Pennsylvania State Senate elections, 2014

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Pennsylvania State Senate elections, 2014

Majority control • Qualifications

List of candidates District 2 • District 4 • District 6 • District 8 • District 10 • District 12 • District 14 • District 16 • District 18 • District 20 • District 22 • District 24 • District 26 • District 28 • District 30 • District 32 • District 34 • District 36 • District 38 • District 40 • District 42 • District 44 • District 46 • District 48 • District 50

State Legislative Election Results

Pennsylvania State Senate • 2014 Pennsylvania House Elections

With a meager Republican lead in the Pennsylvania State Senate, the Democratic Party had a good chance to flip the chamber in 2014. A potential loss of the governorship and the senate presented the possibility of Republicans becoming the minority party within Pennsylvania politics.

The Republicans led by five seats in November, but one of those was a recent vacancy in a heavily Democratic district and was an easy win for Art Haywood.

Elections for the Pennsylvania State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 20, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in that election was March 11, 2014.

Uncontested seats were plentiful in both chambers; six Republicans and four Democratic seats out of 25 up for election featured unopposed candidates in the Senate, and 64 Republicans and 60 Democrats out of the 203 seats were unchallenged in the House.

The Senate was one of 20 state legislative chambers noted by Ballotpedia staff as being a 2014 battleground chamber. With vacant seats counting towards the party that previously held the seat, the Pennsylvania Senate had a difference in partisan balance between Democrats and Republicans of five seats, which amounted to 16 percent of the seats up for election in 2014. In 2012, when the 25 odd-numbered districts were up for election, three districts were competitive, with a margin of victory of 5 percent or less.

Following the general election, there was no change to the majority control of the Pennsylvania State Senate. Seats expected to be competitive went Republican; the Republican Party increased its seat total from 27 to 30, continuing the party's control of the chamber. The Democratic seats decreased from 22 to 20.

Incumbents retiring

Five incumbents did not run for re-election in 2014. Those incumbents were:

Name	Party	Current Office
Edwin Erickson	Republican	Senate District 26
Rich Kasunic	Democratic	Senate District 32
Michael Brubaker	Republican	Senate District 36
Jim Ferlo	Democratic	Senate District 38
Bob Robbins	Republican	Senate District 50

Note: LeAnna Washington (D-7) resigned from the Senate on October 31, 2014, in the face of corruption charges. She was defeated in the Democratic primary by Art Haywood.

Majority control

See also: Partisan composition of state senates

Heading into the November 4 election, the Republican Party held the majority in the Pennsylvania State Senate:

Pennsylvania State Senate
Party		As of November 3, 2014	After November 4, 2014
	Democratic Party	22	20
	Republican Party	27	30
	Vacancy	1	0
Total		50	50

Qualifications

Under Article II of the Pennsylvania Constitution, Senators shall be at least 25 years of age and Representatives 21 years of age. They shall have been citizens and inhabitants of their respective districts one year next before their election (unless absent on the public business of the United States or of this State) and shall reside in their respective districts during their terms of service.

2014 Competitiveness Overview
Primary competition (state comparison)
Incumbents defeated • Victorious challengers • Primary competitiveness
Major party challengers (state comparison)
Candidates with no challenges at all in 2014
Open seats (state comparisons)
Impact of term limits on # of open seats Long-serving senators • Long-serving reps
Chart Comparing 2014 Results
Chart Comparing 2014 Results • Comparisons Between Years
Competitiveness Index • Absolute Index
2014 State Legislative Elections State legislative incumbent turnover in 2014
Competitiveness Studies from Other Years
2007 • 2009 • 2010 • 2011 • 2012 • 2013

Competitiveness

Candidates unopposed by a major party

In nine (36.0%) of the 25 districts up for election in 2014, there was only one major party candidate running for election. Five Republicans and four Democrats were guaranteed election barring unforeseen circumstances.

Two major party candidates faced off in the general election in 16 (64.0%) of the 25 districts up for election.

Primary challenges

Three incumbents faced primary competition on May 20. Five incumbents did not seek re-election in 2014 and another 17 incumbents advanced past the primary without opposition. The state senators who faced primary competition included:

• District 2: Incumbent Christine Tartaglione (D) defeated Danny Savage and Tomas Sanchez in the Democratic primary.
• District 4: Art Haywood defeated incumbent LeAnna Washington (D) and Brian Gralnick in the Democratic primary.
• District 28: Incumbent Scott Wagner (R) defeated Zachary Alexander Rockford Hearn in the Republican primary.

