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Pennsylvania State Senate
Upper house of the Pennsylvania General Assembly
Upper house of the Pennsylvania General Assembly
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| background_color | |
| name | Pennsylvania State Senate |
| legislature | Pennsylvania General Assembly |
| coa_pic | Other seal of the Pennsylvania Senate.svg |
| logo_pic | Logo of the Pennsylvania State Senate.svg |
| logo_res | 220px |
| house_type | Upper house |
| term_limits | None |
| foundation | |
| new_session | January 7, 2025 |
| leader1_type | President |
| leader1 | Austin Davis (D) |
| election1 | January 17, 2023 |
| leader2_type | President pro tempore |
| leader2 | Kim Ward (R) |
| election2 | November 30, 2022 |
| leader3_type | Majority Leader |
| leader3 | Joe Pittman (R) |
| election3 | November 30, 2022 |
| leader4_type | Minority Leader |
| leader4 | Jay Costa (D) |
| election4 | January 4, 2011 |
| term_length | 4 years |
| authority | Article II, Pennsylvania Constitution |
| salary | $102,844/year + per diem |
| members | 50 |
| structure1 | |
| last_election1 | November 5, 2024 |
| (odd-numbered districts) | |
| next_election1 | November 3, 2026 |
| (even-numbered districts) | |
| redistricting | Bipartisan Commission |
| session_room | Senate Chamber, Pennsylvania State Capitol Building.jpg |
| meeting_place | State Senate Chamber |
| Pennsylvania State Capitol | |
| Harrisburg, Pennsylvania | |
| website |
Majority
- Republican (27) Minority
- Democratic (23) (odd-numbered districts) (even-numbered districts) Pennsylvania State Capitol Harrisburg, Pennsylvania The Pennsylvania State Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the Pennsylvania state legislature. Senators are elected for four-year terms, staggered every two years, such that half of the seats are contested at each election. Even- and odd-numbered district seats are contested in separate election years. The State Senate meets in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg, and has been meeting since 1791.
The president of the Senate is the lieutenant governor, who has no vote except to break a tie. The president pro tempore becomes the lieutenant governor in the event of the sitting lieutenant governor's removal, resignation or death. In this case the president pro tempore and lieutenant governor would be the same person.
Qualifications
Senators must be at least 25 years of age. They must be a United States citizen and a Pennsylvania resident for four years, and a resident of that district one year prior to their election and must reside in that district during their term.
Leadership
Officers
| Position | Officer | |
|---|---|---|
| President | Austin Davis | |
| President pro tempore | Kim Ward | |
| Secretary & Parliamentarian | Michael Gerdes | |
| Chief Clerk | Donetta D’Innocenzo |
Caucus leadership
Composition
Historical sessions
| Affiliation | Party (shading indicates majority caucus) | Total | Republican | Ind | Democratic | Vacant | 1995–1996 session | 50 | 1997–1998 session | 50 | 1999–2000 session | 50 | 2001–2002 session | 50 | 2003–2004 session | 50 | 2005–2006 session | 50 | 2007–2008 session | 50 | 2009–2010 session | 50 | 2011–2012 session | 50 | 2013–2014 session | 50 | 2015–2016 session | 50 | 2016–2017 session | 50 | 2017–2018 session | 50 | 2018–2019 session | 50 | 2019–2020 session | 50 | 2021–2022 session | 50 | 2023–2024 session | 50 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican Party (US)}}" | Independent}}" | Democratic Party (US)}}" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 29 | 0 | 21 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 30 | 20 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 30 | 20 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 30 | 20 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 29 | 21 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 30 | 20 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 29 | 21 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 30 | 20 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 30 | 20 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 27 | 23 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 30 | 20 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 31 | 19 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 34 | 16 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 28 | 22 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 29 | 1 | 21 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 28 | 1 | 21 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 28 | 0 | 22 | 0 |
Current session
As of May 5, 2025:
| Democratic Party (United States)}}" | Democratic | Republican Party (United States)}}" | Republican |
|---|
| Affiliation | Party (shading indicates majority caucus) | Total | Republican | Ind | Democratic | Vacant | End of previous legislature | 50 | January 7, 2025 | 49 | May 5, 2025 | 50 | Latest voting share | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican Party (US)}}" | Independent}}" | Democratic Party (US)}}" | |||||||||||||||
| 28 | 0 | 22 | 0 | ||||||||||||||
| 27 | 0 | 22 | 1 | ||||||||||||||
| 23 | 0 |
Membership
The State Senate comprises 50 senators who are elected by district. In 2012, a State Senate district had an average population of 254,047 residents.
