Third consecutive Donatucci to hold seat

Maria Donatucci won a special election Tuesday to fill the seat left vacant when her husband, Robert Donatucci, passed away in November.

Ms. Donatucci, a Democrat, won 93 percent of the vote, easily defeating Republican candidate Lewis Harris, Jr. for the 185th district seat.

The district, which straddles Philadelphia and Delaware counties, has more than five times as many registered Democrats than Republicans.

Ms. Donatucci is the third consecutive Donatucci to represent the district since 1977, when Ronald Donatucci was elected. Ronald resigned from the General Assembly to take a position with the city of Philadelphia in 1980 and his brother Robert was elected to take his place.

Robert served 15 terms in the district before passing away suddenly at his home in November at age 58.

Once sworn in, Ms. Donatucci will be one of 33 women currently serving in the General Assembly, the highest total in Pennsylvania history.

In a statement Wednesday, House Minority Leader Frank Dermody (D-Allegheny) welcomed Ms. Donatucci to the state House.

“Bob Donatucci was taken from us much too suddenly last fall and we have felt his absence,” Dermody said. “Having Maria Donatucci come here to succeed Bob is very fitting and she is going to do a great job for the people of her district.”

With Ms. Donatucci’s election, the state House has no vacant seats. Republicans hold a majority of 112-91.

The state Senate has one vacancy, in the 11th district. It was formerly held by Michael O’Pake, a Berks County Democrat who passed away in December after heart surgery. A special election is scheduled for March 15 between Republican Larry Medaglia and Democrat Judy Schwank.