Pennsylvania State Senate

Upper house of the Pennsylvania General Assembly

Pennsylvania State Senate

Pennsylvania General Assembly
Type
Type|

Upper house

of the Pennsylvania General Assembly

Term limits

| None
History
Founded| 1790; 235 years ago (1790)

New session started

| January 7, 2025
Leadership

President

Austin Davis (D)
since January 17, 2023

President pro tempore

Kim Ward (R)
since November 30, 2022

Majority Leader

Joe Pittman (R)
since November 30, 2022

Minority Leader

Jay Costa (D)
since January 4, 2011

Structure
Seats| 50

Political groups

| Majority

* Republican (27)

Minority

* Democratic (23)

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
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- and odd-numbered district 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.

The president of the Senate is the lieutenant governor, who has no vote except to break a tie vote.

## Qualifications

[edit]

Senators must be at least 25 years of age. They must be a U.S. citizen and a Pennsylvania resident four years, and a resident of that district one year prior to their election and must reside in that district during their term.[4]

## Senate leadership

[edit]

### Officers

[edit]

Position  | Officer

|

President of the Senate  | Austin Davis
President pro tempore | Kim Ward
Secretary & Parliamentarian  | Michael Gerdes
Chief Clerk  | Donetta D’Innocenzo

### Caucus Leadership

[edit]

Majority party (R) | Leadership position | Minority party (D)

|
|

Joe Pittman | Floor Leader  | Jay Costa
Wayne Langerholc | Whip  | Christine Tartaglione
Kristin Phillips-Hill | Caucus Chairman  | Maria Collett
Camera Bartolotta | Caucus Secretary  | Steve Santarsiero
Scott Martin | Appropriations Committee Chairman  | Vincent Hughes
Lisa Baker | Caucus Administrator  | Judy Schwank
Dave Argall | Policy Committee Chairman  | Nick Miller

## Composition

[edit]

### Historical sessions

[edit]

Main article: 2022 Pennsylvania Senate election

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

[edit]

Main article: 2024 Pennsylvania Senate election

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

[edit]

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

### List of current members

[edit]

District  | Senator  | Party  | Residence  | Counties represented  | First elected  | Term ends

|
|
|
|
|
|

1 | Nikil Saval | Dem | Philadelphia | Philadelphia | 2020 | 2028
2 | Christine Tartaglione | Dem | Philadelphia | Philadelphia | 1994 | 2026
3 | Sharif Street | Dem | Philadelphia | Philadelphia | 2016 | 2028
4 | Art Haywood | Dem | Philadelphia | Montgomery, Philadelphia | 2014 | 2026
5 | Joe Picozzi | Rep | Philadelphia | Philadelphia | 2024 | 2028
6 | Frank Farry | Rep | Langhorne Borough | Bucks | 2022 | 2026
7 | Vincent Hughes | Dem | Philadelphia | Montgomery, Philadelphia | 1994 | 2028
8 | Anthony Williams | Dem | Philadelphia | Delaware, Philadelphia | 1998 | 2026
9 | John Kane | Dem | Birmingham | Chester, Delaware | 2020 | 2028
10 | Steve Santarsiero | Dem | Lower Makefield Township | Bucks | 2018 | 2026
11 | Judy Schwank | Dem | Fleetwood | Berks | 2011 | 2028
12 | Maria Collett | Dem | Lower Gwynedd Township | Montgomery | 2018 | 2026
13 | Scott Martin | Rep | West Lampeter Township | Berks, Lancaster | 2016 | 2028
14 | Nick Miller | Dem | Allentown | Lehigh, Northampton | 2022 | 2026
15 | Patty Kim | Dem | Harrisburg | Dauphin | 2024 | 2028
16 | Jarrett Coleman | Rep | Upper Macungie Township | Bucks, Lehigh | 2022 | 2026
17 | Amanda Cappelletti | Dem | East Norriton Township | Delaware, Montgomery | 2020 | 2028
18 | Lisa Boscola | Dem | Bethlehem Township | Lehigh, Northampton | 1998 | 2026
19 | Carolyn Comitta | Dem | West Chester | Chester | 2020 | 2028
20 | Lisa Baker | Rep | Lehman Township | Luzerne, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne, Wyoming | 2006 | 2026
21 | Scott Hutchinson | Rep | Oil City | Butler, Clarion, Forest, Venango, Warren | 2012 | 2028
22 | Marty Flynn | Dem | Scranton | Lackawanna, Luzerne | 2021[note 1] | 2026
23 | Eugene Yaw | Rep | Loyalsock Township | Bradford, Lycoming, Sullivan, Tioga, Union | 2008 | 2028
24 | Tracy Pennycuick | Rep | Harleysville | Berks, Montgomery | 2022 | 2026
25 | Cris Dush | Rep | Pine Creek Township | Cameron, Centre, Clinton, Elk, Jefferson, McKean, Potter | 2020 | 2028
26 | Tim Kearney | Dem | Swarthmore | Delaware | 2018 | 2026
27 | Lynda Culver | Rep | Sunbury | Columbia, Luzerne, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder | 2023 | 2028
28 | Kristin Phillips-Hill | Rep  | York Township | York | 2018 | 2026
29 | Dave Argall | Rep | Rush Township | Carbon, Luzerne, Schuylkill | 2009 | 2028
30 | Judy Ward | Rep | Hollidaysburg | Blair, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Mifflin | 2018 | 2026
31 | Dawn Keefer | Rep | Dillsburg | Cumberland, York | 2024 | 2028
32 | Pat Stefano | Rep | Bullskin Township | Bedford, Fayette, Somerset, Westmoreland | 2014 | 2026
33 | Doug Mastriano | Rep | Greene Township | Adams, Franklin | 2019 | 2028
34 | Greg Rothman | Rep | Silver Spring Township | Cumberland, Dauphin, Perry County | 2022 | 2026
35 | Wayne Langerholc | Rep | Johnstown | Cambria County, Centre, Clearfield | 2016 | 2028
36 | James Andrew Malone | Dem |

