Pennsylvania State Senate
Upper house of the Pennsylvania General Assembly
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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.[2] 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.
Pennsylvania State Senate | |
|---|---|
| Pennsylvania General Assembly | |
| |
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
Term limits | None |
| History | |
| Founded | 1790 |
New session started | January 7, 2025 |
| Leadership | |
Majority Leader | |
Minority Leader | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 50 |
  | |
Political groups | Majority
Minority
|
Length of term | 4 years |
| Authority | Article II, Pennsylvania Constitution |
| Salary | $102,844/year + per diem[1] |
| Elections | |
Last election | November 5, 2024 (odd-numbered districts) |
Next election | November 3, 2026 (even-numbered districts) |
| Redistricting | Bipartisan Commission |
| Meeting place | |
 | |
| State Senate Chamber Pennsylvania State Capitol Harrisburg, Pennsylvania | |
| Website | |
| Official website | |
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.[3]
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.[4]
Leadership
Officers
| Position | Officer |
|---|---|
| President | Austin Davis |
| President pro tempore | Kim Ward |
| Secretary & Parliamentarian | Michael Gerdes |
| Chief Clerk | Donetta D’Innocenzo |
Caucus leadership
| Majority party (R) | Leadership position | Minority party (D) |
| Joe Pittman | Floor Leader | Jay Costa |
| Wayne Langerholc | Whip | Christine Tartaglione |
| Kristin Phillips-Hill | Caucus Chairperson | Maria Collett |
| Camera Bartolotta | Caucus Secretary | Steve Santarsiero |
| Scott Martin | Appropriations Committee Chairperson | Vincent Hughes |
| Lisa Baker | Caucus Administrator | Judy Schwank |
| Dave Argall | Policy Committee Chairperson | Nick Miller |
Composition
Historical sessions
| Affiliation | Party (shading indicates majority caucus) |
Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Ind | Democratic | Vacant | ||
| 1995–1996 session | 29 | 0 | 21 | 50 | 0 |
| 1997–1998 session | 30 | 20 | 50 | 0 | |
| 1999–2000 session | 30 | 20 | 50 | 0 | |
| 2001–2002 session | 30 | 20 | 50 | 0 | |
| 2003–2004 session | 29 | 21 | 50 | 0 | |
| 2005–2006 session | 30 | 20 | 50 | 0 | |
| 2007–2008 session | 29 | 21 | 50 | 0 | |
| 2009–2010 session | 30 | 20 | 50 | 0 | |
| 2011–2012 session | 30 | 20 | 50 | 0 | |
| 2013–2014 session | 27 | 23 | 50 | 0 | |
| 2015–2016 session | 30 | 20 | 50 | 0 | |
| 2016–2017 session | 31 | 19 | 50 | 0 | |
| 2017–2018 session | 34 | 16 | 50 | 0 | |
| 2018–2019 session | 28 | 22 | 50 | 0 | |
| 2019–2020 session | 29 | 1 | 21 | 50 | 0 |
| 2021–2022 session | 28 | 1 | 21 | 50 | 0 |
| 2023–2024 session | 28 | 0 | 22 | 50 | 0 |
Current session
As of May 5, 2025:
| 23 | 27 |
| Democratic | Republican |
| Affiliation | Party (shading indicates majority caucus) |
Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Ind | Democratic | Vacant | ||
| End of previous legislature | 28 | 0 | 22 | 50 | 0 |
| January 7, 2025 | 27 | 0 | 22 | 49 | 1 |
| May 5, 2025 | 23 | 50 | 0 | ||
| Latest voting share | 54% | 46% | |||
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
- John Blake resigned on February 15, 2021. Flynn was elected in a special election on May 18.
- Ryan 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.
- Dave Arnold died on January 17, 2021. Gebhard was elected in a special election on May 18.
Committees
Current committees, majority chairs, minority chairs, and vice chairs include:[5]
