GOP Thwarts Dems' Attempt To Seize PA Senate Control

HARRISBURG, PA — Republicans will maintain their 30-year grip on the Pennsylvania Senate after winning several competitive races across the state Tuesday. Although Democrats managed to flip one Senate seat, they needed to pick up three seats to regain control of the state legislature's 50-seat upper chamber for the first time since 1994.

Democrats now will hold 23 seats in the Senate; they were hoping to get to a 25-25 tie. With Democratic Lt. Gov. Austin Davis as the Senate president empowered to cast tie-breaking votes, a tie would have given the party Senate control.

Gov. Josh Shapiro last month endorsed and financially backed four candidates for the Senate: State representatives Patty Kim and Nick Pisciottano, school teacher Nicole Ruscitto and PennWest University-Edinboro professor Jim Wertz.

Kim on Tuesday won the 15th Senate District seat, which covers Harrisburg and most of Dauphin County, by defeating Dauphin County Treasurer Nick DiFranceso. That was the seat the Democrats flipped.

Pisciottano, of Allegheny County, defeated businesswoman Jen Dintini to win the 45th District seat. But the victory wasn't a net gain for the Democrats, as Pisciottano will replace retiring Democratic Sen. Jim Brewster.

Ruscitto lost to Republican incumbent Devlin Robinson of Allegheny County and Wertz lost to Republican incumbent Dan Laughlin of Erie.

Half of the Senate was up for election to four-year terms this year. The rest is up for reelection in 2026.