# 2008 Pennsylvania Senate election

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Government :
vte :
Elections for the Pennsylvania State Senate were held on November 4, 2008, with odd-numbered districts being contested. Republicans had a net gain of 1 seat for the 2008 elections, expanding their majority to 30-20. State Senators are elected for four-year terms, with half of the Senate seats up for a vote every two years. The term of office for those elected in 2008 will run from December 1, 2008 until December 1, 2012. Necessary primary elections were held on April 22, 2008.

## Overview

| Affiliation | Affiliation | Members |
| | Democratic | 20 |
| | Republican | 30 |
| Total | Total | 50 |

## Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| Stateline | Safe R | October 15, 2008 |

## General Elections

(see note)
| District | Party | Incumbent | Status | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| 1 | Democratic | Vincent J. Fumo | retired | Democratic | Larry Farnese | 92,088 | 80.8% |
| 1 | Democratic | Vincent J. Fumo | retired | Republican | Jack Morley | 21,869 | 19.2% |
| 3 | Democratic | Shirley M. Kitchen | re-elected | Democratic | Shirley M. Kitchen | 93,539 | 88.4% |
| 3 | Democratic | Shirley M. Kitchen | re-elected | Republican | Robert Nix | 12,270 | 11.6% |
| 5 | Democratic | Michael J. Stack III | re-elected | Democratic | Michael J. Stack III | 69,284 | 72.0% |
| 5 | Democratic | Michael J. Stack III | re-elected | Republican | John Farley | 69,284 | 28.0% |
| 7 | Democratic | Vincent Hughes | re-elected | Democratic | Vincent Hughes | 99,346 | 85.5% |
| 7 | Democratic | Vincent Hughes | re-elected | Republican | Marc Perry | 16,860 | 14.5% |
| 9 | Republican | Dominic Pileggi | re-elected | Republican | Dominic Pileggi | 74,669 | 58.1% |
| 9 | Republican | Dominic Pileggi | re-elected | Democratic | John Linder | 53,795 | 41.9% |
| 11 | Democratic | Michael O'Pake | re-elected | Democratic | Michael O'Pake | 73,686 | 71.4% |
| 11 | Democratic | Michael O'Pake | re-elected | Republican | Stephen Fuhs | 29,445 | 28.6% |
| 13 | Republican | Gibson E. Armstrong | retired | Republican | Lloyd Smucker | 65,708 | 57.0% |
| 13 | Republican | Gibson E. Armstrong | retired | Democratic | Jose Urdaneta | 49,515 | 43.0% |
| 15 | Republican | Jeffrey E. Piccola | re-elected | Republican | Jeffrey E. Piccola | 63,829 | 52.0% |
| 15 | Republican | Jeffrey E. Piccola | re-elected | Democratic | Judy Hirsch | 59,014 | 48.0% |
| 17 | Democratic | Connie Williams | retired | Democratic | Daylin Leach | 76,350 | 61.5% |
| 17 | Democratic | Connie Williams | retired | Republican | Lance Rogers | 47,873 | 38.5% |
| 19 | Democratic | Andrew Dinniman | re-elected | Democratic | Andrew Dinniman | 84,141 | 57.7% |
| 19 | Democratic | Andrew Dinniman | re-elected | Republican | Steven Kantrowitz | 61,568 | 42.3% |
| 21 | Republican | Mary Jo White | re-elected | Republican | Mary Jo White | 73,472 | 84.5% |
| 21 | Republican | Mary Jo White | re-elected | Libertarian | Mary Lea Lucas | 13,477 | 15.5% |
| 23 | Republican | Roger A. Madigan | retired | Republican | Eugene Yaw | 61,231 | 60.2% |
| 23 | Republican | Roger A. Madigan | retired | Democratic | Louis Casimir | 29,503 | 29.0% |
| 23 | Republican | Roger A. Madigan | retired | Independent | Michael A. Dincher | 10,921 | 10.7% |
| 25 | Republican | Joseph B. Scarnati III | re-elected | Republican | Joseph B. Scarnati III | 61,553 | 66.6% |
| 25 | Republican | Joseph B. Scarnati III | re-elected | Democratic | Donald Hilliard | 30,838 | 33.4% |
| 27 | Republican | John R. Gordner | re-elected | Republican | John R. Gordner | 78,881 | 100% |
| 29 | Republican | James J. Rhoades | re-elected$^1$ | Republican | James J. Rhoades | 67,347 | 62.9% |
| 29 | Republican | James J. Rhoades | re-elected$^1$ | Democratic | Peter J. Symons | 37,468 | 35.0% |
| 29 | Republican | James J. Rhoades | re-elected$^1$ | Independent | Dennis Baylor | 2,298 | 2.1% |
| 31 | Republican | Patricia H. Vance | re-elected | Republican | Patricia H. Vance | 78,070 | 70.6% |
| 31 | Republican | Patricia H. Vance | re-elected | Democratic | Susan Kiskis | 32,524 | 29.4% |
| 33 | Republican | Terry Punt | retired | Republican | Richard Alloway | 79,765 | 68.6% |
| 33 | Republican | Terry Punt | retired | Democratic | Bruce Tushingham | 36,563 | 31.4% |
| 35 | Democratic | John N. Wozniak | re-elected | Democratic | John N. Wozniak | 62,464 | 65.9% |
| 35 | Democratic | John N. Wozniak | re-elected | Republican | Joseph Veranese | 32,380 | 34.1% |
| 37 | Republican | John Pippy | re-elected | Republican | John Pippy | 87,398 | 65.8% |
| 37 | Republican | John Pippy | re-elected | Democratic | Amy Jude Schmotzer | 45,416 | 34.2% |
| 39 | Republican | Bob Regola | retired | Republican | Kim Ward | 57,498 | 54.0% |
| 39 | Republican | Bob Regola | retired | Democratic | Tony Bompiani | 49,049 | 46.0% |
| 41 | Republican | Donald C. White | re-elected | Republican | Donald C. White | 94,512 | 100% |
| 43 | Democratic | Jay Costa, Jr. | re-elected | Democratic | Jay Costa, Jr. | 100,574 | 100% |
| 45 | Democratic | Sean F. Logan | re-elected | Democratic | Sean F. Logan | 84,210 | 100% |
| 47 | Democratic | Gerald J. La Valle | retired | Republican | Elder Vogel | 59,195 | 56.8% |
| 47 | Democratic | Gerald J. La Valle | retired | Democratic | Jason Petrella | 44,995 | 43.2% |
| 49 | Republican | Jane M. Earll | re-elected | Republican | Jane M. Earll | 61,134 | 58.1% |
| 49 | Republican | Jane M. Earll | re-elected | Democratic | Cindy Purvis | 44,173 | 41.9% |
$^1$ Senator Rhoades died prior to the election but remained on the ballot. As he was posthumously re-elected, his seat will be filled by a special election.