HARRISBURG — Democrats in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives chose a new slate of leaders Tuesday, electing members from the Pittsburgh suburbs and the rural northcentral region to the two top spots and replacing longtime Appropriations Committee powerhouse Dwight Evans.

The minority party’s floor leader for the 2011-12 legislative session will be Rep. Frank Dermody of Allegheny County, a former public defender and prosecutor who has served as whip for the past year. Rep. Michael Hanna Sr., D-Clinton, won the closed-door secret-ballot vote for whip, the No. 2 leadership post.

The biggest surprise was the 50-39 vote to replace Philadelphian Evans as chairman of the Appropriations Committee, a job he has held for 20 years. Rep. Joe Markosek of Allegheny County, most recently the Transportation Committee chairman, will be the ranking Democrat on Appropriations when the new session begins in January.

“He has the general gist of what it takes, and it’s going to take a lot of work,” Evans told reporters shortly after the vote.

Markosek was careful to praise Evans for his efforts at the head of the committee but said most members felt a need for more openness.

Rep. Mark Cohen of Philadelphia, the caucus chairman, was defeated by Rep. Dan Frankel of Allegheny County, leaving Philadelphia and its suburbs — the state’s largest Democratic stronghold — shut out of the leadership contests. Dermody said Cohen and Evans, both senior members, would become minority chairmen of committees when those positions are determined over the coming months.

Dermody vowed that the House Democrats would continue to fight for their beliefs in the coming session, as Republicans will control both the House and Senate and Tom Corbett, a Republican, will be sworn in as governor.