HARRISBURG, Pa. (ErieNewsNow) - Democrats will maintain control of the Pennsylvania House after winning a special election in Delaware County yesterday. Democrat Heather Boyd defeated Republican Katie Ford in the race for the vacant 163rd House District. 

The seat has been vacant since the resignation of former Democratic State Representative Mike Zabel earlier this year following sexual misconduct allegations. Zabel was elected to serve the 163rd House District in 2018. His resignation put a 102-101 Democratic House majority on the line. 

Democrats, who took control of the House for the first time in over a decade following the 2022 election, needed Boyd to win to maintain control. Democrats spent over $1,000,000 on the race. 

Boyd won with nearly 60 percent and beat Ford by over 3,000 votes. 

Leading up to the race, President Joe Biden and Governor Josh Shapiro both endorsed Boyd saying her victory would be crucial in protecting reproductive rights and other priorities for the party.