Retiring incumbents

Five incumbent senators did not run for re-election, while 20 (80.0%) of the current 25 incumbents ran for re-election. A list of those incumbents, three Republicans and two Democrats, can be found above.

Context

Although Pennsylvania had long been considered a two-party state, some media outlets believed that 2014 could see the state start down the path towards one-party domination. While the Tea Party wave of support helped Republicans claim the governor's mansion and a majority in the State House in 2010, 2012 saw the Democrats win their sixth straight presidential election dating back to 1988, the three statewide "row offices" (attorney general, auditor general and treasurer) for the first time ever and a decisive victory for U.S. Senator Bob Casey, Jr.. Republicans controlled the senate by a meager four seats, making this a chamber with a high probability to flip control to the Democrats in 2014. A potential loss of the governorship and the senate presented the possibility of Republicans becoming the minority party within Pennsylvania politics.

A Ballotpedia analysis of partisan balance between 1992 and 2013 shows that in the State Senate the Democratic Party was the majority in the Pennsylvania State Senate for one year while the Republicans were the majority for 21 years. In the House, the Democratic Party was the majority in the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives for seven years while the Republicans were the majority for 15 years.

Uncontested seats were plentiful in both chambers; six Republicans and four Democratic seats out of 25 up for election featured unopposed candidates in the Senate, and 64 Republicans and 60 Democrats out of the 203 seats were unchallenged in the House.

Races to Watch

• District 6: Incumbent Robert Tomlinson (R) defeated Kimberly Yeager-Rose (D) in the general election. Redrawn in 2010, District 6 favored a generic Democrat by 4 points.

• District 12: The Philadelphia City Paper identified District 12 as a race that would play a key role in the control of the Pennsylvania State Senate. Incumbent Stewart Greenleaf (R) defeated Ruth S. Damsker (D) in the general election. The district favored a generic Republican by 1 point.

• District 16: Incumbent Pat Browne (R) defeated Walter Felton Jr. (D) in the general election. Browne, a well known figure in the district, came under criticism for pushing Gov. Tom Corbett's priorities through the Senate, which impacted his popularity in a district that favored Democrats by 4 points.

• District 26: Democrats had their best chance of picking up a seat in District 26, where the race was open and a generic Democrat would carry a 3-point advantage to win. However, John Kane Sr. (D) was defeated by Thomas McGarrigle (R) in that race.

• District 40: Republican Mario Scavello defeated Mark Aurand (D) in the general election. The district favored Democrats by 1 point.

List of candidates

District 2

May 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• Danny Savage: 5,611
• Christine Tartaglione: 9,862 a- Incumbent Tartaglione was first elected to the chamber in 1994.
• Tomas Sanchez: 3,856

May 20 Republican primary candidates:

• John Jenkins: 2,465 a

November 4 General election candidates:

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Christine Tartaglione: 35,405

John Jenkins: 9,464

District 4

May 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• Art Haywood: 16,113 a
• LeAnna Washington: 13,708 - Incumbent Washington was first elected to the chamber in 2005.
• Brian Gralnick: 10,711

May 20 Republican primary candidates:

• Robin Gilchrist: 3,714 a

November 4 General election candidates:

Art Haywood: 78,001

Robin Gilchrist: 16,498

Ines Reyes: 1,355

District 6

May 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• Kimberly Yeager-Rose: 11,895 a

May 20 Republican primary candidates:

• Robert Tomlinson: 6,976 a- Incumbent Tomlinson was first elected to the chamber in 1994.

November 4 General election candidates:

Kimberly Yeager-Rose: 27,997

Robert Tomlinson: 45,361

District 8

May 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• Anthony Williams: 22,062 a- Incumbent Williams was first elected to the chamber in 1998.

Note: Christopher Broach withdrew from the race on March 25, 2014.

May 20 Republican primary candidates:

• No candidates filed for election.

November 4 General election candidates:

Anthony Williams

District 10

May 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• Steve Cickay: 12,292 a

May 20 Republican primary candidates:

• Charles McIlhinney: 8,337 a- Incumbent McIlhinney was first elected to the chamber in 2006.

