2026 Pennsylvania Senate election

2026 Pennsylvania Senate election
November 3, 2026 (2026-11-03)
25 of 50 seats in the Pennsylvania State Senate
26 seats needed for a majority
 
Leader Joe Pittman Jay Costa
Party Republican Democratic
Leader since November 30, 2022 January 4, 2011 (2011-01-04)
Leader's seat 41st–Indiana 43rd–Forest Hills
Last election 15 seats, 54.29% 10 seats, 45.59%
Current seats 27 23
Seats needed Steady Increase 3 (or 2 + LG)[a]
Seats up 12 13
Legend:
     Democratic incumbent      Republican incumbent
Incumbent President Pro Tempore

Kim Ward
Republican


The 2026 Pennsylvania Senate election will be held on November 3, 2026. Voters will elect half the members of the Pennsylvania State Senate the U.S. state of Pennsylvania's legislative districts to serve a four-year term.[1]

This election will be held alongside other elections in Pennsylvania.[2]

Background

Republicans have controlled the Pennsylvania Senate since 1994, although Democrats have not won a majority of seats in the chamber since 1978. The state has been under divided government for much of this time, with Democrats often controlling the governorship and occasionally the House of Representatives. Since Democrats won control of the House in 2022, the Senate has become Republicans' primary force of opposition to Democratic policies. This has blocked Democratic governor Josh Shapiro from enacting many of the more liberal parts of his agenda. Shapiro and Democrats plan to invest heavily in winning control of the Senate to attempt to establish a government trifecta, both to have an easier time passing his agenda and potentially redistricting for the 2028 house elections.[3][4] Republicans maintained their 28–22 majority in the 2024 election.[5]

District 36 special election

Republican Senator Ryan Aument resigned in late 2024, leading to a special election in March 2025.[6] Democrat James Malone won the election in an upset, despite the district having voted for Republican Donald Trump by 15 percentage points in the 2024 presidential election.[7]

2025 District 36 special election[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic James Andrew Malone 27,034 49.99
Republican Josh Parsons 26,508 49.02
Libertarian Zachary Moore 483 0.89
Write-in 52 0.10
Total votes 54,077 100.00
Democratic gain from Republican

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
Sabato's Crystal Ball[9] Lean R January 22, 2026

Primary elections

General election

District breakdown

District Party Incumbent Status Party Candidate Votes %
2 Democratic Christine Tartaglione Running Democratic Christine Tartaglione
4 Democratic Art Haywood Running Democratic Art Haywood
Republican Todd Johnson
6 Republican Frank Farry Running[12] Republican Frank Farry
Democratic Eileen T. Hartnett Albillar
8 Democratic Anthony H. Williams Running Democratic Anthony H. Williams
10 Democratic Steve Santarsiero Running Democratic Steve Santarsiero
Republican Gregory J. Bankos Jr.
12 Democratic Maria Collett Running[12] Democratic Maria Collett
Republican Robert F. Costello III
14 Democratic Nick Miller Running Democratic Nick Miller
Republican Omy Juriel Maldonado
16 Republican Jarrett Coleman Running Republican Jarrett Coleman
Democratic Mark Pinsley
18 Democratic Lisa Boscola Running[13] Democratic Lisa Boscola
Republican Scott Janney
20 Republican Lisa Baker Running[14] Republican Lisa Baker
Democratic Jackie Baker
22 Democratic Marty Flynn Running Democratic Marty Flynn
Republican Sharon Soltis
24 Republican Tracy Pennycuick Running[15] Republican Tracy Pennycuick
Democratic Chris Thomas
Green Michael Schonewolf Jr
26 Democratic Tim Kearney Running Democratic Tim Kearney
Republican Gail Scott[c]
28 Republican Kristin Phillips-Hill Running Republican Kristin Phillips-Hill
Democratic Thomas Johnson
30 Republican Judy Ward Running[12] Republican Judy Ward
Democratic Sean Steeg
32 Republican Patrick J. Stefano Running[12] Republican Patrick J. Stefano
34 Republican Greg Rothman Running[12] Republican Greg Rothman
Democratic Nathan Wood
36 Democratic James Malone Running[17] Democratic James Malone
Republican Tom Jones
38 Democratic Lindsey Williams Running[12] Democratic Lindsey Williams
Republican Thomas West
40 Republican Rosemary Brown Running Republican Rosemary Brown
Democratic Brian A. Wrightson
42 Democratic Wayne D. Fontana Running Democratic Wayne D. Fontana
44 Democratic Katie Muth Running[12] Democratic Katie Muth
Republican Melissa C. Dicranian
46 Republican Camera C. Bartolotta Running[18] Republican Camera C. Bartolotta
Independent Jodie Borello
48 Republican Chris Gebhard Running[19] Republican Chris Gebhard
50 Republican Michele Brooks Running Republican Michele Brooks

