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.
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 |
.svg) | |
Political groups | Majority
Minority
Vacant
|
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 president of the Senate is the lieutenant governor, who has no vote except to break a tie vote.
Qualifications
editSenators 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
editPresident of the Senate: Austin Davis (D)
President Pro Tempore of the Senate: Kim Ward (R)
| 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 |
| Dave Argall | Policy Committee Chairman | Nick Miller |
| Lisa Baker | Caucus Administrator | Judy Schwank |
Composition
editHistorical sessions
edit| 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
editAs of March 25, 2025:
| 22 | 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
editThe 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- ^ John Blake resigned on February 15, 2021. Flynn was elected in a special election on May 18.
- ^ 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 is expected to be sworn in on May 5, 2025.
- ^ Dave Arnold died January 17, 2021. Gebhard was elected in a special election on May 18.
Standing committees
editCurrent committees, majority chairs, minority chairs, and vice chairs include:[5]
Past composition of the Senate
editSee also
edit
References
edit- ^ The Pennsylvania Manual, pp. 3–7.
- ^ Article II, section 3, Pennsylvania Constitution.
- ^ Article IV, section 14, Pennsylvania Constitution.
- ^ "Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania"."Article II. The Legislature"."§5. Qualifications of Members".
- ^ "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