November 4 General election candidates:

Steve Cickay: 34,967

Charles McIlhinney: 49,605

District 12

May 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• Ruth S. Damsker: 11,427 a

May 20 Republican primary candidates:

• Stewart Greenleaf: 9,148 a- Incumbent Greenleaf was first elected to the chamber in 1978.

November 4 General election candidates:

Ruth S. Damsker: 29,123

Stewart Greenleaf: 50,319

District 14

May 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• John Yudichak: 17,829 a- Incumbent Yudichak was first elected to the chamber in 2010.

May 20 Republican primary candidates:

• No candidates filed for election.

November 4 General election candidates:

John Yudichak

District 16

May 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• Walter Felton Jr.: 7,463 a

May 20 Republican primary candidates:

• Pat Browne: 5,280 a- Incumbent Browne was first elected to the chamber after he won a special election on May 3, 2005.

November 4 General election candidates:

Walter Felton Jr.: 22,146

Pat Browne: 36,745

District 18

May 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• Lisa Boscola: 11,077 a- Incumbent Boscola was first elected to the chamber in 1998.

May 20 Republican primary candidates:

• No candidates filed for election.

November 4 General election candidates:

Lisa Boscola

District 20

May 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• No candidates filed for election.

May 20 Republican primary candidates:

• Lisa Baker: 12,352 a- Incumbent Baker was first elected to the chamber in 2006.

November 4 General election candidates:

Note: John J. Sweeney (G) withdrew from the race before the general election.

Lisa Baker

District 22

May 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• John Blake: 30,672 a- Incumbent Blake was first elected to the chamber in 2010.

May 20 Republican primary candidates:

• Joe Albert: 7,631 a

November 4 General election candidates:

John Blake: 45,716

Joe Albert: 21,213

District 24

May 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• Jack Hansen (Write-in)

May 20 Republican primary candidates:

• Bob Mensch: 7,329 a- Incumbent Mensch was first elected to the chamber after he won a special election on September 29, 2009.

November 4 General election candidates:

Jack Hansen: 28,041

Bob Mensch: 41,885

District 26

Note: Incumbent Edwin Erickson (R) did not run for re-election.

May 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• John Kane Sr.: 12,037 a

May 20 Republican primary candidates:

• Thomas McGarrigle: 12,729 a

November 4 General election candidates:

John Kane Sr.: 42,170

Thomas McGarrigle: 45,910

District 28

May 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• Linda E. Small: 10,955 a

May 20 Republican primary candidates:

• Scott Wagner: 13,214 a- Incumbent Wagner was first elected to the chamber on March 18, 2014.
• Zachary Alexander Rockford Hearn: 2,349

Note: Ron Miller withdrew before the primary.

November 4 General election candidates:

Linda E. Small: 25,205

Scott Wagner: 46,247

District 30

May 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• No candidates filed for election.

May 20 Republican primary candidates:

• John Eichelberger: 19,198 a- Incumbent Eichelberger was first elected to the chamber in 2006.

November 4 General election candidates:

John Eichelberger

District 32

Note: Incumbent Rich Kasunic (D) did not run for re-election.

May 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• Deberah Kula: 14,269 a
• Harry Fike: 7,818

Note: Rose Mary Ambrosino was removed from the ballot on April 8, 2014.

May 20 Republican primary candidates:

• Patrick Stefano: 9,077 a

November 4 General election candidates:

Deberah Kula: 27,428

Patrick Stefano: 36,670

District 34

May 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• No candidates filed for election.

May 20 Republican primary candidates:

• Jake Corman: 13,838 a- Incumbent Corman was first elected to the chamber in 1998.

November 4 General election candidates:

Jake Corman

District 36

Note: Incumbent Michael Brubaker (R) did not run for re-election.

May 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• Gary Schreckengost: 7,045 a

May 20 Republican primary candidates:

• Gordon Denlinger: 6,381
• Ryan Aument: 10,187 a

November 4 General election candidates:

Gary Schreckengost: 20,686

Ryan Aument: 54,058

District 38

Note: Incumbent Jim Ferlo (D) did not run for re-election.

May 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• No candidates filed for election.

May 20 Republican primary candidates:

• Randy Vulakovich: 7,223 a- Incumbent Vulakovich was first elected to the chamber after he won a special election on August 7, 2012.

