The 2022 elections for the Pennsylvania State Senate were held on November 8, with 25 of 50 districts being contested. The term of office for those elected in 2022 would begin when the Senate convenes in January 2023. Pennsylvania State Senators are elected for four-year terms, with half of the seats up for election every two years.[ 1] The election coincided with the 2022 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania , United States House of Representatives elections , and the election of the entirety of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives .
Republicans had controlled the chamber since the 1994 election (28 years).
5th senatorial district [ edit ]
In the 2021 elections, Democratic state senator John Sabatina was elected as a judge on the Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia and resigned his seat on December 31.[ 2] On January 10, Democrats selected ward leader Shawn Dillon as their nominee.[ 3] Republicans selected Sam Oropeza .[ 4] Shawn Dillon withdrew from the race after facing a legal challenge due to missing candidate filing paperwork, he was replaced on the ballot by his younger brother and School District of Philadelphia grant compliance monitor Jimmy Dillon .[ 5] A special election was held on May 17; Dillon won with nearly 57% of the vote.[ 6]
Due to redistricting after the 2020 United States census , senators were drawn into new districts.[ 7]
Retiring incumbents [ edit ]
No Democratic incumbents retired in this cycle.
District 14: John Yudichak retired.
District 6: Tommy Tomlinson retired.
District 24: Bob Mensch retired.
District 34: Jake Corman retired to run for governor of Pennsylvania .
District 40: Mario Scavello retired.
Incumbents defeated in primary [ edit ]
District 16: Pat Browne lost renomination to Jarrett Coleman .[ 8]
2022 Pennsylvania Senate elections Republican primary
District
Candidates
Votes
Percent
2
No candidate filed for party.
4
No candidate filed for party.
6
Frank Farry
Unopposed
8
No candidate filed for party.
10
Matthew McCullough
Unopposed
12
Robert Davies
Unopposed
14
Dean Browning
8,843
49.11
Cynthia Miller
5,395
29.96
Omy Maldonado
3,767
20.92
16
Jarrett Coleman
17,049
50.04
Pat Browne
17,025
49.96
18
John Merrhottein Jr.
Unopposed
20
Elizabeth Baker
Unopposed
22
No candidate filed for party.
24
Tracy Pennycuick
21,007
70.41
David Moyer
8,827
29.59
26
Frank Agovino
Unopposed
28
Kristin Phillips-Hill
Unopposed
30
Judy Ward
Unopposed
32
Patrick J. Stefano
Unopposed
34
Greg Rothman
27,666
68.14
Michael Gossert
12,933
31.86
36
Ryan Aument
24,583
60.06
Michael Miller
16,345
39.94
38
Lori Mizgorski
15,845
67.82
Jacob Roberts
7,518
32.18
40
Rosemary Brown
Unopposed
42
No candidate filed for party.
44
Jessica Florio
Unopposed
46
Camera Bartolotta
Unopposed
48
Chris Gebhard
Unopposed
50
Michele Brooks
Unopposed
Statewide outlook
Affiliation
Candidates
Votes
%
Seats before
Seats up
Seats won
Seats after
Republican
22
1,190,410
51.03
28
13
13 ( )
28
Democratic
22
1,140,567
48.89
21
11
12 ( 1)
22
Libertarian
1
1,946
0.08
0
0
0 ( )
0
Independent
0
-
-
1
1
0 ( 1)
0
Total
45
2,332,923
100.00
50
25
25
50
Six district races had winning margins of less than 15%:
District
Winner
Margin
District 6
Republican
8%
District 14
Democratic (flip)
6.9%
District 16
Republican
8.3%
District 24
Republican
4%
District 38
Democratic
11%
District 40
Republican
11.4%
District 44
Democratic
11.2%
District
Party
