Making history as the first female House Speaker in Pennsylvania, state representative Joanna McClinton's electionTuesday (Feb. 28) ended months of turmoil in the chamber following state representative Mark Rozzi's resignation from the top position.

McClinton, a Philadelphia resident and eight-year Democratic member, received 102 votes for speaker. State Rep. Carl Metzgar, a Republican from Somerset, was the only other candidate for the position and received 99 votes.

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, in his resignation speech, Rozzi said he wouldn’t stand in the way of the woman who effectively was elected by voters for the Speaker’s office, as Pennsylvania Democrats claimed control of the House. 

Saying that he believes in McClinton, the former speaker said, "I, and all Pennsylvanians, are counting on you.” McClinton said she was “so very grateful for all who have come before me," as she took the gavel from Rozzi.

A turbulent few months in Harrisburg came to an end with the shift of leadership. Democrats just gained a majority in the House in November after winning 102 seats. Republicans, however, had more representatives when the House first convened this year due to three Democratic vacancies. With Republican backing, Rozzi took over as Speaker in place of McClinton, who serves as head of the House Democrats.

McClinton attended LaSalle University before graduating from Villanova University with a law degree in 2006. She recalled Tuesday how, in 2002, she gave her personal statement for her law school application serious consideration because she had no idea, as someone who was raised by a single mom, whether she could reach her goals.

Although McClinton is the first woman to lead the Pennsylvania chamber, she’s the second Black person in the post. The first in the role was Pittsburgh's K. Leroy Irvis, who was elected speaker for the first time in 1977 and held the position for nearly eight years over two terms,

In her inauguration speech, McClinton referred to Irvis as well as Rosita Youngblood, a fellow Philadelphia Democrat and the first Black woman to serve in a leadership position in the House.

In statements made on the House floor, she expressed confidence that the two sides could work together. “We don’t have to criticize. I am confident that we can debate. We don’t have to disparage each other. I am confident that we can replace our short-sighted political games with sincere and productive cooperation.”