1996 Pennsylvania House of Representatives election

1996 Pennsylvania House of Representatives election

November 5, 1996

All 203 seats in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
102 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Matthew J. Ryan Bill DeWeese
Party Republican Democratic
Leader since January 3, 1995 January 3, 1995
Leader's seat 168th 50th
Last election 101 102
Seats before 102 101
Seats after 104 99
Seat change 2 2
Popular vote 2,004,800 2,032,615
Percentage 49.32% 50.00%
Swing 3.07% 3.76%

     Democratic hold      Democratic gain
     Republican hold      Republican gain
Republican:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Democratic:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%

Speaker before election

Matthew J. Ryan
Republican

Elected Speaker

Matthew J. Ryan
Republican

The 1996 elections for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives were held on November 5, 1996, with all districts being decided. Primary elections were held on April 23, 1996. The term of office for those elected in 1996 began when the House of Representatives convened in January 1997. Pennsylvania State Representatives are elected for two-year terms, with all 203 seats up for election every two years.

Despite winning 102 seats in 1994, the Democrats didn't control the chamber, as Democratic State Representative Tom Stish switched affiliation to the Republican Party, giving Republicans control.