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.

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

Qualifications

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

President of the Senate: Austin Davis (D)
President Pro Tempore of the Senate: Kim Ward (R)

Majority party (R)Leadership positionMinority party (D)
Joe PittmanFloor LeaderJay Costa
Ryan AumentWhipChristine Tartaglione
Kristin Phillips-HillCaucus ChairmanWayne D. Fontana
Camera BartolottaCaucus SecretaryMaria Collett
Scott MartinAppropriations Committee ChairmanVincent Hughes
Dan LaughlinPolicy Committee ChairmanKatie Muth
Lisa BakerCaucus AdministratorJudy Schwank

Composition

Historical sessions

AffiliationParty
(shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
RepublicanIndDemocraticVacant
1995–1996 session29021500
1997–1998 session3020500
1999–2000 session3020500
2001–2002 session3020500
2003–2004 session2921500
2005–2006 session3020500
2007–2008 session2921500
2009–2010 session3020500
2011–2012 session3020500
2013–2014 session2723500
2015–2016 session3020500
2016–2017 session3119500
2017–2018 session3416500
2018–2019 session2822500
2019–2020 session29121500
2021–2022 session28121500

Current session

As of January 3, 2023:

2228
DemocraticRepublican
AffiliationParty
(shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
RepublicanIndDemocraticVacant
End of previous legislature28121500
January 3, 202327022491
February 28, 2023[5]28500
Latest voting share56%0%44%

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.

List of current members

DistrictSenatorPartyResidenceCounties representedFirst electedTerm ends
1Nikil SavalDemPhiladelphiaPhiladelphia20202024
2Christine TartaglioneDemPhiladelphiaPhiladelphia19942026
3Sharif StreetDemPhiladelphiaPhiladelphia20162024
4Art HaywoodDemPhiladelphiaMontgomery, Philadelphia20142026
5Jimmy DillonDemPhiladelphiaPhiladelphia2022[note 1]2024
6Frank FarryRepLanghorne BoroughBucks20222026
7Vincent HughesDemPhiladelphiaMontgomery, Philadelphia19942024
8Anthony WilliamsDem/Fwd[note 2]PhiladelphiaDelaware, Philadelphia19982026
9John KaneDemBirminghamChester, Delaware20202024
10Steve SantarsieroDemLower Makefield TownshipBucks20182026
11Judy SchwankDemFleetwoodBerks20112024
12Maria CollettDemLower Gwynedd TownshipMontgomery20182026
13Scott MartinRepWest Lampeter TownshipBerks, Lancaster20162024
14Nick MillerDemAllentownLehigh, Northampton20222026
15John DiSantoRepSusquehanna TownshipDauphin20162024
16Jarrett ColemanRepUpper Macungie TownshipBucks, Lehigh20222026
17Amanda CappellettiDemEast Norriton TownshipDelaware, Montgomery20202024
18Lisa BoscolaDem/Fwd[note 3]Bethlehem TownshipLehigh, Northampton19982026
19Carolyn ComittaDemWest ChesterChester20202024
20Lisa BakerRepLehman TownshipLuzerne, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne, Wyoming20062026
21Scott HutchinsonRepOil CityButler, Clarion, Forest, Venango, Warren20122024
22Marty FlynnDemScrantonLackawanna, Luzerne2021[note 4]2026
23Eugene YawRepLoyalsock TownshipBradford, Lycoming, Sullivan, Tioga, Union20082024
24Tracy PennycuickRepHarleysvilleBerks, Montgomery20222026
25Cris DushRepPine Creek TownshipCameron, Centre, Clinton, Elk, Jefferson, McKean, Potter20202024
26Tim KearneyDemSwarthmoreDelaware20182026
27Lynda CulverRepSunburyColumbia, Luzerne, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder20232024
28Kristin Phillips-HillRepYork TownshipYork20182026
29Dave ArgallRepRush TownshipCarbon, Luzerne, Schuylkill20092024
30Judy WardRepHollidaysburgBlair, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Mifflin20182026
31Mike ReganRepCarroll TownshipCumberland, York20162024
32Pat StefanoRepBullskin TownshipBedford, Fayette, Somerset, Westmoreland20142026
33Doug MastrianoRepGreene TownshipAdams, Franklin20192024
34Greg RothmanRepSilver Spring TownshipCumberland, Dauphin, Perry County20222026
35Wayne LangerholcRepJohnstownCambria County, Centre, Clearfield20162024
36Ryan AumentRepEast Hempfield TownshipLancaster20142026
37Devlin RobinsonRepBridgevilleAllegheny, Washington20202024
38Lindsey WilliamsDemWest ViewAllegheny20182026
39Kim WardRepHempfield TownshipWestmoreland20082024
40Rosemary BrownRepEast StroudsburgLackawanna, Monroe, Wayne20222026
41Joe PittmanRepIndianaArmstrong, Indiana, Jefferson, Westmoreland20192024
42Wayne FontanaDemPittsburghAllegheny20052026
43Jay CostaDemForest HillsAllegheny19962024
44Katie MuthDemEast Vincent TownshipBerks, Chester, Montgomery20182026
45Jim BrewsterDemMcKeesportAllegheny20102024
46Camera BartolottaRepMonongahelaBeaver, Greene, Washington20142026
47Elder VogelRepNew Sewickley TownshipBeaver, Butler, Lawrence20082024
48Chris GebhardRepNorth Cornwall TownshipBerks, Lancaster, Lebanon2021[note 5]2026
49Dan LaughlinRepMillcreek TownshipErie20162024
50Michele BrooksRepJamestownCrawford, Lawrence, Mercer20142026
  1. ^ John Sabatina resigned on December 31, 2021. Dillon was elected in a special election on May 17, and seated on June 7.
  2. ^ Affiliated with the Forward Party.
  3. ^ Affiliated with the Forward Party.
  4. ^ John Blake resigned on February 15, 2021. Flynn was elected in a special election on May 18.
  5. ^ Dave Arnold died January 17, 2021. Gebhard was elected in a special election on May 18.

