The Republican State Senate could refuse to seat the native race’s licensed winner whereas litigation continues – CBS Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Next Tuesday the Pennsylvania General Assembly will be sworn in, including 25 senators. However, a local Democratic State senator is unsure whether his Republican counterparts who control the Senate will allow him to take the oath of office.

Democrat Jim Brewster won the 45th Senate District by 69 votes – at least that’s the confirmed results of the Secretary of State – but Republican Nicole Ziccarelli says 311 undated postal ballots should not be counted. She wins by 24 votes if these ballots are invalid.

“I’ve been certified, and this is not the first close election in the history of the state,” Sen. Brewster told KDKA Political Editor Jon Delano.

Although Brewster is close and has garnered more votes than his Republican challenger, he expects his Republican counterparts to set him on January 5th.

“I’ll do Jon,” he said. “I believe the leadership, Senator Corman, understands that there is a process here and we must always uphold the integrity of the democratic process.”

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Ziccarelli said: “I think we won this election with 24 votes. When all the legally cast ballots are counted, we won by 24 votes and I’ll be the next Senator from the 45th Ward. “

Ziccarelli has asked a federal judge to throw postal ballot papers in Allegheny County in which voters neglected the outer envelopes contrary to state law – despite the fact that the ballots were received on time and the Supreme Court allowed votes to be counted.

“We have to sign and date our ballots in Pennsylvania,” Zicarelli said.

The federal case could drag on for months and leave the 45th district without a vote in the Senate. Brewster says it is a terrible precedent for the majority party to refuse to put anyone from the opposing party.

“What do you say to thousands of voters out there when the election has been over for nearly two months and a certified candidate is not being sworn in?” he said.

Ziccarelli says she really is the winner but wouldn’t say if her Republicans will put her on Tuesday.

“I think the Senate will do what they will. It’s their responsibility, so I’ll leave it to them, ”said Ziccarelli.

Ziccarelli later released a press release late Friday night saying that attorneys had petitioned the Senate on her behalf. They call on the Senate to refuse to accept the Foreign Minister’s certification.