PA Lt. Gov.-Elect Austin Davis Resigns From State House

HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor-elect Austin Davis resigned his state House seat Wednesday to focus on his upcoming new job and assist in Governor-elect Josh Shapiro's transition efforts.

Davis, of McKeesport in Allegheny County, notified colleagues via letter that he is stepping down.

“It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve in the state House of Representatives and to be the voice of my community in Harrisburg,” Davis said. “If you had told me as a 16-year-old teen, driven to my first city council meeting to protest gun violence that had reached my own block, that I would have the privilege to represent my hometown and neighboring communities in our state Capitol, and the opportunity to take those issues head on and improve lives, I wouldn't have believed it.”

Davis, 33, has represented the 35th Legislative District since 2018. He was the first Black person to serve as a state representative in that district.

The state House speaker will schedule an upcoming special election to fill Davis' seat.

In Allegheny County, there already is a special election scheduled to fill the late state Rep. Tony DeLuca's seat. Another special election will need to be scheduled in the county as state Rep. Summer Lee of Swissvale will be resigning after being elected to the U.S. House in November to succeed the retiring Mike Doyle.