All State House and Senate legislators and candidates are running in their newly drawn districts, as required by the PA Constitution. The results of a number of notable state House and Senate primary races were as follows.
State Senate
Senate Appropriations Chairman Pat Browne, R-Lehigh, who has served in his leadership role since 2014, is in a close race for the Republican nomination for the 16th Senatorial District. Senator Browne was reelected in November 2018 to his fourth full term representing the district. At last count, Browne was down a mere 30 votes to his opponent, Jarrett Coleman.
Senate Republican Caucus Secretary Ryan Aument, R-Lancaster, won his primary election challenge with nearly 60 percent of the vote against challenger Mike Miller.
State Rep. Greg Rothman, R-Cumberland, won his race for an open Senate seat for the 34th Senatorial district for Cumberland and Perry counties that was newly created through the 2022 redrawn maps.
May 17 was also a special election to fill the 5th Senatorial district in Philadelphia, after John Sabatina won election to be judge on the county court of common pleas. Democrat Jimmy Dillon prevailed over Republican Sam Oropeza, who was endorsed by the PA Chamber.
Republicans now hold a 29-21 advantage over Democrats in the state senate, with one independent (John Yudichak) caucusing with Republicans. Along with Sen. Yudichak, four Republican incumbents have announced their retirements – Senate pro tempore Jake Corman of Centre County. Mario Scavello of Monroe County, Tommy Tomlinson of Bucks County, Bob Mensch of Montgomery County.
State House
The new court-approved maps created a scenario in which six House incumbents where drawn into districts with another incumbent, requiring each to face-off against each other. Other legislators faced significant changes to the boundaries and political make-up of their districts, resulting in some Primary upsets. Republicans currently hold 113 of the chamber’s 203 seats.
3 Incumbent Primary Match-Ups:
- Perry Stambaugh, R-Perry, defeated state Rep. John Hershey, R-Juniata
- Ryan Mackenzie, R-Lehigh, defeated Rep. Gary Day, R-Lehigh
- Chris Rabb, D-Philadelphia, defeated Rep. Isabella Fitzgerald, D-Philadelphia
House Upsets
- House Appropriations Chairman Stan Saylor, R-York, lost to Wendy Fink
- Rep. Keith Gillespie, lost to Joe D’Orsie
- Rep. Mike Puskaric, R-Allegheny, lost to Andrew Kuzma
- Rep. Jason Silvis, R-Westmoreland, lost to Jill Cooper
- Rep. Brian Kirkland, D-Philadelphia lost to Carol Kazeem
- Rep. Pam DeLissio, D-Philadelphia, lost to v. Tarik Khan
- Rep. Martell Covington, D-Allegheny, lost to Latasha Mays