The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) is investing $50,000 into the Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus, two weeks ahead of the special election for the 140th state House District, the organization announced this morning.
On Feb. 13, Democrat Jim Prokopiak, a Pennsbury School Board member and former Falls Township Supervisor will face Republican Candace Cabanas, a Falls Township native, for the open seat in Bucks County.
The Pennsylvania state House has been tied at 101-101 between Democrats and Republicans since state Rep. Jim Galloway (D-Bucks) resigned in December after being elected district judge.
“This race is one of the most important special elections of the year and the DLCC is all hands on deck to ensure that Jim Prokopiak emerges victorious,” said DLCC President Heather Williams. “We cannot allow state Republicans to regain control of both chambers and legislate Pennsylvania backward.”
This is the DLCC’s first investment in the Keystone State in 2024.
The DLCC did not specify how its investment would be directed, but noted that caucuses can typically use funds for things like get-out-the-vote efforts, ads, or other initiatives.
Last year, the DLCC said it invested six figures to support the PA House Democratic Campaign Committee’s programming, as Democrats defended the party’s majority in the state House in five special elections.
Earlier this month, the DLCC named Prokopiak its first spotlight candidate of 2024, with Communications Director Abhi Rahman calling Bucks County “the battleground of battlegrounds.”
Prokopiak has mentioned his priorities for the district would include lowering the cost of living, keeping people in their homes, fully funding public schools, and protecting abortion rights. Cabanas has said her focus includes making quality healthcare accessible and affordable and securing education funding for the district.
While Bucks County is viewed as a bellwether of the Philadelphia suburbs, the 140th state House District leans Democratic.
In 2022, Galloway ran unopposed for the seat, and in 2020, he and defeated Republican challenger Jeanine McGee by 20 points.
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