Democrats retained their one-vote majority in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives after voters in Pittsburgh elected former congressional aide Lindsay Powell in a special election on Tuesday.

Powell’s victory gives Democrats a 102-101 majority in the House of Representatives. Republicans hold a 28-22 majority in the Senate, creating a divided Legislature that prevents Democrats from passing priorities such as broader protections for LGBTQ+ people and gun control measures, and Republicans from victories on issues including school vouchers.

The divided Legislature has also meant that Republican senators have failed to put before voters proposed constitutional amendments that would limit the governor’s power and implement voter ID proposals.

Most recently, the division has left the swing state in a two-month budget impasse after negotiations over education funding soured, in part over the voucher debate.

Powell cited affordable and decent housing, a strong local economy and community amenities such as robust recreation centers, libraries and strong infrastructure as top issues. She said housing was a particular concern. People feel displaced by rising costs and seniors want to remain in their homes.

I am grateful. As someone who has been a lifelong public servant, this is the highest honor of my life, and I am so excited to work on behalf of all of us, she said in an interview Tuesday evening.

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Powell, 32, is director of workforce strategies for InnovatePGH, a public-private partnership that aims to make Pittsburgh a leading technology hub. She previously worked in Washington for U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer and Representative Hakeem Jeffries, both Democrats from New York.

I’m kidding, but actually I’ve had the honor of holding every government job except this one, she said earlier.

Powell will fill the vacancy left by progressive Democrat Sara Innamorato, who resigned in July to take local office in Allegheny County. Powell defeated Republican Erin Connolly Autenreith in the heavily Democratic district.

Autenreith said in a telephone interview Tuesday evening that she hopes the Legislature will address her top priorities for police funding, improvements in education and increasing job opportunities in Allegheny County. She hopes to continue working with Republican candidates in her role as Republican committee chair in Shaler.

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The House of Representatives should be back at the Capitol next week to resume work on a long-overdue state budget, although Powell’s victory may not be officially certified until early October, a county spokesman said.

Majority Leader Matt Bradford said fellow Democratic lawmakers welcomed Powell to the House of Representatives and that we look forward to continuing our work as a majority to move our Commonwealth forward.