2026 Pennsylvania Senate election

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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]

Quick facts 25 of 50 seats in the Pennsylvania State Senate 26 seats needed for a majority, Leader ...
2026 Pennsylvania Senate election

 2024
November 3, 2026 (2026-11-03)
2028 

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 41stIndiana 43rdForest 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



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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.[3] Republicans maintained their 2822 majority in the 2024 election.[4]

District 36 special election

Republican Senator Ryan Aument resigned in late 2024, leading to a special election in March 2025.[5] 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.[6]

More information Party, Candidate ...
2025 District 36 special election[7]
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
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Predictions

More information Source, Ranking ...
Source Ranking As of
Sabato's Crystal Ball[8] Lean R January 22, 2026
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Primary elections

More information District, Candidates ...
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General election

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.

References

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