Shown is the Pennsylvania Capitol building in Harrisburg, Pa., Monday, July 10, 2017. Matt Rourke / AP
HARRISBURG — After nearly a decade of being largely shut out of leadership positions, lawmakers from Philadelphia and its suburbs will soon be flexing political muscle in Democratic circles in the state House of Representatives.
On Tuesday, three Philadelphia legislators were elected to leadership spots in the House’s Democratic caucus. Rep. Jordan Harris will be the caucus’ new whip — the No. 2 leader, whose job is to persuade members to vote on bills important to the party. Rep. Joanna McClinton was chosen to be the caucus chair, and Rep. Rosita Youngblood was reelected to be its secretary.
Rep. Matt Bradford of Montgomery County will be the ranking Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, through which all bills requiring approval to spend taxpayer…
