Pennsylvania's eighty-first state house district is represented by Republican Representative Richard Irvin.

As of the 2010 census, a total of 60,600 civilians reside within Pennsylvania's 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

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

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 Richard Irvin defeated Richard Rogers in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 81 general election.

Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 81, General Election, 2016

Richard Rogers ran unopposed in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 81 Democratic primary.
Incumbent Richard Irvin defeated C. Adam Harris in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 81 Republican primary.

Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 81 Republican Primary, 2016

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 Michael Fleck was defeated by write-in candidate Richard Irvin in the Republican primary. Both candidates ran as write-in candidates in the Democratic primary. Fleck defeated Irvin in the Democratic primary. Irvin defeated Fleck in the general election.

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives was a battleground chamber that identified as having the opportunity to switch partisan control in 2014. The Pennsylvania House had a difference in partisan balance between Democrats and Republican of 19 seats, which amounted to 9.4 percent of the chamber. District 81 in the HousePennsylvania House of Representatives. In the race for District 81 in the House, two write-in candidates faced off in the general election. Write-in candidate Richard Irvin (R) defeated incumbent Michael Fleck (R) in the Republican primary, but Fleck won as a write-in candidate in the Democratic primary. District 81, a mostly conservative district, previously re-elected Fleck three times before he came out as gay in 2012.

Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 81 General Election, 2014

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 Michael Fleck (Pennsylvania) (R) was unopposed in both the general election and Republican primary.

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 81 raised a total of $669,377. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $44,625 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 81