# Matthew Gergely > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Matthew_Gergely > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Matthew_Gergely.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Gergely > Source revision: 1343686991 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|American politician (1979–2025)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}} {{Use American English|date=February 2023}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = | name = | honorific_suffix = | image = | alt = | state_house = Pennsylvania | district = [35th](/source/Pennsylvania_House_of_Representatives%2C_District_35) | term_start = February 21, 2023 | term_end = January 19, 2025 | predecessor = [Austin Davis](/source/Austin_Davis_(politician)) | successor = [Dan Goughnour](/source/Dan_Goughnour) | prior_term = | party = [Democratic](/source/Democratic_Party_(US)) | birth_date = {{birth date|1979|10|5}} | birth_place = [McKeesport, Pennsylvania](/source/McKeesport%2C_Pennsylvania), U.S. | death_date = {{Death date and given age|2025|1|19|45}} | death_place = | spouse = Holly{{cite web |title=Representative Matthew Gergely |url=https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/house_bio.cfm?id=2013 |website=Pennsylvania General Assembly |access-date=20 August 2024}} | relatives = [Marc Gergely](/source/Marc_Gergely) (brother) |children = 2 }} '''Matthew Robert Gergely'''{{cite news|url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/triblive-tribune-review/name/matthew-gergely-obituary?id=57336177|title=Matthew R. Gergely|work=Tribune Review|date=January 22, 2025}} (October 5, 1979 – January 19, 2025) was an American politician. A [Democrat](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States)), he was a member of the [Pennsylvania House of Representatives](/source/Pennsylvania_House_of_Representatives), representing the [35th district](/source/Pennsylvania_House_of_Representatives%2C_District_35) from 2023 until his death in 2025. ==Early life and education== Gergely was born on October 5, 1979 in [McKeesport, Pennsylvania](/source/McKeesport%2C_Pennsylvania). He was the son of Sofia and Robert Gergely.{{cite web |title= Matthew Robert Gergely |url= https://www.strifflerfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/matthew-gergely |access-date=January 20, 2025}} He graduated from McKeesport High School and earned a [bachelor of science](/source/bachelor_of_science) degree from [Indiana University of Pennsylvania](/source/Indiana_University_of_Pennsylvania) in 2002.{{cite web |title=Matthew R. Gergely |url=https://archives.house.state.pa.us/people/member-biography?ID=9568 |website=Pennsylvania House of Representatives Archives |access-date=18 August 2024}} ==Career== From 2012 to 2017, Gergely was chief of staff to the mayor of [McKeesport, Pennsylvania](/source/McKeesport%2C_Pennsylvania). He was subsequently the business manager for [McKeesport Area School District](/source/McKeesport_Area_School_District) until 2020. Gergely then became McKeesport's chief revenue officer from 2022 to 2023. In February 2023, Gergely won a special election to represent the [35th district](/source/Pennsylvania_House_of_Representatives%2C_District_35) in the [Pennsylvania House of Representatives](/source/Pennsylvania_House_of_Representatives) after Representative [Austin Davis](/source/Austin_Davis_(politician)) became the [lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania](/source/lieutenant_governor_of_Pennsylvania). Gergely's victory in concurrence with two other special elections cemented Democrats' narrow majority in the House after vacancies following the [2022 election](/source/2022_Pennsylvania_House_of_Representatives_election) left control of the House in question.{{Cite news |last=Vigdor |first=Neil |date=2023-02-07 |title=Sweep in 3 Special Elections Gives Democrats Control of Pennsylvania House |language=en-US |work=[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/07/us/politics/pennsylvania-house-democrats-special-elections.html |access-date=2023-02-08 |issn=0362-4331}} The 35th district was previously represented by Gergely's brother [Marc](/source/Marc_Gergely).{{cite news |last1=Morrison |first1=Oliver |title=In 35th District special election, GOP's Nevills takes on Democrat Gergely |url=https://www.wesa.fm/politics-government/2023-01-30/in-35th-district-special-election-gop-newcomer-takes-on-a-longtime-mckeesport-democrat |access-date=20 August 2024 |work=90.5 WESA |date=January 30, 2023}} Gergely had two bills he was the prime sponsor of signed into law. One sought to improve the testing of [blood plasma](/source/blood_plasma), and the other gave licensed businesses more flexibility to serve alcohol.