Pennsylvania State Senate

The Pennsylvania State Senate is the upper house of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, the Pennsylvania state legislature. The State Senate meets in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. Senators are elected for four year terms, staggered every two years such that half of the seats are contested at each election.[2] Even numbered seats and odd numbered seats are contested in separate election years. The President Pro Tempore of the Senate becomes the Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania 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] The Pennsylvania Senate has been meeting since 1791.

Pennsylvania State Senate
Pennsylvania General Assembly
Type
Type
Term limits
None
History
New session started
January 5, 2021
Leadership
John Fetterman (D)
since January 15, 2019
Jake Corman (R)
since November 12, 2020
Majority Leader
Kim Ward (R)
since November 12, 2020
Minority Leader
Jay Costa (D)
since January 4, 2011
Structure
Seats50
Political groups
Majority caucus
  •   Republican (28)
  •   Independent (1)

Minority caucus

Length of term
4 years
AuthorityArticle II, Pennsylvania Constitution
Salary$90,335/year + per diem[1]
Elections
Last election
November 3, 2020
(odd-numbered districts)
Next election
November 8, 2022
(even-numbered districts)
RedistrictingLegislative Control
Meeting place
State Senate Chamber
Pennsylvania State Capitol
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Website
Pennsylvania State Senate

The President of the Senate is the Lieutenant Governor, who has no vote except in the event of an otherwise tie vote.

Senate leadership

President of the Senate: John Fetterman (D)
President Pro Tem of the Senate: Jake Corman (R)

Majority party (R) Leadership position Minority party (D)
Kim Ward Floor Leader Jay Costa
John Gordner Whip Anthony H. Williams
Bob Mensch Caucus Chairman Wayne D. Fontana
Ryan Aument Caucus Secretary Maria Collett
Pat Browne Appropriations Committee Chairman Vincent Hughes
Dave Argall Policy Committee Chairman Katie Muth
Camera Bartolotta Caucus Administrator Judy Schwank

Composition

Historical sessions
Main article: 2020 Pennsylvania Senate election
Affiliation Party
(shading indicates majority caucus)
 Total
Republican Democratic Vacant
1995–1996 session 29 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 21 50 0

Current session

As of June 9, 2021:

↓
21 1 28
Democratic Republican
Affiliation Party
(shading indicates majority caucus)
 Total
Republican Ind Democratic Vacant
End of previous legislature 28 1 21 50 0
January 5, 2021[4] 28 1 20 49 1
January 13, 2021[5] 21 50 0
January 17, 2021[6] 27 49 1
February 15, 2021[7] 20 48 2
June 9, 2021[8][9] 28 21 50 0
Latest voting share 58% 42%

Membership

The Senate is made up of 50 members who are elected by district. In 2012, a State Senate district had an average population of 254,047 residents.

Map of March 2021 partisan composition of legislative districts for state senate:
  Republican senator
  Democratic senator
  Independent senator
  Seat vacant

