of 102-101. Polling stations are scheduled to operate from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the day of the elections.
