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Mike Zabel

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Michael Zabel
Zabel in 2022
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
from the 163rd district
In office
January 1, 2019 (2019-01-01) – March 16, 2023 (2023-03-16)
Preceded byJamie Santora
Succeeded byHeather Boyd
Personal details
Born (1979-01-16) January 16, 1979 (age 45)
Delaware County, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseLauren
Children2
EducationCollege of the Holy Cross (BA)
University of Indiana (MA)
Temple University (JD)
Alma materSt. Joseph's Preparatory School

Michael Patrick Zabel[1] (born January 16, 1979) is an American politician. He served as a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 163rd district from 2019 to 2023.

Early life and education

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Zabel was born on January 16, 1979 in Delaware County, Pennsylvania.[1] He grew up as the oldest of six children in Havertown.[2] Zabel graduated from St. Joseph's Preparatory School in 1996. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from College of the Holy Cross in 2000 and a Master of Arts degree in the classics from the University of Indiana in 2003. Zabel earned his Juris Doctor from Temple University in 2010.[3]

Pennsylvania House of Representatives

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In 2018, Zabel, a first-time candidate and former assistant district attorney in Philadelphia, defeated Republican incumbent Jamie Santora to represent the 163rd district in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Zabel's victory marked the first time a Democrat represented the seat in 40 years.[4] He would be re-elected twice.

In March 2023, a union lobbyist's accusations of Zabel sexually harassing her in 2019 were made public.[5] After the first accusation, two more allegations emerged against Zabel. Previously in 2018, Zabel's campaign manager accused him of inappropriately touching her. At the time, she reported it to an unnamed Democratic Party leader, but had not gone public. The same day the campaign manager's allegations were made public, State Representative Abby Major also said she was followed to her car by an intoxicated Zabel after rejecting his advances in November 2022.[2] Zabel initially resisted calls to resign because of the allegations and said he would seek treatment for his "illness."[6] He later reversed his earlier statement and announced he would resign from office effective March 16, 2023.[7]

Personal life

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He is married to his wife Lauren and has two children.[8][2] They live in the Drexel Hill neighborhood of Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania.[2]

Electoral history

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2018 Pennsylvania House of Representatives election, District 163[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike Zabel 15,417 53.37
Republican Jamie Santora (incumbent) 13,471 46.63
Total votes 28,888 100.00
2020 Pennsylvania House of Representatives election, District 163[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike Zabel (incumbent) 22,259 60.26
Republican Michael McCollum 14,680 39.74
Total votes 36,939 100.00
2022 Pennsylvania House of Representatives election, District 163[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike Zabel (incumbent) 16,448 65.02
Republican Kenneth P. Rucci 8,450 33.40
Libertarian Alfe Goodwin 399 1.58
Total votes 25,297 100.00

References

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  1. ^ a b "Mike Zabel". Pennsylvania House of Representatives Archives. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d McGoldrick, Gillian (March 3, 2023). "A Delco House Democrat was accused of sexual misconduct. Here's what you should know". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  3. ^ "Representative Mike Zabel". Pennsylvania General Assembly. Archived from the original on March 8, 2023. Retrieved August 30, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  4. ^ Cole, John (November 7, 2018). "Dems Net 11 State House Seats". PoliticsPA. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  5. ^ Caruso, Stephen (March 1, 2023). "Lobbyist says she was sexually harassed by Pa. lawmaker Mike Zabel, calls on him to resign". Spotlight PA. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  6. ^ Spotlight PA Staff (March 3, 2023). "Pa. lawmaker accused of sexual harassment says he won't resign, will seek treatment for 'illness'". Spotlight PA. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  7. ^ Caruso, Stephen (March 8, 2023). "PA lawmaker accused of sexual harassment will resign". Spotlight PA. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  8. ^ "Dem Zabel knocks off GOP incumbent Rep. Santora in 163rd". The Delaware County Daily Times. November 7, 2018. Archived from the original on November 7, 2018. Retrieved August 29, 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  9. ^ "2018 General Election Tuesday, November 6, 2018 Official Returns DELAWARE". electionreturns.pa.gov. Pennsylvania Department of State. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  10. ^ "DELAWARE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA GENERAL ELECTION 11/3/2020". Delaware County, Pennsylvania. February 25, 2021. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  11. ^ "Delaware County, Pennsylvania General Election 11/8/2022". Delaware County, Pennsylvania. November 28, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
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