Notes

  1. ↑ The lieutenant governor, also elected in 2026, would serve as a tie-breaker should the Senate be split 25-25. Democrats would need either 25 seats to control the Senate should they also win the gubernatorial election or 26 seats if they do not.
  2. ↑ Withdrew after primary election.[10]
  3. ↑ Republican nominee Alfe Goodwin withdrew and was replaced on the ballot by Scott.[16]

References

  1. ↑ "Pennsylvania State Senate elections, 2026". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2025-08-10.
  2. ↑ Booker, Brakkton (2025-07-29). "The 2026 midterms are officially underway". POLITICO. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  3. ↑ https://www.greenwichtime.com/news/politics/article/how-a-congressional-redistricting-battle-could-22312400.php
  4. ↑ Kashinsky, Lisa (2026-02-04). "Shapiro needs big policy wins for a 2028 run. He's gunning for a Democratic trifecta to achieve them". POLITICO. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
  5. ↑ Dilworth, Richardson (2024-11-09). "Pennsylvania will keep its divided legislature thanks to split-ticket voters". The Conversation. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
  6. ↑ Cole, John (December 10, 2024). "Aument to leave Pennsylvania state Senate and serve as McCormick's state director". Pennsylvania Capital-Star. States Newsroom. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
  7. ↑ Gabbatt, Adam (March 26, 2025). "Democrat wins Pennsylvania state senate race in major upset". The Guardian. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Pennsylvania State Legislature Special Election Results 2025". The New York Times. March 25, 2025. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
  9. ↑ Jacobson, Louis (January 22, 2026). "Handicapping The 2026 State Legislative Map: A First Look". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  10. ↑ Jones, Mike (June 24, 2026). "Democrat's withdrawal from 46th Senate race paves way for independent". Observer-Reporter. Retrieved 29 August 2026.
  11. ↑ "2026 General Election". Pennsylvania Department of State. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Snyder, Sy (February 18, 2026). "Reelection Announcement Roundup". PoliticsPA. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  13. ↑ Ulrich, Steve (January 9, 2026). "1/9 Playbook: "A Remarkable Rebuke"". PoliticsPA. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  14. ↑ "State Sen. Lisa Baker is asking voters for their support once more". Times Leader. January 31, 2026. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  15. ↑ Ulrich, Steve (January 13, 2026). "1/13 Playbook: Garrity: "Shapiro Has Made Pennsylvania Mediocre"". PoliticsPA. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
  16. ↑ Ulrich, Steve (August 17, 2026). "SD-26: Scott Steps In As GOP Candidate". PolticsPA. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
  17. ↑ Campos, Jade (December 6, 2025). "Lancaster County Democrats call for candidates for 2026 midterm elections". LNP | LancasterOnline. Retrieved 6 December 2025.
  18. ↑ Ulrich, Steve (January 21, 2026). "Rothman Voids Washington County GOP Vote of No Confidence in Sen. Bartolotta". PoliticsPA. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  19. ↑ "Lancaster County Republicans to see three contested primaries next year". LNP | LancasterOnline. December 22, 2025. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
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