Pennsylvania Re-Elects State Lawmaker Who Died Last Month

Pennsylvania state representative, Democrat Anthony “Tony” DeLuca, was reelected during the midterm elections, despite passing away on October 9.

DeLuca died after a brief battle with lymphoma last month.

The Democrat was 85,” the Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus wrote.

DeLuca was Pennsylvania’s longest-serving state rep, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Pennsylvania House Democrats said in a tweet:

“While we’re incredibly saddened by the loss of Representative Tony DeLuca, we are proud to see the voters to continue to show their confidence in him and his commitment to Democratic values by re-electing him posthumously.”

“A special election will follow soon.”

DeLuca’s opponent, Green Party challenger Queonia “Zarah” Livingston, ran on a decidedly left-wing platform, putting her three main priorities as “environmental justice,” “ending the war on drugs,” and “reducing gun violence.”

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As Fox News noted:

DeLuca was a resident of Penn Hills for over 60 years. He got his start in politics serving on the Penn Hills Government Study Commission, then five years as a Penn Hills Councilman, followed by two years as Penn Hills Deputy Mayor before running for his legislative seat and defeating the Republican incumbent.

He graduated from Westinghouse High School and the Community College of Allegheny County. He had four children, nine grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

In addition to his late wife, he was preceded in death by his brother Larry and his parents.