State Sen. Leader Bob Mellow (D-Lackawanna County) was unanimously re-elected minority leader Thursday.
His re-election was little more than a foregone conclusion. However, the same could not be said of minority appropriations chairman, where state Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny County) replaces retiring legendary Harrisburg power-broker Sen. Vince Fumo (D-Philadelphia).
State Sen. Michael O'Pake (D-Berks County) was elected Democratic whip, and Sen. Richard Kasunic (D-Fayette County) was elected policy chairman.
Senate Democrats will be in a difficult situation next session. They could face a 10-member deficit to their Republican counterparts, 30-20, depending on the outcome of a special election in the 29th Senatorial District.
It is the last state legislative chamber in the Northeast that remains in GOP control.
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