Preceded by Francis Lynch Party Democratic Party Name William Stinson | Political party Democratic Succeeded by Bruce Marks | |
Constituency Part of Philadelphia | ||
William G. Stinson (born circa 1945) is a former Democratic member of the Pennsylvania State Senate. He was elected to represent the 2nd senatorial district in the Pennsylvania Senate in a 1993 special election.
However, Federal District Judge Clarence C. Newcomer declared him the loser of that election after finding that Stinson had engaged in election fraud and ordered Stinson's Republican opponent, Bruce S. Marks, be seated in his stead. The latter took office on April 28, 1994.
The fraud was conducted using absentee ballots, often in the names of deceased people. The decision was notable because it shifted control of the state Senate from the Democratic party to the Republican party. the first time such an event had occurred at the order of a federal judge.