Posted on March 13, 2014 by Ethan Smith

Twenty-eight Democratic women running to take on the Tea-party controlled House GOP in 2014

HARRISBURG, March 12, 2014—For the first time in the history of the Commonwealth, a majority of the Democrats running for the Pennsylvania House this year against Republicans will be women. The Pennsylvania House Democratic Campaign Committee announced on Thursday that 28 Democratic women will be running in Republican-held House seats in 2014.

“We are setting out to change the face of the Legislature in 2014,” said PA HDCC Chair Rep. Tim Briggs (D-Montgomery). “I wanted to recruit better candidates this cycle but I also wanted to focus on recruiting strong women in our most viable seats to address the lack of equal representation in the House. We were more successful than I ever expected and I look forward to making gains towards a Democratic majority.”

Briggs said that he sees great opportunity for the Democratic challengers running for the House this year with poll after poll showing voters rejecting the policies of Governor Corbett and the House GOP.

“The destructive policies of the Republican-controlled legislature have held back the hard working, middle class families of Pennsylvania. This election will be a referendum on Governor Corbett and his rubber stamps in the House.”

Pennsylvania has consistently ranked as one of the worst states in the nation when it comes to the proportion of women in the state legislature, with a mere 17.8% currently occupying seats. By contrast, women make up 28% of the parliament in Afghanistan.

But with a strong slate of women running for the House in 2014, the Democrats believe that will change in November. HDCC Vice-Chair Rep. Tina Davis (D-Bucks) was excited by the caliber of the Democratic women and men running this year.

“This is an impressive slate of Democratic candidates,” said Davis. “The women who have stepped up to run are the best leaders of our business, non-profit and civic communities. The 2014 election will be truly historic and exciting. Voters are tired of the failed governance of the GOP and this year they will have inspiring alternatives on the ballot.”

Frustrated with the cuts the House GOP have enacted over the last four years, the Democrats running for the House are eager to right the course of a state that is headed in the wrong direction. Pennsylvania’s job creation numbers in 2013 ranked 48th in the nation. Following a historic $1 billion cut to public education, districts are still cutting programs and facing increased class sizes.

Democratic Leader Frank Dermody (D-Allegheny) believes that voters will hold Republican House members accountable for their deplorable records this year.

“The House GOP has failed us and voters know it’s time for new leadership,” said Dermody. “This year we have exciting candidates who want to reverse Corbett’s cuts to public education; they want a full Medicaid expansion so Pennsylvanians get the health care they deserve; they want to invest in job creation and raise the minimum wage. This is the best slate of Democratic House candidates I’ve ever seen. Frankly, if I were a Republican on the ballot this year, I would be concerned.”

via PA HOUSE DEMS MAKE HISTORY: MAJORITY OF CHALLENGERS WOMEN | PA HDCC.