2016 Pennsylvania Senate election

See also: 2020 Pennsylvania elections

The 2016 elections for the Pennsylvania State Senate were held on November 8, 2016, with all odd-numbered districts being contested. Primary elections were held on April 26, 2016. The term of office for those elected in 2016 began when the Senate convened in January 2017. Pennsylvania state senators are elected to four-year terms, with 25 of the 50 seats contested every two years.

2016 Pennsylvania Senate election

← 2014 November 8, 2016 (2016-11-08) 2018 →
All odd-numbered seats in the Pennsylvania State Senate 26 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader Joe Scarnati Jay Costa Party Republican Democratic Leader since January 2, 2007 (2007-01-02) January 4, 2011 (2011-01-04) Leader's seat 25th 43rd Last election 31 19 Seats won 16 9 Seats after 34 16 Seat change 3 3 Popular vote 1,467,674 1,272,575 Percentage 53.29% 46.20%
Results      Republican hold      Republican gain      Democratic hold      No election
President Pro Tempore before election Joe Scarnati Republican President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati Republican

Republicans had controlled the chamber since the 1994 election (22 years as of election day). This was the most recent Pennsylvania senate election in which the Republican party gained seats.

Overview

Affiliation		Candidates	Votes	Vote %	Seats won	Seats after
	Republican	19	1,467,674	53.29%	16 (3)	34
	Democratic	18	1,272,575	46.20%	9 (3)	16
	Independent	2	14,032	0.51%	0
Total		39	2,754,281	100%	25	50

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
Governing[1]	Likely R	October 12, 2016

Special election

A special election was held on April 26, 2016, to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Dominic Pileggi on January 5, 2016, after his election to a county judgeship.^[2]

District	Party		Incumbent	Status	Party		Candidate	Votes	%
9		Republican	Dominic Pileggi	Resigned		Republican	Thomas Killion	41,613	56.8
						Democratic	Martin Molloy	31,533	43
						Write-In	Scattered	138	0.2

General election

District	Party		Incumbent	Status	Party		Candidate	Votes	%
1		Democratic	Larry Farnese	Unopposed		Democratic	Larry Farnese	114,099	100
3		Democratic	Shirley Kitchen	Open		Democratic	Sharif Street	98,955	100
5		Democratic	John Sabatina	Won		Democratic	John Sabatina	64,508	67.09
						Republican	Ross Feinberg	31,644	32.91
7		Democratic	Vincent Hughes	Unopposed		Democratic	Vincent Hughes	108,471	100
9		Republican	Thomas Killion	Won		Republican	Thomas Killion	70,764	51.36
						Democratic	Martin Molloy	67,011	48.64
11		Democratic	Judy Schwank	Unopposed		Democratic	Judy Schwank	98,370	100
13		Republican	Lloyd Smucker	Open		Republican	Scott Martin	66,595	57.87
						Democratic	Gregory Paulson	48,476	42.13
15		Democratic	Rob Teplitz	Lost		Republican	John DiSanto	62,774	51.72
						Democratic	Rob Teplitz	58,591	48.28
17		Democratic	Daylin Leach	Won		Democratic	Daylin Leach	88,827	63.98
						Republican	Brian Gondek	50,010	36.02
19		Democratic	Andy Dinniman	Won		Democratic	Andy Dinniman	75,615	56.40
						Republican	Jack London	58,456	43.60
21		Republican	Scott Hutchinson	Unopposed		Republican	Scott Hutchinson	101,525	100
23		Republican	Gene Yaw	Unopposed		Republican	Gene Yaw	85,889	100
25		Republican	Joe Scarnati	Won		Republican	Joe Scarnati	76,416	74.84
						Democratic	Jerri Buchanan	25,686	25.16
27		Republican	John Gordner	Unopposed		Republican	John Gordner	83,083	100
29		Republican	Dave Argall	Unopposed		Republican	Dave Argall	92,537	100
31		Republican	Pat Vance	Retired		Republican	Mike Regan	87,269	64.61
						Democratic	John Bosha	38,478	28.49
						Independent	Kenneth Gehosky	9,331	6.91
33		Republican	Rich Alloway	Unopposed		Republican	Richard Alloway	99,377	100
35		Democratic	John Wozniak	Retired		Republican	Wayne Langerholc	68,397	62.32
						Democratic	Ed Cernic, Jr.	41,349	37.68
37		Republican	Guy Reschenthaler	Won		Republican	Guy Reschenthaler	90,987	60.65
						Democratic	Edward Eichenlaub	59,044	39.35
39		Republican	Kim Ward	Unopposed		Republican	Kim Ward	111,696	100
41		Republican	Don White	Won		Republican	Don White	76,843	68.44
						Democratic	Tony DeLoreto	30,739	27.38
						Independent	Stanley Buggey	4,701	4.19
43		Democratic	Jay Costa	Unopposed		Democratic	Jay Costa	114,984	100
45		Democratic	Jim Brewster	Unopposed		Democratic	Jim Brewster	89,016	100
47		Republican	Elder Vogel	Unopposed		Republican	Elder Vogel	95,622	100
49		Democratic	Sean Wiley	Lost		Republican	Dan Laughlin	57,790	53.44
						Democratic	Sean Wiley	50,356	46.56

Source:^[3]