UPDATE: Democrat Roni Green won the special election with about 85 percent of the vote. Green told The Philadelphia Inquirer that she will focus on “education, job creation and programs to prevent gun violence.” The election allows Green to serve out the remainder of Movita Johnson-Harrell’s term, which runs through this year. She will be on the primary ballot on April 28 vying for a full two-year term.

Voters in the 190th state legislative district (see map) will go to the polls on Tuesday, Feb. 25 to elect a new state representative.

The special election features Democrat and union official G. Roni Green and Republican Wanda Logan (Facebook link), who is making her fifth bid for the seat and her first as a Republican. The seat was left vacant after Movita Johnson-Harrell stepped down following charges that she stole nearly $500,000 from her non-profit. She pleaded guilty and began serving a three-month jail sentence earlier this month. That will be followed by 8-and-a-half months of house arrest.  Continue Reading

Newly elected State Rep. Movita Johnson-Harrell, the first Muslim woman elected to the Pennsylvania legislature, has been arrested on corruption charges.

Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced the charges this morning against Johnson-Harrell, who won the 190th District seat in a special election last March. They include theft, perjury and tampering with public records.

Shapiro said Johnson-Harrell has agreed to plead guilty to the charges and will face jail time. She turned herself in to authorities in Philadelphia on Wednesday morning.  Continue Reading

State Rep. Movita Johnson-Harrell will welcome her constituents to her new district office location during an open house Saturday.

The open house will take place from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26 at 550 N. 52nd St.

Johnson-Harrell and her staff will be available to show constituents around the new office location, to answer questions and provide help with state government-related programs.  Continue Reading

Newly-elected State Rep. Movita Johnson-Harrell will host her first Community Town Hall since being sworn in.

Residents are invited this Thursday, May 30, to Mt. Carmel Baptist Church (5732 Race St.) to have an open discussion on some key topics, including the 2019-20 state budget, reduction of violence and poverty.

“I look forward to engaging my constituents on ways to create a safe and economically viable community throughout my district,” Johnson-Harrell said in a statement. “Before being elected to office, I was on the frontlines of community activism, with a mission to empower my community. Now as a state legislator, still in the forefront of improving my community, I feel like my goals to better my community has been made all the more possible.”

The community town hall is scheduled from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Democratic nominee Movita Johnson-Harrell easily won Tuesday’s special election for the 190th House District seat.

Johnson-Harrell, who was most recently the head of the victim service unit in the District Attorney’s Office, won with about two-thirds of votes cast. She replaces Vanessa Lowery Brown, who was forced to resign in December after being convicted of bribery charges.

Amen Brown, a Democrat who was running as an independent, finished second, according to reports. Pamela K. Williams, a pastor from West Philly running in the Working Families Party, finished third and Republican Michael Harvey finished fourth.  Continue Reading

The 190th House district.

A special election will be held tomorrow, March 12, to fill the state 190th House district seat left vacant after Vanessa Lowery Brown was forced to resign. This is the only race on the ballot.

The 190th district includes some neighborhoods around Malcolm X. Park and west of 52nd Street as well as Belmont, Carroll Park, Cathedral Park, Mill Creek, Haddington, East Parkside, West Powelton, Allegheny West and Lehigh West.

Go here to find your polling place and to figure out if you live in the 190th. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.  Continue Reading