List of current senators
| District | Senator | Party | Residence | Counties represented | First elected | Term ends | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Democratic | Philadelphia | Philadelphia | 2020 | 2028 | ||
| 2 | Democratic | Philadelphia | Philadelphia | 1994 | 2026 | ||
| 3 | Democratic | Philadelphia | Philadelphia | 2016 | 2028 | ||
| 4 | Democratic | Philadelphia | Montgomery, Philadelphia | 2014 | 2026 | ||
| 5 | Republican | Philadelphia | Philadelphia | 2024 | 2028 | ||
| 6 | Republican | Langhorne Borough | Bucks | 2022 | 2026 | ||
| 7 | Democratic | Philadelphia | Montgomery, Philadelphia | 1994 | 2028 | ||
| 8 | Democratic | Philadelphia | Delaware, Philadelphia | 1998 | 2026 | ||
| 9 | Democratic | Birmingham | Chester, Delaware | 2020 | 2028 | ||
| 10 | Democratic | Lower Makefield Township | Bucks | 2018 | 2026 | ||
| 11 | Democratic | Fleetwood | Berks | 2011 | 2028 | ||
| 12 | Democratic | Lower Gwynedd Township | Montgomery | 2018 | 2026 | ||
| 13 | Republican | West Lampeter Township | Berks, Lancaster | 2016 | 2028 | ||
| 14 | Democratic | Allentown | Lehigh, Northampton | 2022 | 2026 | ||
| 15 | Democratic | Harrisburg | Dauphin | 2024 | 2028 | ||
| 16 | Republican | Upper Macungie Township | Bucks, Lehigh | 2022 | 2026 | ||
| 17 | Democratic | East Norriton Township | Delaware, Montgomery | 2020 | 2028 | ||
| 18 | Democratic | Bethlehem Township | Lehigh, Northampton | 1998 | 2026 | ||
| 19 | Democratic | West Chester | Chester | 2020 | 2028 | ||
| 20 | Republican | Lehman Township | Luzerne, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne, Wyoming | 2006 | 2026 | ||
| 21 | Republican | Oil City | Butler, Clarion, Forest, Venango, Warren | 2012 | 2028 | ||
| 22 | Democratic | Scranton | Lackawanna, Luzerne | John Blake]] resigned on February 15, 2021. Flynn was elected in a special election on May 18. | 2026 | ||
| 23 | Republican | Loyalsock Township | Bradford, Lycoming, Sullivan, Tioga, Union | 2008 | 2028 | ||
| 24 | Republican | Harleysville | Berks, Montgomery | 2022 | 2026 | ||
| 25 | Republican | Pine Creek Township | Cameron, Centre, Clinton, Elk, Jefferson, McKean, Potter | 2020 | 2028 | ||
| 26 | Democratic | Swarthmore | Delaware | 2018 | 2026 | ||
| 27 | Republican | Sunbury | Columbia, Luzerne, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder | 2023 | 2028 | ||
| 28 | Republican | York Township | York | 2018 | 2026 | ||
| 29 | Republican | Rush Township | Carbon, Luzerne, Schuylkill | 2009 | 2028 | ||
| 30 | Republican | Hollidaysburg | Blair, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Mifflin | 2018 | 2026 | ||
| 31 | Republican | Dillsburg | Cumberland, York | 2024 | 2028 | ||
| 32 | Republican | Bullskin Township | Bedford, Fayette, Somerset, Westmoreland | 2014 | 2026 | ||
| 33 | Republican | Greene Township | Adams, Franklin | 2019 | 2028 | ||
| 34 | Republican | Silver Spring Township | Cumberland, Dauphin, Perry | 2022 | 2026 | ||
| 35 | Republican | Johnstown | Cambria County, Centre, Clearfield | 2016 | 2028 | ||
| 36 | Democratic | East Petersburg | Lancaster | 2025Ryan Aument resigned on December 31, 2024 to become the state director to U.S. Senator Dave McCormick. Malone was elected in a special election on March 25, 2025, and was sworn in on May 5. | 2026 | ||
| 37 | Republican | Bridgeville | Allegheny, Washington | 2020 | 2028 | ||
| 38 | Democratic | West View | Allegheny | 2018 | 2026 | ||
| 39 | Republican | Hempfield Township | Westmoreland | 2008 | 2028 | ||
| 40 | Republican | East Stroudsburg | Lackawanna, Monroe, Wayne | 2022 | 2026 | ||
