Three weeks after a midterm election that upset the Republican majority in both houses of the U.S. Congress, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives has followed suit and flipped to Democratic control.

In a hotly contested race in Chester County, Democrat Barbara McIlvaine Smith was declared the winner yesterday over Republican Shannon Royer by a 23-vote margin after an extensive recount and tallying of provisional and absentee ballots.

In another contested race, Republican Duane Milne defeated Democrat Anne Crowley for the 167th district of the Pennsylvania House. The two decisions issued by the Chester County Commissioners secured a 102-101 majority for Democrats in the House -- the first in 12 years.

The change in House leadership will mean positive changes for Pennsylvania, said Scott Conklin, D-Centre, who was elected to the House representing an area of Centre County that includes downtown State College.

"It will give people like myself a better opportunity to help Penn State," he said. "I'll be able to be more involved in the areas of alternative energy and education."

Conklin said he felt the Republican-controlled Pennsylvania Senate and Democratic-controlled House would not cause deadlock but rather encourage cooperation.

"I think it brings a much-needed balance of power," he said. "It forces both sides to work together."

College Republicans President

Todd Taylor said the diversity of opinion within the Democratic majority might lead to intra-party divisions.

"I doubt they will be able to come up with a cognitive agenda," he said. "You're going to find a lot of Democrats in the House siding with the Republicans."

College Democrats press secretary Eliot Schmidt said the Democratic takeover of the U.S. Congress and Pennsylvania House showed considerable potential.

"It's a good sign to bring government back that's more accountable to Pennsylvania," he said.

Taylor agreed that the results of the Chester County races were consistent with an overall trend conveyed by voters -- a call for change in leadership.

"It really reflects the dynamic of the 2006 elections, which is an anti-Republican mood," he said.

Jon Eich, who was defeated in a race for a seat in the Pennsylvania Senate by incumbent Jake Corman, R-Bellefonte, said he considered his party's takeover of the Pennsylvania House a major gain.

"This is an important victory for Democrats, and it should be important for the Governor as well," he said. "A whole bunch of things will now fall into place."

Eich said the fact that the Democratic majority will appoint the legislature's committee chairs would bring many of their ideals to the forefront, including minimum wage reform and lobbyist registration.

"It changes who's around the table when you're doing negotiations," he said.

Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, R-Bellefonte, who was elected to the Pennsylvania House to represent a district that includes University Park, said he was not bothered by the Democrats' victory.

"I'm not overly surprised because the vote total was very close in the beginning," he said. "I'm willing to try to work with who's ever in power."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.