# 2020 Pennsylvania Senate election

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vte :
The 2020 elections for the Pennsylvania State Senate were held on November 3, 2020, with 25 of 50 districts being contested. Primary elections were held on June 2, 2020. The term of office for those elected in 2020 began when the Senate convened in January 2021. Pennsylvania State Senators are elected for four-year terms, with half of the seats up for election every two years. The election coincided with the 2020 United States presidential election, United States House of Representatives elections, and the entirety of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
Republicans had controlled the chamber since the 1994 election (26 years).

## Special election
### 48th senatorial district

A special election for the 48th senatorial district was held on January 14 following Republican State Senator Mike Folmer's resignation after being arrested for possession of child pornography. Democrats selected Lebanon Valley College associate professor Michael Schroeder as their nominee, while Republicans nominated Lebanon County District Attorney Dave Arnold.
Pennsylvania Senate, District 48 special election, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | David Arnold | 18,234 | 68.70 |
| | Democratic | Michael Schroeder | 9,950 | 35.30 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 28,184 | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| The Cook Political Report | Lean R | October 21, 2020 |

## General election overview

Statewide results :
| Affiliation | Affiliation | Candidates | Votes | % | Seats before | Seats up | Seats won | Seats after |
| | Republican | 20 | 1,636,593 | 50.87 | 28 | 15 | 15 | 28 |
| | Democratic | 24 | 1,580,922 | 49.13 | 21 | 10 | 10 | 21 |
| | Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | Total | TBD | 3,217,515 | 100 | 50 | 25 | 25 | 50 |
Popular vote for 25 Senate seats
Republican
50.87%
Democratic
49.13% :
Percentage of 25 Senate seats won
Republican
60%
Democratic
40% :

## Close races

Six district races had winning margins of less than 15%:
| District | Winner | Margin |
| District 9 | Democratic (flip) | 3.9% |
| District 13 | Republican | 11.26% |
| District 15 | Republican | 3.46% |
| District 19 | Democratic | 14.90% |
| District 37 | Republican (flip) | 4.14% |
| District 45 | Democratic | 0.06% |

## Results by district

| District | Party | Incumbent | Status | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| 1 | Democratic | Larry Farnese | Lost in primary | Democratic | Nikil Saval | 121,855 | 100.00% |
| 3 | Democratic | Sharif Street | Unopposed | Democratic | Sharif Street | 87,162 | 100.00% |
| 5 | Democratic | John Sabatina | Unopposed | Democratic | John Sabatina | 67,365 | 100.00% |
| 7 | Democratic | Vincent Hughes | Unopposed | Democratic | Vincent Hughes | 112,759 | 100.00% |
| 9 | Republican | Tom Killion | Defeated | Democratic | John I. Kane | 80,083 | 51.95% |
| 9 | Republican | Tom Killion | Defeated | Republican | Tom Killion | 74,078 | 48.05% |
| 11 | Democratic | Judy Schwank | Re-elected | Democratic | Judy Schwank | 64,011 | 58.61% |
| 11 | Democratic | Judy Schwank | Re-elected | Republican | Annette Baker | 45,205 | 41.39% |
| 13 | Republican | Scott Martin | Re-elected | Republican | Scott Martin | 73,046 | 55.63% |
| 13 | Republican | Scott Martin | Re-elected | Democratic | Janet Diaz | 58,267 | 44.37% |
| 15 | Republican | John DiSanto | Re-elected | Republican | John DiSanto | 70,041 | 51.73% |
| 15 | Republican | John DiSanto | Re-elected | Democratic | George Scott | 65,366 | 48.27% |
| 17 | Democratic | Daylin Leach | Lost in primary | Democratic | Amanda Cappelletti | 104,273 | 65.85% |
| 17 | Democratic | Daylin Leach | Lost in primary | Republican | Ellen Fisher | 54,066 | 34.15% |
| 19 | Democratic | Andy Dinniman | Retired | Democratic | Carolyn Comitta | 87,636 | 57.45% |
| 19 | Democratic | Andy Dinniman | Retired | Republican | Kevin Runey | 64,907 | 42.55% |
| 21 | Republican | Scott Hutchinson | Re-elected | Republican | Scott Hutchinson | 96,811 | 70.93% |
| 21 | Republican | Scott Hutchinson | Re-elected | Democratic | Shelbie Stromyer | 39,677 | 29.07% |
| 23 | Republican | Eugene Yaw | Re-elected | Republican | Eugene Yaw | 86,655 | 73.10% |
| 23 | Republican | Eugene Yaw | Re-elected | Democratic | Jaclyn Baker | 31,888 | 26.90% |
| 25 | Republican | Joe Scarnati | Retired | Republican | Cris Dush | 88,688 | 74.43% |
| 25 | Republican | Joe Scarnati | Retired | Democratic | Margaret S. Brown | 30,457 | 25.57% |
| 27 | Republican | John Gordner | Re-elected | Republican | John Gordner | 83,166 | 72.28% |
| 27 | Republican | John Gordner | Re-elected | Democratic | Michelle Siegel | 31,891 | 27.72% |
| 29 | Republican | Dave Argall | Unopposed | Republican | Dave Argall | 104,193 | 100.00% |
| 31 | Republican | Mike Regan | Re-elected | Republican | Mike Regan | 94,459 | 60.48% |
| 31 | Republican | Mike Regan | Re-elected | Democratic | Shanna Danielson | 61,714 | 39.52% |
| 33 | Republican | Doug Mastriano | Re-elected | Republican | Doug Mastriano | 95,682 | 68.65% |
| 33 | Republican | Doug Mastriano | Re-elected | Democratic | Richard Sterner | 43,678 | 31.35% |
| 35 | Republican | Wayne Langerholc | Re-elected | Republican | Wayne Langerholc | 91,457 | 73.64% |
| 35 | Republican | Wayne Langerholc | Re-elected | Democratic | Shaun Dougherty | 32,742 | 26.36% |
| 37 | Democratic | Pam Iovino | Defeated | Republican | Devlin Robinson | 91,092 | 52.07% |
| 37 | Democratic | Pam Iovino | Defeated | Democratic | Pam Iovino | 83,845 | 47.93% |
| 39 | Republican | Kim Ward | Re-elected | Republican | Kim Ward | 91,938 | 67.65% |
| 39 | Republican | Kim Ward | Re-elected | Democratic | Tay Waltenbaugh | 43,970 | 32.35% |
| 41 | Republican | Joe Pittman | Re-elected | Republican | Joe Pittman | 91,754 | 72.83% |
| 41 | Republican | Joe Pittman | Re-elected | Democratic | Anthony Deloreto | 34,223 | 27.17% |
| 43 | Democratic | Jay Costa | Unopposed | Democratic | Jay Costa | 117,255 | 100.00% |
| 45 | Democratic | Jim Brewster | Re-elected | Democratic | Jim Brewster | 66,261 | 50.03% |
| 45 | Democratic | Jim Brewster | Re-elected | Republican | Nicole Ziccarelli | 66,192 | 49.97% |
| 47 | Republican | Elder Vogel | Re-elected | Republican | Elder Vogel | 87,423 | 66.50% |
| 47 | Republican | Elder Vogel | Re-elected | Democratic | Stephen Krizan | 44,051 | 33.50% |
| 49 | Republican | Dan Laughlin | Re-elected | Republican | Dan Laughlin | 69,813 | 59.82% |
| 49 | Republican | Dan Laughlin | Re-elected | Democratic | Julie Slomski | 46,900 | 40.18% |