Incumbent
Status
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
2
Democratic
Christine Tartaglione
Re-elected
Democratic
Christine Tartaglione
36,444
100.0
4
Democratic
Arthur L. Haywood III
Re-elected
Democratic
Arthur L. Haywood III
95,536
84.3
Republican
Todd Johnson
17,749
15.7
6
Republican
Robert M. Tomlinson
Retired[ 10]
Republican
Frank Farry [ 11]
67,234
52.7
Democratic
Ann Marie Mitchell[ 12]
57,012
44.7
Libertarian
Brandon Bentrim[ 13]
1,946
1.5
8
Democratic
Anthony H. Williams
Re-elected[ 14]
Democratic
Anthony H. Williams
63,437
85.8
Republican
John Hayes
10,542
14.2
10
Democratic
Steve Santarsiero
Re-elected[ 15]
Democratic
Steve Santarsiero
77,125
57.8
Republican
Matthew McCullough[ 16]
54,684
41.0
12
Democratic
Maria Collett
Re-elected
Democratic
Maria Collett
77,482
59.2
Republican
Rob Davies
52,022
39.8
14
Independent
John Yudichak
Retired[ 17]
Democratic
Nick Miller
46,444
52.8
Republican
Dean Browning[ 18]
40,360
45.9
16
Republican
Pat Browne
Defeated in primary[ 8]
Republican
Jarrett Coleman
68,238
53.5
Democratic
Mark Pinsley[ 19]
57,703
45.2
18
Democratic
Lisa Boscola
Re-elected
Democratic
Lisa Boscola
61,429
58.2
Republican
John Merhottein
42,828
40.6
20
Republican
Lisa Baker
Re-elected
Republican
Lisa Baker
75,599
67.0
Democratic
Jackie Baker
36,114
32.0
22
Democratic
Marty Flynn
Re-elected
Democratic
Marty Flynn
53,999
59.8
24
Republican
Bob Mensch
Retired[ 20]
Republican
Tracy Pennycuick
62,883
51.5
Democratic
Jill Dennin
58,017
47.5
26
Democratic
Tim Kearney
Re-elected
Democratic
Tim Kearney
66,404
59.4
Republican
Frank Agovino
44,195
39.6
28
Republican
Kristin Phillips-Hill
Re-elected
Republican
Kristin Phillips-Hill
74,665
65.6
Democratic
Judith McCormick Higgins
36,338
31.9
30
Republican
Judy Ward
Re-elected[ 21]
Republican
Judy Ward
76,844
75.4
Democratic
Carol Taylor
24,043
23.6
32
Republican
Patrick J. Stefano
Re-elected
Republican
Patrick J. Stefano
76,496
74.5
34
Republican
Jake Corman
Retired to run for Governor [ 22]
Republican
Greg Rothman
74,233
62.9
Democratic
Jim Massey
42,595
36.1
36
Republican
Ryan P. Aument
Re-elected
Republican
Ryan P. Aument
91,710
100.0
38
Democratic
Lindsey Williams
Re-elected
Democratic
Lindsey Williams
69,839
55.0
Republican
Lori Mizgorski [ 23]
55,808
44.0
40
Republican
Mario Scavello
Retired[ 24]
Republican
Rosemary Brown [ 25]
53,795
54.5
Democratic
Jennifer Shukaitis
43,557
44.1
42
Democratic
Wayne D. Fontana
Re-elected
Democratic
Wayne D. Fontana
85,905
100.0
44
Democratic
Katie Muth
Re-elected
Democratic
Katie Muth
70,782
55.0
Republican
Jessica Florio
56,341
43.8
46
Republican
Camera C. Bartolotta
Re-elected
Republican
Camera C. Bartolotta
78,289
100.0
48
Republican
Chris Gebhard
Re-elected[ 26]
Republican
Chris Gebhard
74,120
67.7
Democratic
Calvin Clements
34,263
31.3
50
Republican
Michele Brooks
Re-elected
Republican
Michele Brooks
75,823
70.7
Democratic
Rianna Czech
30,340
28.3
^ 29 seats were in the Republican caucus due to John Yudichak caucusing with the Republicans
^ Center, Legislativate Data Processing. "Members of the Senate" . The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly . Archived from the original on September 15, 2019. Retrieved October 8, 2019 .
^ Brennan, Chris (January 7, 2022). "Democrats in Northeast Philly face off for a special election, with more to come" . The Philadelphia Inquirer . Archived from the original on January 7, 2022. Retrieved January 7, 2022 .