Standing committees

Committee NameMajority chairMinority chair
Aging & YouthJudy WardMaria Collett
Agriculture & Rural AffairsElder VogelJudy Schwank
AppropriationsScott MartinVincent Hughes
Banking & InsuranceJohn DiSantoSharif Street
Communications & TechnologyTracy PennycuickJimmy Dillon
Community, Economic & Recreational DevelopmentChris GebhardAnthony H. Williams
Consumer Protection & Professional LicensurePatrick J. StefanoLisa Boscola
EducationDave ArgallLindsey Williams
Environmental Resources & EnergyEugene YawCarolyn Comitta
FinanceScott HutchinsonNick Miller
Game & FisheriesGreg RothmanJim Brewster
Health & Human ServicesMichele BrooksArthur L. Haywood III
Intergovernmental OperationsJarrett ColemanChristine Tartaglione
JudiciaryLisa BakerSteve Santarsiero
Labor & IndustryDevlin RobinsonJohn I. Kane
Law & JusticeMike ReganJim Brewster
Local GovernmentRosemary BrownTim Kearney
Rules & Executive NominationsJoe PittmanJay Costa
State GovernmentCris DushAmanda Cappelletti
TransportationWayne LangerholcMarty Flynn
Urban Affairs & HousingFrank FarryNikil Saval
Veterans Affairs & Emergency PreparednesssDoug MastrianoKatie Muth

Past composition of the Senate

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. ^ "Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania"."Article II. The Legislature"."§5. Qualifications of Members".
  5. ^ Jones, Matt (February 15, 2023). "Schlegel-Culver to be sworn in to Senate Feb. 28". The Standard-Journal. Retrieved February 24, 2023.

Sources

External links

40°15′52.9″N 76°53′1.9″W / 40.264694°N 76.883861°W / 40.264694; -76.883861