Frank Anthony Pecora (August 8, 1930 – June 12, 2017) was a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate who represented the 44th District from 1979 to 1994.
Several prominent Pennsylvania Democrats previously worked for Pecora, including former State Senator Sean Logan[2] and Congressman Michael Doyle.
In 1991, the Republican-controlled legislature passed a reapportionment plan that dismantled his old district, instead shifting his district number several hundred miles (over 400 km) to the east from Allegheny County to Chester County.
Pecora, still upset with the reapportionment decision, decided to switch parties and vote with the Democrats.
With Pecora remaining in the Senate, his party switch changed the state senate's partisan makeup to an even 25-25 after the 1992 elections, allowing Democratic Lieutenant Governor Mark Singel to cast the tie-breaking vote that allowed Democrats to gain control of the chamber.