^ Waring, Tom (January 11, 2022). "Dems pick ward leader Dillon for Senate special election" . Northeast Times . Retrieved January 12, 2022 .
^ "2022 Special Election 5th Senatorial District" . Pennsylvania Department of State . Retrieved March 2, 2022 .
^ Brennan, Chris (April 4, 2022). "Northeast Philly ward leader drops out of special election for state Senate" . The Philadelphia Inquirer . Retrieved May 18, 2022 .
^ "2022 Pennsylvania State Senate – District 5 Election Results" . May 17, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2022 .
^ Caruso, Stephen (December 17, 2021). "The Capital-Star's 2022 Pa. incumbent retirement and primary tracker" . Pennsylvania Capital-Star . Archived from the original on December 17, 2021. Retrieved January 4, 2022 .
^ a b Reinhard, Katherine (May 26, 2022). "Jarrett Coleman declares victory over Pa. Sen Browne in Lehigh Valley GOP primary" . Pennsylvania Capital-Star . Retrieved December 28, 2022 .
^ Jacobson, Louis (May 19, 2022). "The Battle for State Legislatures" . Retrieved May 19, 2022 .
^ "PA State Sen. Robert 'Tommy' Tomlinson set to retire, will not seek re-election" . Bucks County Courier Times . March 15, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022 .
^ "PA Rep. Frank Farry to run for 6th District state senate seat" . Bucks County Courier Times . March 15, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022 .
^ "Democrat Ann Marie Mitchell enters race for 6th District Senate seat; will face GOP's Farry" . Bucks County Courier Times . March 18, 2022. Retrieved March 21, 2022 .
^ "Candidates" . Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania . Retrieved June 29, 2022 .
^ Owens, Ernest (January 6, 2022). "These 4 Big Political Questions Will Loom Over Philly in 2022" . Philadelphia Magazine . Archived from the original on January 6, 2022. Retrieved January 7, 2022 .
^ "Steve Santarsiero announces campaign for re-election to the state senate" . www.thereporteronline.com . The Reporter . March 24, 2022. Retrieved March 25, 2022 .
^ Fishman, Kate (March 8, 2022). "Newtown Republican Announces State Senate District 10 Candidacy" . patch.com . Patch . Retrieved April 15, 2022 .
^ O'Boyle, Bill (March 17, 2022). "Yudichak will not seek reelection to the Senate" . Times Leader . Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Retrieved March 18, 2022 – via Yahoo News.
^ "Dean Browning wins GOP nomination for Pa. Senate District 14" . WFMZ-TV . May 17, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2022 .
^ "Lehigh County controller announces bid against Pat Browne for state Senate" . WFMZ-TV . July 15, 2021. Archived from the original on September 30, 2021. Retrieved October 2, 2021 .
^ Williams, Damon C. (October 15, 2021). "Veteran PA State Sen. Bob Mensch announces retirement, cites age, workload" . Bucks County Courier Times . Archived from the original on October 15, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2021 .
^ Murphy, Jan (February 23, 2022). "Pa. Sen. Judy Ward to seek re-election to a second term representing redrawn 30th District" . www.pennlive.com . The Patriot-News . Retrieved March 9, 2022 .
^ "Corman won't seek another Senate term amid run for governor" . Associated Press . December 13, 2021. Archived from the original on December 14, 2021. Retrieved December 14, 2021 .
^ Routh, Julian. "Republican Lori Mizgorski, drawn out of state House district, will take run at 38th District Senate seat" . www.post-gazette.com . Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . Retrieved February 15, 2022 .
^ "State Senator Scavello announces retirement" . WNEP . March 16, 2022.
^ "Rosemary Brown, Hope Christman running to succeed Scavello" . March 18, 2022. Retrieved April 3, 2022 .
^ "Gebhard to Run Again" . The Sun . February 9, 2022. Retrieved February 12, 2022 .
Electionreturns.pa.gov , Pennsylvania Department of State
Government Documents Round Table of the American Library Association, "Pennsylvania" , Voting & Elections Toolkits
"Pennsylvania: Election Tools, Deadlines, Dates, Rules, and Links" , Vote.org , Oakland, CA
"League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania" . (state affiliate of the U.S. League of Women Voters )
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