| 41 | Republican | Indiana | Armstrong, Indiana, Jefferson, Westmoreland | 2019 | 2028 | ||
| 42 | Democratic | Pittsburgh | Allegheny | 2005 | 2026 | ||
| 43 | Democratic | Forest Hills | Allegheny | 1996 | 2028 | ||
| 44 | Democratic | East Vincent Township | Berks, Chester, Montgomery | 2018 | 2026 | ||
| 45 | Democratic | West Mifflin | Allegheny | 2024 | 2028 | ||
| 46 | Republican | Monongahela | Beaver, Greene, Washington | 2014 | 2026 | ||
| 47 | Republican | New Sewickley Township | Beaver, Butler, Lawrence | 2008 | 2028 | ||
| 48 | Republican | North Cornwall Township | Berks, Lancaster, Lebanon | Dave Arnold]] died on January 17, 2021. Gebhard was elected in a special election on May 18. | 2026 | ||
| 49 | Republican | Millcreek Township | Erie | 2016 | 2028 | ||
| 50 | Republican | Jamestown | Crawford, Lawrence, Mercer | 2014 | 2026 |
Committees
Current committees, majority chairs, minority chairs, and vice chairs include:
| Committee Name | Majority chair (R) | Minority chair (D) | Vice chair (R) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aging & Youth | Wayne Langerholc | Maria Collett | Judy Ward | |||
| Agriculture & Rural Affairs | Elder Vogel | Judy Schwank | Michele Brooks | |||
| Appropriations | Scott Martin | Vincent Hughes | Elder Vogel | |||
| Banking & Insurance | Chris Gebhard | Sharif Street | Lisa Baker | |||
| Communications & Technology | Tracy Pennycuick | Nick Miller | Kristin Phillips-Hill | |||
| Community, Economic & Recreational Development | Rosemary Brown | Anthony H. Williams | Chris Gebhard | |||
| Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure | Patrick J. Stefano | Lisa Boscola | Frank Farry | |||
| Education | Lynda Schlegel Culver | Lindsey Williams | Doug Mastriano | |||
| Environmental Resources & Energy | Gene Yaw | Carolyn Comitta | Scott Hutchinson | |||
| Finance | Scott Hutchinson | Nick Pisciottano | Jarrett Coleman | |||
| Game & Fisheries | Greg Rothman | Lisa Boscola | Dan Laughlin | |||
| Health & Human Services | Michele Brooks | Art Haywood | Lynda Schlegel Culver | |||
| Institutional Sustainability & Innovation | Frank Farry | Tim Kearney | Dave Argall | |||
| Intergovernmental Operations | Jarrett Coleman | Christine Tartaglione | Cris Dush | |||
| Judiciary | Lisa Baker | Amanda Cappelletti | Gene Yaw | |||
| Labor & Industry | Devlin Robinson | John I. Kane | Camera Bartolotta | |||
| Law & Justice | Dan Laughlin | Wayne D. Fontana | Joe Picozzi | |||
| Local Government | Dawn Keefer | Patty Kim | Rosemary Brown | |||
| Rules & Executive Nominations | Joe Pittman | Jay Costa | Wayne Langerholc | |||
| State Government | Cris Dush | Steve Santarsiero | Patrick J. Stefano | |||
| Transportation | Judy Ward | Marty Flynn | Devlin Robinson | |||
| Urban Affairs & Housing | Joe Picozzi | Nikil Saval | Dawn Keefer | |||
| Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparednesss | Doug Mastriano | Katie Muth | Tracy Pennycuick |
Past composition of the Senate
Main article: Political party strength in Pennsylvania
References
Sources
References
- ''The Pennsylvania Manual'', pp. 3–7.
- Article II, section 3, ''[[Pennsylvania Constitution]]''.
- Article IV, section 14, ''Pennsylvania Constitution''.
- ["Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania"](https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/LI/consCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&ttl=0}}{{cite web).
- "Senate Committee List {{!}} 2025–2026 Session – PA State Senate".
Info: Wikipedia Source
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