PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — While all eyes are on the race for the White House, down-ballot races in the Pennsylvania Legislature are just as critical and could have a major effect on state politics.
All 203 seats in the Pennsylvania House and 25 of the 50 state Senate seats are on the ballot.
Republicans have controlled the Pennsylvania Senate for 43 of the last 44 years. The GOP currently holds a 28-22 majority, which means Democrats would need to hold their current seats and flip at least three more to take the majority, as Democratic Lt. Gov. Austin Davis would break any ties.
Such party control is known as the “trifecta” — control of both chambers and the governor’s office. While Republicans held that trifecta as recently as 2014, it’s been a rarity for Democrats. In the last 44 years, they have only held it for one year in 1993.
There are a handful of competitive races on the ballot this year, and while Democrats think they have a chance to flip the Senate, Republicans are hoping to not only maintain the majority but add to it by flipping the Northeast Philadelphia seat currently held by Democrat Jimmy Dillon. Dillon is facing a challenge from a former Capitol Hill staffer, Republican Joe Picozzi.
In the state House, Democrats won a one-seat majority in 2022. With every seat in the state House up for grabs this Election Day, both parties are eying seats they could flip.
There are about a dozen very competitive state House races, including several in southeastern Pennsylvania. Republican incumbents Joe Hogan in Langhorne, KC Tomlinson in Bensalem, and Craig Williams in Delaware and Chester counties each have fairly tight races.
Republicans are hoping to flip Democrat Brian Munroe’s seat in Warminster and Warrington, and also win the Northeast Philly seat Kevin Boyle is vacating.