All eyes are on Pennsylvania to see who will win the presidential election. But for Pennsylvanians, there are some major changes that could happen in their state politics on November 5th as well.

Governor Josh Shapiro will be Pennsylvania’s Democrat governor for another two years.

“We are the only state in the nation with a divided legislature,” Shapiro has reminded citizens on many occasions.

Democrats got control of the House of Representatives in 2022, a first for the party since 2010. Republicans have controlled the Pennsylvania Senate since 1980.

 

Senate

Some Democrat strategists are hopeful they can flip the chamber because of recent redistricting based on the 2020 census. 

“We're going to turn out heavier in women and we're also running in new lines so these seats were won by Biden and most of them have gotten more competitive too on the Democratic side,” Brittany Crampsie said, principal at Brittany Crampsie Communications. She represents the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Campaign Committee 

Pennsylvania has 50 state senators— there are 28 republicans and 22 democrats right now. To flip the chamber, Democrats would have to win three new seats to have a tie with Republicans. They could then rely on Lt. Governor Austin Davis, a Democrat, to cast the deciding vote of the Chamber.

"Most outside observers, myself included, do not see the Democrats flipping enough senate seats to take control,” said Christopher Nicholas, a Republican political consultant. "

Pennsylvania senators serve for four years. Elections for the chamber are staggered. The odd number seats are up for election during presidential elections. The even number seats are up for election on the off year.

There are 25 senate seats are up for election this year. Of those 25 races, four are competitive.

“Dan Laughlin is up for his second reelection. He's held the seat since 2016,” Crampsie said.

Up in Erie, Democrats say their candidate, Jim Wertz, is the right person at the right time to flip the seat.

“We're looking at a seat that Biden won, that Obama won, the Dems tend to do very well in. But senate Republicans also do,” said Crampsie.

Next—two Pittsburgh area senate seats are hot races.

In district 37, first-term Republican Devlin Robinson will defend his seat against Democrat Nicole Ruscitto. The district has flip flopped multiple times between Democrat and Republican in recent years.

In district 45, Democrat Senator Jim Brewster has resigned—leaving the newly redistricted seat open for a new face. Registered voters lean Democrat, but it is a suburban area and Brewster won by a handful of votes in 2020.

The last competitive race is in the suburbs of north east Philadelphia.

“That seat has been contested very much by both sides. The Democrats, because it's an incumbent. and Republicans because, boy, wouldn't it be a kick to win a seat in Philadelphia during this presidential election,” said Nicholas.

There is one senate seat, district 15 which has Harrisburg and the state capitol in it, that is expected to flip Democrat. The current Republican senator is resigning, and redistricting left the seat with a heavy Democrat lean.