List of current members
District Senator Party Residence Counties represented Term ends First elected
1 Nikil Saval DemPhiladelphiaPhiladelphia20242020
2 Christine Tartaglione DemPhiladelphiaPhiladelphia20221994
3 Sharif Street DemPhiladelphiaPhiladelphia20242016
4 Art Haywood DemPhiladelphiaMontgomery, Philadelphia20222014
5 John Sabatina DemPhiladelphiaPhiladelphia20242015
6 Tommy Tomlinson RepBensalem TownshipBucks20221994
7 Vincent Hughes DemPhiladelphiaMontgomery, Philadelphia20241994
8 Anthony Williams DemPhiladelphiaDelaware, Philadelphia20221998
9 John KaneDemBirminghamChester, Delaware20242020
10 Steve SantarsieroDemLower Makefield TownshipBucks20222018
11 Judy SchwankDemFleetwoodBerks20242011
12 Maria Collett DemLower Gwynedd Township Bucks, Montgomery20222018
13 Scott Martin RepWest Lampeter TownshipLancaster20242016
14 John Yudichak Ind.Plymouth TownshipCarbon, Luzerne20222010
15 John DiSanto RepSusquehanna TownshipDauphin, Perry20242016
16 Pat Browne RepAllentownLehigh20222005
17 Amanda Cappelletti DemEast Norriton TownshipDelaware, Montgomery20242020
18 Lisa Boscola DemBethlehem TownshipLehigh, Northampton20221998
19 Carolyn Comitta DemWest ChesterChester20242020
20 Lisa Baker RepLehman TownshipLuzerne, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne, Wyoming20222006
21 Scott Hutchinson RepOil CityButler, Clarion, Forest, Venango, Warren20242012
22 Marty FlynnDemScrantonLackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe20222021[note 1]
23 Eugene Yaw RepLoyalsock TownshipBradford, Lycoming, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Union20242008
24 Bob Mensch RepMarlborough TownshipBerks, Bucks, Montgomery20222009
25 Cris Dush RepPine Creek TownshipCameron, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Jefferson, McKean, Potter, Tioga20242020
26 Tim Kearney DemSwarthmoreChester, Delaware20222018
27 John Gordner RepBerwickColumbia, Luzerne, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder20242003
28 Kristin Phillips-Hill Rep York Township York20222018
29 Dave Argall RepRush TownshipBerks, Schuylkill20242009
30 Judy Ward RepHollidaysburg Blair, Cumberland, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon20222018
31 Mike Regan RepCarroll TownshipCumberland, York20242016
32 Pat Stefano RepBullskin TownshipFayette, Somerset, Westmoreland20222014
33 Doug Mastriano RepGreene TownshipAdams, Cumberland, Franklin, York20242019
34 Jake CormanRepBenner TownshipCentre, Huntingdon, Juniata, Mifflin20221998
35 Wayne Langerholc RepJohnstownBedford, Cambria, Clearfield20242016
36 Ryan Aument RepEast Hempfield TownshipLancaster20222014
37 Devlin Robinson RepBridgevilleAllegheny, Washington20242020
38 Lindsey Williams DemWest ViewAllegheny20222018
39 Kim Ward RepHempfield TownshipWestmoreland20242008
40 Mario Scavello RepMount PoconoMonroe, Northampton20222014
41 Joe Pittman RepIndianaArmstrong, Butler, Indiana, Westmoreland20242019
42 Wayne Fontana DemPittsburghAllegheny20222005
43 Jay Costa DemForest HillsAllegheny20241996
44 Katie Muth DemRoyersfordBerks, Chester, Montgomery20222018
45 Jim Brewster Dem McKeesport Allegheny, Westmoreland 20242010
46 Camera Bartolotta RepMonongahelaBeaver, Greene, Washington20222014
47 Elder Vogel RepNew Sewickley TownshipBeaver, Butler, Lawrence20242008
48 Chris Gebhard RepNorth Cornwall TownshipDauphin, Lebanon, York20222021[note 2]
49 Dan Laughlin RepMillcreek TownshipErie20242016
50 Michele Brooks RepJamestownCrawford, Erie, Mercer, Warren20222014
  1. John Blake resigned on February 15, 2021. Flynn was elected in a special election on May 18.
  2. Dave Arnold died January 17, 2021. Gebhard was elected in a special election on May 18.

Standing Committees
Committee NameMajority ChairMinority Chair
Aging & Youth Judy Ward Maria Collett
Agriculture & Rural Affairs Elder Vogel Judy Schwank
Appropriations Pat Browne Vincent Hughes
Banking & Insurance John DiSanto Sharif Street
Communications & Technology Kristin Phillips-Hill John I. Kane
Community, Economic & Recreational Development John Yudichak Amanda Cappelletti
Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure Tommy Tomlinson Lisa Boscola
Education Scott Martin Lindsey Williams
Environmental Resources & Energy Eugene Yaw Carolyn Comitta
Finance Scott Hutchinson Marty Flynn
Game & Fisheries Dan Laughlin Jim Brewster
Health & Human Services Michele Brooks Arthur L. Haywood III
Intergovernmental Operations Doug Mastriano Anthony H. Williams
Judiciary Lisa Baker Steve Santarsiero
Labor & Industry Camera Bartolotta Christine Tartaglione
Law & Justice Mike Regan Jim Brewster
Local Government Cris Dush Tim Kearney
Rules & Executive Nominations Kim Ward Jay Costa
State Government Dave Argall Sharif Street
Transportation Wayne Langerholc John Sabatina
Urban Affairs & Housing Joe Pittman Nikil Saval
Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparednesss Patrick J. Stefano Katie Muth

Past composition of the Senate
Main article: Political party strength in Pennsylvania

See also

References
  1. The Pennsylvania Manual, pp. 3–7.
  2. Article II, section 3, Pennsylvania Constitution.
  3. Article IV, section 14, Pennsylvania Constitution.
  4. Senator Brewster not seated
  5. Hughes, Sarah Anne (2021-01-12). "Federal judge rules in favor of Democratic Pa. Senate candidate GOP refused to seat". Spotlight PA. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  6. Murphy, Jan (January 17, 2021). "Pa. state senator dies from brain cancer at age 49". PennLive. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  7. "State senator to resign to join congressman's office". Associated Press. February 15, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  8. KRAWCZENIUK, BORYS. "Flynn sworn in as new state senator". Scranton Times-Tribune. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
  9. Toth, Matthew (2021-05-18). "48th state senate district: Lebanon businessman declares victory with sizable lead in race". York Daily Record. Retrieved 2021-06-09.

Sources

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