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Rep. Nikki Rivera looks toward the voting board on the wall of the House of Representatives during the roll call at the opening of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives 208th legislative session on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.
Rep. Bryan Cutler sits with fellow Republican members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives after they were sworn in for the 208th legislative session during a ceremony a the Capitol in Harrisburg on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.
Rep. Nikki Rivera stands as she and the other new members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives are recognized and applauded by fellow House members on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.
Rep. Nikki Rivera stands as she and the other new members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives are recognized by Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton after members were sworn in on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.
Joanna McClinton addresses the House of Representatives after being sworn in as Speaker of the House for the 208th legislative session inside Capitol in Harrisburg on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.
Joanna McClinton, center, is applauded by fellow Democrats as she makes her way to the front of the House of Representatives after being elected Speaker of the House on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.
Rep. Nikki Rivera, left, is sworn in as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives during a ceremony at the Capitol in Harrisburg on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. Rivera represents the 96th district serving portions of Lancaster city, Manheim Township and East Petersburg Borough. To the right of Rivera is Rep. Gina Curry, of Delaware County.
Rep. Nikki Rivera looks toward the voting board on the wall of the House of Representatives during the roll call at the opening of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives 208th legislative session on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.
Rep. Bryan Cutler sits with fellow Republican members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives after they were sworn in for the 208th legislative session during a ceremony a the Capitol in Harrisburg on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.
Rep. Nikki Rivera stands as she and the other new members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives are recognized and applauded by fellow House members on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.
Joanna McClinton addresses the House of Representatives after being sworn in as Speaker of the House for the 208th legislative session inside Capitol in Harrisburg on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.
Rep. Nikki Rivera, left, is sworn in as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives during a ceremony at the Capitol in Harrisburg on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. Rivera represents the 96th district serving portions of Lancaster city, Manheim Township and East Petersburg Borough. To the right of Rivera is Rep. Gina Curry, of Delaware County.
HARRISBURG — Members of Lancaster County’s delegation in Pennsylvania’s General Assembly were sworn into office on Tuesday.
Many of the nine representatives and two senators from districts covering portions of the county are incumbents and thus were familiar with the ceremony, in which lawmakers recite the oath of office with their left hand on a sacred text or the Constitution, and their right hand raised in the air.
In fact, all of them had done it previously except for newly elected Rep. Nikki Rivera, who won the race to represent the 96th Legislative District following longtime Rep. Mike Sturla’s decision to retire. Rivera, a Democrat, stood with fellow first-term House members for a moment of applause during the ceremony.
Rep. Nikki Rivera stands as she and the other new members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives are recognized by Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton after members were sworn in on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.
Rivera called the day “inspiring and invigorating.”
She was also tasked with reporting to Gov. Josh Shapiro that the House was organized for the 208th legislative session.
Not present when the Pennsylvania Senate convened Tuesday was a member from the 36th District, which covers a large portion of Lancaster County’s northern half. Ryan Aument, who was reelected to a third term in 2022, resigned his state Senate seat to take a job on U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick’s staff. A special election to fill the remainder of Aument’s term will be held on March 25.
Members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives take their seats before being sworn in for the 208th legislative session at the Capitol in Harrisburg on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.
Rep. Nikki Rivera looks toward the voting board on the wall of the House of Representatives during the roll call at the opening of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives 208th legislative session on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.
Rep. Nikki Rivera, left, is sworn in as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives during a ceremony at the Capitol in Harrisburg on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. Rivera represents the 96th district serving portions of Lancaster city, Manheim Township and East Petersburg Borough. To the right of Rivera is Rep. Gina Curry, of Delaware County.
Joanna McClinton, center, is applauded by fellow Democrats as she makes her way to the front of the House of Representatives after being elected Speaker of the House on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.
Joanna McClinton addresses the House of Representatives after being sworn in as Speaker of the House for the 208th legislative session inside Capitol in Harrisburg on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.
Rep. Nikki Rivera stands as she and the other new members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives are recognized by Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton after members were sworn in on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.
Rep. Nikki Rivera stands as she and the other new members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives are recognized and applauded by fellow House members on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.
Rep. Bryan Cutler sits with fellow Republican members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives after they were sworn in for the 208th legislative session during a ceremony a the Capitol in Harrisburg on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.
Members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives take their seats before being sworn in for the 208th legislative session at the Capitol in Harrisburg on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.
Rep. Nikki Rivera looks toward the voting board on the wall of the House of Representatives during the roll call at the opening of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives 208th legislative session on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.
Rep. Nikki Rivera, left, is sworn in as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives during a ceremony at the Capitol in Harrisburg on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. Rivera represents the 96th district serving portions of Lancaster city, Manheim Township and East Petersburg Borough. To the right of Rivera is Rep. Gina Curry, of Delaware County.
Joanna McClinton, center, is applauded by fellow Democrats as she makes her way to the front of the House of Representatives after being elected Speaker of the House on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.
Joanna McClinton addresses the House of Representatives after being sworn in as Speaker of the House for the 208th legislative session inside Capitol in Harrisburg on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.
Rep. Nikki Rivera stands as she and the other new members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives are recognized by Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton after members were sworn in on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.
Rep. Nikki Rivera stands as she and the other new members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives are recognized and applauded by fellow House members on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.
Rep. Bryan Cutler sits with fellow Republican members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives after they were sworn in for the 208th legislative session during a ceremony a the Capitol in Harrisburg on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.
Democrats maintained their 102-101 majority in the House, but a medical emergency kept Rep. Matt Gergely, of Allegheny County, from attending the swearing-in ceremony. His absence left the chamber at a 101-101 tie heading into a vote for a Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Joanna McClinton, center, is applauded by fellow Democrats as she makes her way to the front of the House of Representatives after being elected Speaker of the House on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.
Despite the possibility of delay in choosing a speaker until Gergely’s return, Philadelphia state Rep. Joanna McClinton was reelected to the House Speaker’s gavel.
She had tied for votes with Republican Leader Jesse Topper, of Bedford County, initially. But in a bipartisan move, Topper withdrew his candidacy for the speakership.
The Senate shared a similar moment of bipartisanship. Leaders from both parties backed Republican Westmoreland County state Sen. Kim Ward again as president pro tempore.
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