November 4 General election candidates:

Randy Vulakovich

District 40

May 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• Mark Aurand: 4,157 a
• Leonard Scott Parsons: 3,688
• Joseph Capozzolo: 2,289

May 20 Republican primary candidates:

• Mario Scavello: 7,574 a

November 4 General election candidates:

Mark Aurand: 25,739

Mario Scavello: 38,417

District 42

May 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• Wayne Fontana: 21,665 a- Incumbent Fontana was first elected to the chamber after he won a special election on June 14, 2005.

May 20 Republican primary candidates:

• No candidates filed for election.

November 4 General election candidates:

Wayne Fontana

District 44

May 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• Kathleen Cozzone: 9,127 a

May 20 Republican primary candidates:

• John Rafferty: 9,491 a- Incumbent Rafferty was first elected to the chamber in 2002.

November 4 General election candidates:

Kathleen Cozzone: 30,597

John Rafferty: 48,655

District 46

May 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• Timothy Solobay: 19,085 a- Incumbent Solobay was first elected to the chamber in 2010.

May 20 Republican primary candidates:

• Camera Bartolotta: 5,932 a

November 4 General election candidates:

Timothy Solobay: 32,237

Camera Bartolotta: 36,697

District 48

May 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• No candidates filed for election.

May 20 Republican primary candidates:

• Mike Folmer: 13,713 a- Incumbent Folmer was first elected to the chamber in 2006.

November 4 General election candidates:

Mike Folmer

District 50

Note: Incumbent Bob Robbins (R) did not run for re-election.

May 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• Michael Muha: 9,913 a

May 20 Republican primary candidates:

• Michele Brooks: 10,602 a
• Greg Lucas: 3,588
• Jane Macpherson-Mrozek: 1,198

November 4 General election candidates:

Michael Muha: 21,701

Michele Brooks: 41,500

See also

• Pennsylvania State Senate
• Pennsylvania State Legislature
• State legislative elections, 2014

External links

Suggest a link

• Pennsylvania Department of State, Official candidate list
• Pennsylvania Department of State, Official primary results for May 20, 2014
• Pennsylvania Department of State, Official general election results for November 4, 2014

Footnotes

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Current members of the Pennsylvania State Senate

Leadership

Majority Leader:Joe Pittman

Minority Leader:Jay Costa

Senators

District 1

Nikil Saval (D)

District 2

Christine Tartaglione (D)

District 3

Sharif Street (D)

District 4

Art Haywood (D)

District 5

Joe Picozzi (R)

District 6

Frank Farry (R)

District 7

Vincent Hughes (D)

District 8

Anthony Williams (D)

District 9

John Kane (D)

District 10

Steve Santarsiero (D)

District 11

Judy Schwank (D)

District 12

Maria Collett (D)

District 13

Scott Martin (R)

District 14

Nick Miller (D)

District 15

Patty Kim (D)

District 16

Jarrett Coleman (R)

District 17

Amanda Cappelletti (D)

District 18

Lisa Boscola (D)

District 19

Carolyn Comitta (D)

District 20

Lisa Baker (R)

District 21

Scott Hutchinson (R)

District 22

Martin Flynn (D)

District 23

Gene Yaw (R)

District 24

Tracy Pennycuick (R)

District 25

Cris Dush (R)

District 26

Timothy Kearney (D)

District 27

Lynda Culver (R)

District 28

Kristin Phillips-Hill (R)

District 29

David Argall (R)

District 30

Judith Ward (R)

District 31

Dawn Keefer (R)

District 32

Patrick Stefano (R)

District 33

Doug Mastriano (R)

District 34

Greg Rothman (R)

District 35

Wayne Langerholc (R)

District 36

Vacant

District 37

Devlin Robinson (R)

District 38

Lindsey Williams (D)

District 39

Kim Ward (R)

District 40

Rosemary Brown (R)

District 41

Joe Pittman (R)

District 42

Wayne Fontana (D)

District 43

Jay Costa (D)

District 44

Katie Muth (D)

District 45

Nick Pisciottano (D)

District 46

Camera Bartolotta (R)

District 47

Elder Vogel (R)

District 48

Chris Gebhard (R)

District 49

Daniel Laughlin (R)

District 50

Michele Brooks (R)

Republican Party (27)

Democratic Party (22)

Vacancies (1)