Democrats see 2026 as shot to end Republicans' 30-year majority in state Senate

Democrats are eyeing next year’s election as an opportunity to loosen or overturn the Republican Party’s three-decades-long grip on the Pennsylvania Senate.

With a mobilized voter base angered by actions taken by President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans, state political observers say Democrats have at least a chance to break Republicans’ 27-23 majority.

Ironically, it’s the Democrats’ biggest victory in Lancaster County history — the special election win in March by James Malone for a heavily Republican Senate seat — that might see the party fall short in 2026. Holding that seat, which Malone won by less than one percentage point, is expected to be daunting.

But if Democrats defeat vulnerable Republicans in other parts of Pennsylvania, it’s possible the party could lose the 36th and still eke out a majority.




https://lancasteronline.com/news/politics/democrats-see-2026-as-shot-to-end-republicans-30-year-majority-in-state-senate/article_664019e4-6e45-4357-98ab-5f0003ac647b.html