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Pennsylvania, State House, District 181

Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 181
Current incumbentMalcolm Kenyatta Democratic Party
Population59,807
Ethnicity53.8% Black, 25.4% Hispanic
Voting age75.6% age 18 and over

Pennsylvania's one hundred and eighty-first state house district is represented by Democratic Representative Malcolm Kenyatta.

As of the 2010 census, a total of 59,807 civilians reside within Pennsylvania's one hundred and eighty-first state house district. Pennsylvania state representatives represent an average of 62,573 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 60,498 residents.

About the chamber

Members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives serve two-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Pennsylvania legislators' terms officially begin on December 1 the year of their election. However, legislators take the oath of office the first Tuesday in January.

Qualifications

Under Article II of the Pennsylvania Constitution, senators shall be at least twenty-five years of age and representatives twenty-one years of age. They shall have been citizens and inhabitants of their respective districts one year before their election (unless absent on the public business of the United States or of this State) and shall reside in their respective districts during their terms of service.

Salaries

State legislators
SalaryPer diem
$87,180/year$183/day

Pension

Legislators in Pennsylvania are able to retire at age 50, while other state workers cannot retire until they turn 60. In 2011, the average legislative pension was $35,221 annually, while the average state employee pension was $23,491. According to former legislator David Mayernik, who began collecting a pension of $29,583 a year when he retired at age 50, the lowered retirement age was intended as compensation for small legislative salaries as well as the uncertainty of serving in office.

Vacancies

If there is a vacancy in the house, a special election must be held to fill the vacant seat. The Speaker of the House is responsible for calling an election. There are no deadlines set in the state constitution on when a special election can be held.

Elections

2020

Elections for the office of Pennsylvania House of Representatives will take place in 2020. The general election will be held on November 3, 2020. A primary is scheduled for April 28, 2020. The filing deadline is February 18, 2020.

2018

General election
General election for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 181

Malcolm Kenyatta (D) defeated Milton Street (R) in the general election for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 181 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Malcolm Kenyatta (D)
95.3
21,382

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Milton Street (R)
4.7
1,050

Total votes: 22,432
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 181

Malcolm Kenyatta defeated Lewis Nash Sr., Lewis Thomas III, Jason Deering, and Gilberto Gonzalez in the Democratic primary for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 181 on May 15, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Malcolm Kenyatta (D)
42.1
2,270

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Lewis Nash Sr. (D)
26.6
1,435

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Lewis Thomas III (D)
17.7
956

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Jason Deering (D)
7.8
422

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Gilberto Gonzalez (D)
5.6
304

Total votes: 5,387
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 181

Milton Street advanced from the Republican primary for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 181 on May 15, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Milton Street (R)
100
94

Total votes: 94

2016

Elections for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election was held on April 26, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was February 16, 2016.

Incumbent W. Curtis Thomas ran unopposed in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 181 general election.

Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 181, General Election, 2016

Party Candidate
Democratic Green check mark transparent.png W. Curtis Thomas Incumbent (unopposed)
Source: Pennsylvania Department of State

Incumbent W. Curtis Thomas defeated Kenneth Walker in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 181 Democratic primary.

Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 181 Democratic Primary, 2016

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.png W. Curtis Thomas Incumbent 62.31% 7,598
Democratic Kenneth Walker 37.69% 4,596
Total Votes 12,194


2014

Elections for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 20, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 11, 2014. Incumbent W. Curtis Thomas defeated Emily Rodriguez, Kenneth Walker and Kenneth Williams-Medley in the Democratic primary. Thomas was unchallenged in the general election.

Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 181 Democratic Primary, 2014

Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngW. Curtis Thomas Incumbent 61.3% 3,626
Kenneth Walker 14.6% 862
Emily Rodriguez 13.5% 797
Kenneth Williams-Medley 10.7% 631
Total Votes 5,916

2012

Elections for the office of Pennsylvania House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on April 24, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was February 16, 2012. Incumbent W. Curtis Thomas (D) was unopposed in both the general election and Democratic primary.

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 181 raised a total of $614,561. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $43,897 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 181

Year Amount Candidates Average
2016 $40,657 2 $20,329
2014 $67,238 4 $16,810
2012 * $19,285 1 $19,285
2010 $113,076 2 $56,538
2008 $58,913 1 $58,913
2006 $76,872 1 $76,872
2004 $122,324 1 $122,324
2002 $74,140 1 $74,140
2000 $42,056 1 $42,056
Total $614,561 14 $43,897
* Campaign finance data for 2012 is incomplete for this district.