Scranton Democratic state Sen. John Blake set to resign office for job with Cartwright

By: Stephen Caruso - February 14, 2021 5:34 pm

State Sen. John Blake, D-Lackawanna, flanked by state Reps. Marty Flynn, left, and Kyle Mullins, right. (Courtesy of Pa. Senate)

State Sen. John Blake, D-Lackawanna, is set to resign, three Capitol sources have told the Capital-Star.

Blake is leaving Harrisburg to take a job with U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-8th District. The two northeastern Pennsylvania pols have scheduled an 11 a.m. news conference in downtown Scranton, according to a press advisory.

Cartwright is set to chair a Congressional appropriations subcommittee this session that manages $70 billion in federal funding for economic development, law enforcement, and science.

Blake, who was first elected in 2010, represents the 22nd Senate District, including Lackawanna County — home to Scranton — as well as parts of Luzerne and Monroe counties in northeastern Pennsylvania. The district has hasn’t been represented by a Republican since 1970, although former President Donald Trump performed well there in 2016.

Until this year, Blake was a member of caucus leadership, before he was defeated in internal elections as part of a wider reshuffle that brought progressive women into the caucus’ brass. Blake and a caucus spokesperson did not reply to requests for comment.

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Stephen Caruso

Stephen Caruso is a former senior reporter with Pennsylvania Capital-Star. Before working with the Capital-Star he covered Pennsylvania state government for The PLS Reporter.