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Pennsylvania, State House, District 49

Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 49
Current incumbentBud Cook Republican Party
Population58,268
Ethnicity4.6% Black, 0.9% Hispanic
Voting age81.6% age 18 and over

Pennsylvania's forty-ninth state house district is represented by Republican Representative Bud Cook.

As of the 2010 census, a total of 58,268 civilians reside within Pennsylvania's forty-ninth 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 49

Incumbent Bud Cook (R) defeated Steven Toprani (D) in the general election for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 49 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Bud Cook (R)
50.0
9,945

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Steven Toprani (D)
50.0
9,934

Total votes: 19,879
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 49

Steven Toprani defeated Randy Barli in the Democratic primary for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 49 on May 15, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Steven Toprani (D)
77.5
3,262

Randy Barli (D)
22.5
949

Total votes: 4,211
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 49

Incumbent Bud Cook advanced from the Republican primary for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 49 on May 15, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Bud Cook (R)
100
2,301

Total votes: 2,301

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 Peter Daley, III (D) did not seek re-election.

Bud Cook defeated Alan Benyak in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 49 general election.

Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 49, General Election, 2016

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.png Bud Cook 54.10% 13,749
Democratic Alan Benyak 45.90% 11,667
Total Votes 25,416
Source: Pennsylvania Department of State

The following candidates ran in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 49 Democratic primary.

Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 49 Democratic Primary, 2016

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Alan Benyak 35.79% 3,307
Democratic Randy Barli 4.48% 414
Democratic Brendan Garay 4.99% 461
Democratic Mark Alterici 17.81% 1,646
Democratic Donn Henderson 26.13% 2,414
Democratic Bob Kepics 10.80% 998
Total Votes 9,240

Donald Cook defeated Melanie Patterson in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 49 Republican primary.

Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 49 Republican Primary, 2016

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.png Donald Cook 54.21% 2,672
Republican Melanie Patterson 45.79% 2,257
Total Votes 4,929


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 Peter Daley, III defeated Randy Barli in the Democratic primary, while Bud Cook was unopposed in the Republican primary. Daley defeated Cook in the general election.

Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 49 General Election, 2014

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngPeter Daley III Incumbent 56.4% 8,557
Republican Bud Cook 43.6% 6,608
Total Votes 15,165

Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 49 Democratic Primary, 2014

Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngPeter Daley, III Incumbent 71.9% 4,078
Randy Barli 28.1% 1,595
Total Votes 5,673

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 Peter Daley, III (D) defeated Richard Massafra (R) in the general election and defeated Randy Barli in the Democratic primary. Massafra was unopposed in the Republican primary.

Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 49, General Election, 2012

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngPeter Daley, III Incumbent 54.5% 12,244
Republican Richard Massafra 45.5% 10,225
Total Votes 22,469

Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 49 Democratic Primary, 2012

Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngPeter Daley, III Incumbent 73.7% 3,541
Randy Barli 26.3% 1,263
Total Votes 4,804

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 49 raised a total of $1,310,961. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $48,554 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 49

Year Amount Candidates Average
2016 $402,025 8 $50,253
2014 $132,777 3 $44,259
2012 * $335,003 2 $167,502
2010 $61,989 2 $30,995
2008 $102,922 3 $34,307
2006 $104,457 4 $26,114
2004 $92,635 3 $30,878
2002 $41,852 1 $41,852
2000 $37,301 1 $37,301
Total $1,310,961 27 $48,554
* Campaign finance data for 2012 is incomplete for this district.