PHILADELPHIA — Democrats were poised to retain their majority in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives early today — although four races were still too close to call — while Republicans expanded their control of the state Senate by one seat, to 30-20.

House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese, D-Greene, held on in a district he has represented since 1976, dashing Republican hopes for a high-profile upset.

The House has been under a 102-101 Democratic majority for the past two years, and incomplete results from Tuesday's election showed both parties picked up four of the other side's seats.

But Democrats were leading narrowly early today in two contests for seats that have most recently been held by retiring Republicans. Democratic candidates also held slight leads in two other districts.

Three incumbent Democrats lost in the House, and Republicans picked up a Democratic vacancy. In turn, Democrats won in Bucks County, Lycoming County and Philadelphia where Republicans were retiring. Also, Rep. Jay Moyer, R-Montgomery, lost to Democratic challenger Matthew Bradford.

Republican Rep. Mike Turzai of Allegheny County, said a GOP majority was still possible. Turzai said races in Allegheny and Cambria counties could push his party's edge to the critical 102, depending on results from missing precincts and a potential recount.

"It's too close to call and we're waiting on the absentee ballots," he said.

Both agreed that the attorney general's investigation into the potential misuse of government employees and resources for campaign purposes contributed to losses by Democratic Reps. Chris King of Bucks County, Dan Surra of Elk County and Vince Biancucci of Beaver County.

In the Senate, Republican Elder Vogel won a close contest for an open seat vacated by the retirement of Sen. Gerald LaValle, D-Beaver.

About half of the 253 members of the Pennsylvania Legislature either ran unopposed or were senators whose terms do not expire this year.