The Pennsylvania State Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the Pennsylvania state legislature. 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 State Senate meets in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg and has been meeting since 1791.
The president of the Senate is the lieutenant governor, who has no vote except to break a tie. The president pro tempore becomes the lieutenant governor 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]
Qualifications
Senators must be at least 25 years of age. They must be United States citizens, Pennsylvania residents for at least four years, and residents of their district for one year prior to their election. They must also reside in their district during their term.[4]
Composition
Historical sessions
| 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
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% | |||
Leadership
Officers
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| President | Austin Davis |
| President pro tempore | Kim Ward |
| Secretary & Parliamentarian | Michael Gerdes |
| Chief Clerk | Donetta D’Innocenzo |
Caucus leadership
| Majority party (R) | Leadership position | Minority party (D) |
| Joe Pittman | Floor Leader | Jay Costa |
| Wayne Langerholc | Whip | Christine Tartaglione |
| Kristin Phillips-Hill | Caucus Chairperson | Maria Collett |
| Camera Bartolotta | Caucus Secretary | Steve Santarsiero |
| Scott Martin | Appropriations Committee Chairperson | Vincent Hughes |
| Lisa Baker | Caucus Administrator | Judy Schwank |
| Dave Argall | Policy Committee Chairperson | Nick Miller |
Membership
The State Senate comprises 50 senators who are elected by district. In 2012, a State Senate district had an average population of 254,047 residents.
List of current senators
Committees
Current committees, majority chairs, minority chairs, and vice chairs include:[5]
Past composition of the Senate
See also
References
- ↑ 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
- Trostle, Sharon, ed. (2009). The Pennsylvania Manual. Vol. 119. Harrisburg: Pennsylvania Department of General Services. ISBN 978-0-8182-0334-3.
External links
- The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania State Senate
- Pennsylvania State Senate information and voting records Archived June 10, 2021, at the Wayback Machine
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| National | |
| Other | |
