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| Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 61 | ||
| Current incumbent | Catherine Harper  | |
| Population | 64,375 | |
| Ethnicity | 5.8% Black, 2.2% Hispanic | |
| Voting age | 79.3% age 18 and over | |
Pennsylvania's sixty-first state house district is represented by Republican Representative Catherine Harper.
As of the 2010 census, a total of 64,375 civilians reside within Pennsylvania's sixty-first state house district. Pennsylvania state representatives represent an average of 62,573 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 60,498 residents.
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.
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.
| State legislators | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $87,180/year | $183/day |
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.
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 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.
Liz Hanbidge (D) defeated incumbent Catherine Harper (R) in the general election for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 61 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate |
% |
Votes |
||
| ✔ |
|
Liz Hanbidge (D) |
53.8
|
17,689 |
|
|
Catherine Harper (R) |
46.2
|
15,214 | |
|
|
Total votes: 32,903 |
Liz Hanbidge advanced from the Democratic primary for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 61 on May 15, 2018.
Candidate |
% |
Votes |
||
| ✔ |
|
Liz Hanbidge (D) |
100
|
4,799 |
|
|
Total votes: 4,799 |
Incumbent Catherine Harper advanced from the Republican primary for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 61 on May 15, 2018.
Candidate |
% |
Votes |
||
| ✔ |
|
Catherine Harper (R) |
100
|
3,812 |
|
|
Total votes: 3,812 |
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 Catherine Harper defeated Robert Wilkinson in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 61 general election.Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 61, General Election, 2016
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican |  Catherine Harper Incumbent |
56.53% | 20,458 | |
| Democratic | Robert Wilkinson | 43.47% | 15,732 | |
| Total Votes | 36,190 | |||
| Source: Pennsylvania Department of State | ||||
Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 61 Democratic Primary, 2016
| Party | Candidate | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Melissa Flowers (unopposed) |
Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 61 Republican Primary, 2016
| Party | Candidate | |
|---|---|---|
| Republican | Catherine Harper Incumbent (unopposed) |
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 Catherine Harper was unopposed in the Republican primary, while Suzan Leonard was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Harper defeated Leonard in the general election.
Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 61 General Election, 2014
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Catherine Harper Incumbent |
60.7% | 13,744 | |
| Democratic | Suzan Leonard | 39.3% | 8,882 | |
| Total Votes | 22,626 | |||
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 Catherine Harper (R) defeated Jo White (D) in the general election. Neither candidate faced opposition in their primary.
Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 61, General Election, 2012
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Catherine Harper Incumbent |
58.2% | 20,231 | |
| Democratic | Jo White | 41.8% | 14,543 | |
| Total Votes | 34,774 | |||
From 2002 to 2016, candidates for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 61 raised a total of $2,134,656. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $112,350 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.
Campaign contributions, Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 61
| Year | Amount | Candidates | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | $134,084 | 3 | $44,695 |
| 2014 | $198,228 | 2 | $99,114 |
| 2012 | $111,435 | 2 | $55,718 |
| 2010 | $238,546 | 2 | $119,273 |
| 2008 | $628,290 | 2 | $314,145 |
| 2006 | $78,305 | 2 | $39,153 |
| 2004 | $56,216 | 2 | $28,108 |
| 2002 | $78,094 | 2 | $39,047 |
| 2000 | $611,458 | 2 | $305,729 |
| Total | $2,134,656 | 19 | $112,350 |
