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Pennsylvania, State House, District 47

Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 47
Current incumbentKeith Gillespie Republican Party
Population75,494
Ethnicity5.4% Black, 4.2% Hispanic
Voting age77.4% age 18 and over

Pennsylvania's forty-seventh state house district is represented by Republican Representative Keith Gillespie.

As of the 2010 census, a total of 75,494 civilians reside within Pennsylvania's forty-seventh 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 47

Incumbent Keith Gillespie (R) defeated Michael Wascovich (D) in the general election for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 47 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Keith Gillespie (R)
64.3
16,286

Michael Wascovich (D)
35.7
9,044

Total votes: 25,330
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 47

Michael Wascovich advanced from the Democratic primary for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 47 on May 15, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Michael Wascovich (D)
100
2,267

Total votes: 2,267
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 47

Incumbent Keith Gillespie advanced from the Republican primary for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 47 on May 15, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Keith Gillespie (R)
100
4,995

Total votes: 4,995

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 Keith Gillespie ran unopposed in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 47 general election.

Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 47, General Election, 2016

Party Candidate
Republican Green check mark transparent.png Keith Gillespie Incumbent (unopposed)
Source: Pennsylvania Department of State

Incumbent Keith Gillespie ran unopposed in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 47 Republican primary.

Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 47 Republican Primary, 2016

Party Candidate
Republican Green check mark transparent.png Keith Gillespie Incumbent (unopposed)


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 Keith Gillespie was unopposed in the Republican primary and unchallenged in the general election.

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 Keith Gillespie (R) defeated Sarah Speed in the general election and was unopposed in the Republican primary. Speed defeated Shane Richardson in the Democratic primary.

Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 47, General Election, 2012

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.pngKeith Gillespie Incumbent 60.7% 20,236
Democratic Sarah Speed 39.3% 13,127
Total Votes 33,363

Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District Democratic Primary, 2012

Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngSarah Speed 65.6% 1,880
Shane Richardson 34.4% 984
Total Votes 2,864

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 47 raised a total of $708,691. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $30,813 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 47

Year Amount Candidates Average
2016 $19,380 1 $19,380
2014 $24,330 1 $24,330
2012 * $101,952 3 $33,984
2010 $34,963 2 $17,482
2008 $28,855 1 $28,855
2006 $39,098 2 $19,549
2004 $24,920 1 $24,920
2002 $227,266 9 $25,252
2000 $207,927 3 $69,309
Total $708,691 23 $30,813
* Campaign finance data for 2012 is incomplete for this district.