{{Cite news|date=2025-01-19 |title=Mon Valley State Rep. Matt Gergely dies after suffering medical emergency|work=WPXI |url=https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/mon-valley-state-rep-matt-gergely-dies-after-suffering-medical-emergency/GIGATSWPFBGO5AGFMX2EV5WKTU/|access-date=7 December 2025}} ==Death== In December 2024, Gergely suffered a medical emergency. The exact circumstances were not publicly disclosed. He was hospitalized and was thus unable to attend the swearing-in ceremony for legislators on January 7, 2025.{{cite news |last1=Riese |first1=Tom |title=Democratic state Rep. Matt Gergely dies, weeks after medical emergency |url=https://www.wesa.fm/politics-government/2025-01-19/democratic-state-rep-matt-gergely-dies-weeks-after-medical-emergency |access-date=7 December 2025 |work=90.5 WESA |date=January 20, 2025}} Democratic leader [Matt Bradford](/source/Matt_Bradford) said that Gergely was not expected to be in attendance β€œfor some foreseeable time.”{{cite news |last1=McGoldrick |first1=Gillian |title=The Pa. House is tied 101-101 for the first day of the legislative session after a Democratic state rep suffered a health emergency |url=https://www.inquirer.com/news/pennsylvania/pa-house-tied-gergely-mcclinton-topper-20250106.html |access-date=7 December 2025 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=January 6, 2025}} Fellow Representative [Andrew Kuzma](/source/Andrew_Kuzma) described Gergely's hospitalization status as critical but stable on January 6.{{cite news |last1=Turner |first1=Ford |title=Republican lawmaker says hospitalization of a Mon Valley House Democrat won't erase Democratic majority |url=https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2025/01/06/pennsylvania-house-kuzma-gergely-majority/stories/202501060072 |access-date=12 December 2025 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date=January 6, 2025}} Gergely's absence left the chamber with a partisan tie. During the election for Speaker of the House, Republican leader [Jesse Topper](/source/Jesse_Topper) withdrew his name after the first tied ballot to avoid deadlock, allowing Democrat [Joanna McClinton](/source/Joanna_McClinton) to be reelected speaker.{{cite news |last1=Scolforo |first1=Mark |title=Democrat elected speaker of tied Pennsylvania House after GOP candidate bows out |url=https://whyy.org/articles/pa-house-mcclinton-speaker/ |access-date=24 October 2025 |work=WHYY |date=January 7, 2025}} Topper also wished Gergely a full and speedy recovery in remarks on the House floor.{{cite news |last1=Scolforo |first1=Mark |title=Democrat Joanna McClinton reelected as Pa. House speaker after member's illness throws outcome into doubt |url=https://www.citizensvoice.com/2025/01/07/democrat-elected-speaker-of-tied-pennsylvania-house-after-gop-candidate-bows-out/ |access-date=12 December 2025 |work=The Citizens' Voice |agency=Associated Press |date=January 7, 2025}} Gergely later died on January 19. He was 45. ==Electoral history== {{Election box begin no change|title=[2023 Pennsylvania House of Representatives special election](/source/2023_Pennsylvania's_35th_House_of_Representatives_district_special_election){{cite web |website=Allegheny County, PA |url=https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/PA/Allegheny/117227/web.307039/#/summary |title=FEBRUARY 7, 2023 SPECIAL ELECTION - PENNSYLVANIA 35TH LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT |access-date=20 August 2024 |date=February 21, 2023}}}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Pennsylvania Democratic Party|votes=6,792|candidate=Matthew Gergely|percentage=73.67}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Pennsylvania Republican Party|candidate=Don Nevills|votes=2,302|percentage=24.97}} {{Election box write-in with party link no change|votes=126|percentage=1.37}} {{Election box total no change|votes=9,218|percentage=100.00}} {{Election box hold with party link no change|winner=Pennsylvania Democratic Party}} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin no change|title=[2024 Pennsylvania House of Representatives election](/source/2024_Pennsylvania_House_of_Representatives_election):
Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 35}} {{Election box candidate unopposed with party link|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate= Matthew Gergely (incumbent)}} {{Election box total no change|votes=23,550|percentage=100.00}}{{Election box hold with party link no change|winner=Democratic Party (United States)}} {{Election box end}} ==References== {{reflist}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Gergely, Matthew}} Category:1979 births Category:2025 deaths Category:Democratic Party members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Category:People from McKeesport, Pennsylvania Category:21st-century members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly Category:Indiana University of Pennsylvania alumni --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Matthew Gergely](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Gergely) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Gergely?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.