Pennsylvania State Representative Eric Davanzo, a Republican from the 58th District in Westmoreland County, was asked to leave the floor of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives after entering the chamber wearing a suit jacket with red and white stripes resembling the American flag, paired with a blue tie featuring white stars. The incident occurred days before the July 4 holiday and amid observances for the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Davanzo stated that he chose the outfit to mark the upcoming celebration, and later expressed pride over the decision to defy the chamber’s narrow Democratic Party majority. The Pennsylvania House operates under narrow Democra control, with the party holding a slim majority that allows them to select leadership positions, including Speaker Joanna McClinton, a Democrat from Philadelphia.
According to a report from local outlet WTAE, House security staff approached Davanzo and informed him of the Speaker’s directive. He was given the choice to remove the jacket or exit the floor, as the attire was deemed a “costume” that violated expectations for professional dress in the chamber.
Davanzo ultimately elected to leave without removing the jacket.
“KICKED OFF THE FLOOR FOR WEARING A PATRIOTIC JACKET? That’s right, it happened,” Davanzo posted on Facebook following the removal. “I will never apologize for putting patriotism before politics. We love our country. We love America, so I’m happy to put this on. I’m proud to wear this,” he added in a follow-up video statement.
The episode took place during a session that included discussion of the state budget, which had passed its constitutional deadline without resolution. Davanzo indicated he viewed the jacket as a way to add a positive note to the proceedings.
Fox News reported that some Democrat lawmakers privately expressed disagreement with the removal afterward, though the speaker’s office continued to maintain the decision aligned with chamber norms.
A spokesperson for Speaker McClinton, Nicole Reigelman, claimed that the jacket did not meet standards for professional attire and distinguished it from other themed clothing. House rules on attire are not spelled out in extensive detail, and enforcement falls to the presiding officer.
BREAKING: PA State Rep Eric Davanzo (R) says he was removed from the House floor for wearing a patriotic jacket ahead of America’s 250th pic.twitter.com/LOEaeNuN8N
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) July 1, 2026
The removal has prompted discussion about consistency in applying decorum standards. Davanzo and other Republicans pointed out that during June, recognized as Pride Month, Democrat members and staff wore clothing featuring Pride colors, including shirts, hats, and shoes, without facing similar restrictions.
“They (Democrats) were wearing pride stuff all month. They wore pride-themed shirts, hats and tennis shoes and were never told to remove them,” Davanzo said.
Speaker McClinton’s office responded that items with pride colors were treated as professional attire rather than costumes, and that the ruling followed precedent from prior leadership. Critics, including Republican representatives such as Tim O’Neal and Charity Grimm Krupa, questioned whether the Speaker’s office was applying rules selectively.
Krupa wrote that while dress codes and prohibitions on costumes are understandable, “our House rules do NOT make the Speaker the fashion police.”