East Petersburg

| Lancaster | 2025[note 2] | 2026
37 | Devlin Robinson | Rep | Bridgeville | Allegheny, Washington | 2020 | 2028
38 | Lindsey Williams | Dem | West View | Allegheny | 2018 | 2026
39 | Kim Ward | Rep | Hempfield Township | Westmoreland | 2008 | 2028
40 | Rosemary Brown | Rep | East Stroudsburg | Lackawanna, Monroe, Wayne | 2022 | 2026
41 | Joe Pittman | Rep | Indiana | Armstrong, Indiana, Jefferson, Westmoreland | 2019 | 2028
42 | Wayne Fontana | Dem | Pittsburgh | Allegheny | 2005 | 2026
43 | Jay Costa | Dem | Forest Hills | Allegheny | 1996 | 2028
44 | Katie Muth | Dem | East Vincent Township | Berks, Chester, Montgomery | 2018 | 2026
45 | Nick Pisciottano | Dem  | West Mifflin | Allegheny | 2024  | 2028
46 | Camera Bartolotta | Rep | Monongahela | Beaver, Greene, Washington | 2014 | 2026
47 | Elder Vogel | Rep | New Sewickley Township | Beaver, Butler, Lawrence | 2008 | 2028
48 | Chris Gebhard | Rep | North Cornwall Township | Berks, Lancaster, Lebanon | 2021[note 3] | 2026
49 | Dan Laughlin | Rep | Millcreek Township | Erie | 2016 | 2028
50 | Michele Brooks | Rep | Jamestown | Crawford, Lawrence, Mercer | 2014 | 2026

1. ^ John Blake resigned on February 15, 2021. Flynn was elected in a special election on May 18.
2. ^ Ryan Aument resigned December 31, 2024 to become 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, 2025.
3. ^ Dave Arnold died January 17, 2021. Gebhard was elected in a special election on May 18.

## Standing committees

[edit]

Current committees, majority chairs, minority chairs, and vice chairs include:[5]

Committee Name | Majority chair | Minority chair  | Vice chair

|
|
|

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

[edit]

Main article: Political party strength in Pennsylvania

## See also

[edit]

* Pennsylvania portal
* Politics portal

* Pennsylvania State Senate information and voting records
* Pennsylvania House of Representatives
* President of the Pennsylvania Senate
* President pro tempore of the Pennsylvania Senate
* List of Pennsylvania state legislatures

## References

[edit]

1. ^ The Pennsylvania Manual, pp. 3–7.
2. ^ Article II, section 3, Pennsylvania Constitution.
3. ^ Article IV, section 14, Pennsylvania Constitution.
4. ^ "Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania"."Article II. The Legislature"."§5. Qualifications of Members".
5. ^ "Senate Committee List | 2025–2026 Session – PA State Senate". Senate Committee List | 2025–2026 Session – PA State Senate. Retrieved April 14, 2025.

## Sources

[edit]

* Trostle, Sharon, ed. (2009). The Pennsylvania Manual. Vol. 119\. Harrisburg: Pennsylvania Department of General Services. ISBN 978-0-8182-0334-3.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pennsylvania State Senate.

* The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
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Pennsylvania Senate

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* President pro tempore

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Members of the Pennsylvania State Senate

President of the Senate
▌Austin Davis (D)
President pro tempore
▌Kim Ward (R)

Majority Leader
▌Joe Pittman (R)
Minority Leader
▌Jay Costa (D)

1. ▌Nikil Saval (D)
2. ▌Christine Tartaglione (D)
3. ▌Sharif Street (D)
4. ▌Art Haywood (D)
5. ▌Joe Picozzi (R)
6. ▌Frank Farry (R)
7. ▌Vincent Hughes (D)
8. ▌Anthony Williams (D)
9. ▌John Kane (D)
10. ▌Steve Santarsiero (D)
11. ▌Judy Schwank (D)
12. ▌Maria Collett (D)
13. ▌Scott Martin (R)
14. ▌Nick Miller (D)
15. ▌Patty Kim (D)
16. ▌Jarrett Coleman (R)
17. ▌Amanda Cappelletti (D)
18. ▌Lisa Boscola (D)
19. ▌Carolyn Comitta (D)
20. ▌Lisa Baker (R)
21. ▌Scott Hutchinson (R)
22. ▌Marty Flynn (D)
23. ▌Gene Yaw (R)
24. ▌Tracy Pennycuick (R)
25. ▌Cris Dush (R)
26. ▌Tim Kearney (D)
27. ▌Lynda Schlegel Culver (R)
28. ▌Kristin Phillips-Hill (R)
29. ▌Dave Argall (R)
30. ▌Judy Ward (R)
31. ▌Dawn Keefer (R)
32. ▌Pat Stefano (R)
33. ▌Doug Mastriano (R)
34. ▌Greg Rothman (R)
35. ▌Wayne Langerholc (R)
36. ▌James Malone (D)
37. ▌Devlin Robinson (R)
38. ▌Lindsey Williams (D)
39. ▌Kim Ward (R)
40. ▌Rosemary Brown (R)
41. ▌Joe Pittman (R)
42. ▌Wayne Fontana (D)
43. ▌Jay Costa (D)
44. ▌Katie Muth (D)
45. ▌Nick Pisciottano (D)
46. ▌Camera Bartolotta (R)
47. ▌Elder Vogel (R)
48. ▌Chris Gebhard (R)
49. ▌Dan Laughlin (R)
50. ▌Michele Brooks (R)

* ▌Republican (27)
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