Abby Major

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Abby Major

| state_house = Pennsylvania

| district = 60th

| term_start = June 7, 2021

| predecessor = Jeff Pyle

| party = Republican

| branch = {{flag|United States Army}}

| serviceyears = 2004–2007

| education = Southern Illinois University Carbondale (BS)

| children = 1

}}

Abigail E. Major is an American politician serving as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 60th district. She was elected in a March 2021 special election and assumed office on June 7, 2021.

Early life and education

A native of Ford City, Pennsylvania, Major graduated from Ford City High School. She then joined the United States Army, serving as an intelligence analyst from 2004 to 2007. After leaving the Army, she attended the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mortuary science from Southern Illinois University Carbondale.{{Cite web|title=Abby Major|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Abby_Major|access-date=2021-06-14|website=Ballotpedia|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Representative Abby Major|url=https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/house_bio.cfm?id=1926|access-date=2021-06-14|website=The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly.|language=English}}{{Cite web|title=PA State Rep. - About Abby|url=http://www.jeffpyle.net/about|access-date=2021-06-14|website=www.jeffpyle.net}}

Career

Major previously worked as the funeral director of the Curran-Shaffer Funeral Home. She later joined the staff of State Rep. Jeff Pyle, serving as a legislative assistant and later as his chief of staff. Major was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in a May 2021 special election to succeed Pyle. She assumed office on June 7, 2021.{{Cite web|last=Cole|first=John|date=March 25, 2021|title=HD60: Abby Major Nominated as GOP Candidate in Special Election|url=https://www.politicspa.com/hd60-abby-major-nominated-as-gop-candidate-in-special-election/97758/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-06-14|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210325223537/https://www.politicspa.com/hd60-abby-major-nominated-as-gop-candidate-in-special-election/97758/ |archive-date = 2021-03-25 }}{{Cite web|date=2021-05-19|title=PA-Winners|url=https://apnews.com/article/676ccd9a00ac492db5bde87deba43e13|access-date=2021-06-14|website=AP NEWS}} She was re-elected for a full term in 2022.{{cite news |last1=Panizzi |first1=Tawnya |title=Abby Major keeps 60th state House seat |url=https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/abby-major-appears-to-have-won-60th-state-house/ |access-date=September 22, 2023 |work=Pittsburgh Tribune-Review |date=November 8, 2022}}

In March 2023, after a lobbyist and a campaign manager for Democratic state representative Michael Zabel accused him of sexual harassment, Major accused him of sexual harassing her as well.{{cite news |last1=Cloonan |first1=Patrick |title=Pa. state Rep. Abby Major tells story of sexual harassment |url=https://www.indianagazette.com/local_news/pa-state-rep-abby-major-tells-story-of-sexual-harassment/article_4d617adf-f61f-5e81-aa2f-2eb10d4ef271.html |access-date=September 22, 2023 |work=Indiana Gazette |date=March 9, 2023 |language=en}} Zabel resigned due to these allegations.{{cite news |last1=Hall |first1=Peter |title=Pa. Rep. Mike Zabel resigns under growing pressure from sexual harassment accusers |url=https://www.penncapital-star.com/government-politics/pa-rep-mike-zabel-resigns-under-growing-pressure-from-sexual-harassment-accusers/ |access-date=September 21, 2023 |work=Pennsylvania Capital-Star |date=March 8, 2023}}

Electoral history

{{Election box begin no change| title= 2021 Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 60 special election{{cite web |title=2021 Special Election 60th Legislative District |url=https://electionreturns.pa.gov/Special/OfficeResults?ElectionID=88&ElectionType=S&IsActive=0 |publisher=Pennsylvania Department of State |access-date=September 22, 2023}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Abby Major

|votes = 10,116

|percentage = 72.60%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Frank C. Prazenica

|votes = 3,249

|percentage = 23.32%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Libertarian Party (United States)

|candidate = Andrew Hreha

|votes = 568

|percentage = 4.08%

}}

{{Election box total no change

|votes = 13,933

|percentage = 100%

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

|winner = Republican Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box begin no change| title= 2022 Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 60 election{{cite web |title=2022 General Election |url=https://electionreturns.pa.gov/General/OfficeResults?OfficeID=13&ElectionID=94&ElectionType=G&IsActive=0 |publisher=Pennsylvania Department of State |access-date=September 22, 2023}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Abby Major (incumbent)

|votes = 19,056

|percentage = 68.89%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Robert George

|votes = 8,604

|percentage = 31.11%

}}