Pennsylvania State Senate elections, 2012
 |
Pennsylvania's 2012 elections U.S. Senate • U.S. House • Attorney General • Other executive offices • State Senate • State House • Candidate ballot access |
 |
Elections for the office of Pennsylvania State Senate were held in Pennsylvania on November 6, 2012. A total of 25 seats were up for election.
The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was February 16, 2012. The primary Election Day was April 24, 2012.
Majority control
- See also: Partisan composition of state senates
Heading into the November 6 election, the Republican Party held the majority in the Pennsylvania State Senate:
| Pennsylvania State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 5, 2012 | After the 2012 Election | |
| Democratic Party | 20 | 23 | |
| Republican Party | 29 | 27 | |
| Vacancy | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 50 | 50 | |
Incumbents retiring
A total of four incumbents did not run for re-election in 2012. Those incumbents were:
| Name | Party | Current Office |
|---|---|---|
| Jane Earll |  Republican |
Senate District 49 |
| Jeffrey Piccola | Republican |
Senate District 15 |
| John Pippy | Republican |
Senate District 37 |
| Mary Jo White | Republican |
Senate District 21 |
Campaign contributions
This chart shows how many candidates ran for state senate in Pennsylvania in past years and the cumulative amount of campaign contributions in state senate races, including contributions in both primary and general election contests. All figures come from Follow The Money.[1]
| Year | Number of candidates | Total contributions |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 55 | $26,589,797 |
| 2010 | 53 | $20,772,005 |
| 2008 | 65 | $29,456,144 |
| 2006 | 63 | $22,233,800 |
| 2004 | 52 | $18,023,643 |
| 2002 | 53 | $19,135,990 |
| 2000 | 49 | $10,724,732 |
During the 2012 election, the total contributions to the 55 Senate candidates was $26,589,797. The top 10 contributors were:[2]
| 2012 Donors, Pennsylvania State Senate | |
|---|---|
| Donor | Amount |
| Pennsylvania Republican Party | $1,794,822 |
| Raja, D | $1,103,000 |
| Friends of Dominic Pileggi | $866,715 |
| Senate Republican Campaign Cmte of Pennsylvania | $771,990 |
| Pennsylvania Association for Justice | $570,800 |
| Northwest Good Government Pac | $508,977 |
| Friends of Joe Scarnati | $461,100 |
| Pennsylvania Democratic Party | $417,045 |
| Gehret, John K | $382,045 |
| Pennsylvania State Education Association | $351,205 |
Impact of redistricting
- See also: Redistricting in Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Legislative Reapportionment Commission approved the final redistricting plan on June 8, 2012. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court struck down the initial maps on January 25, 2012, and ruled that the 2012 elections would be administered using the maps drawn in the 2000 redistricting cycle. The new maps did not go into effect until the 2014 elections.[3]
Qualifications
Under Article II of the Pennsylvania Constitution, Senators shall be at least twenty-five years of age and Representatives twenty-one years of age. They shall have been citizens and inhabitants of their respective districts one year next before their election (unless absent on the public business of the United States or of this State) and shall reside in their respective districts during their terms of service.
List of candidates
District 1
April 24 Democratic primary:
- Lawrence Farnese: 20,595
- Incumbent Farnese first assumed office in 2009.
- Lawrence Farnese: 20,595
April 24 GOP primary:
- Alfonso Gambone: 2,904
- Alfonso Gambone: 2,904
November 6 General election candidates:
- Lawrence Farnese 95,612
- Alfonso Gambone 20,421
District 3
- April 24 Democratic primary:
- Shirley Kitchen: 23,798 - Incumbent Kitchen first assumed office in 1997.
- Shirley Kitchen: 23,798
- April 24 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed.
November 6 General election candidates:
- Shirley Kitchen 101,151
District 5
- April 24 Democratic primary:
- Mike Stack: 12,298 - Incumbent Stack first assumed office in 2001.
- Mike Stack: 12,298
- April 24 GOP primary:
- Michael Tomlinson: 6,254
- Michael Tomlinson: 6,254
November 6 General election candidates:
- Mike Stack 65,587
- Michael Tomlinson 25,954
District 7
- April 24 Democratic primary:
- Vincent Hughes: 26,142 - Incumbent Hughes first assumed office in 1995.
- Vincent Hughes: 26,142
- April 24 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed.
November 6 General election candidates:
- Vincent Hughes 105,146
District 9
- April 24 Democratic primary:
- Patricia Worrell: 8,011
- Patricia Worrell: 8,011
- April 24 GOP primary:
- Dominic Pileggi: 15,601 - Incumbent Pileggi first assumed office in 2003.
- Roger Howard: 6,788
- Dominic Pileggi: 15,601
November 6 General election candidates:
- Patricia Worrell 58,769
- Dominic Pileggi 73,003
District 11
- April 24 Democratic primary:
- Judy Schwank: 11,164 - Incumbent Schwank first assumed office in 2011.
- Judy Schwank: 11,164
- April 24 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
- Judy Schwank 63,796
- Karen Mogel 35,318
District 13
- April 24 Democratic primary:
- Tom O'Brien: 6,899
- Tom O'Brien: 6,899
- April 24 GOP primary:
- Lloyd Smucker: 18,873 - Incumbent Smucker first assumed office in 2009.
- Lloyd Smucker: 18,873
November 6 General election candidates:
- Tom O'Brien 50,981
- Lloyd Smucker 64,153
District 15
Incumbent Republican Jeffrey Piccola did not seek re-election.
- April 24 Democratic primary:
- Rob Teplitz: 7,534
- Alvin Taylor: 7,268
- Rob Teplitz: 7,534
- April 24 GOP primary:
- John McNally: 11,216
- William Seeds: 5,908
- Josh First: 6,049
- John McNally: 11,216
November 6 General election candidates:
- Rob Teplitz 61,139
- John McNally 57,504
District 17
- April 24 Democratic primary:
- Daylin Leach: 11,467 - Incumbent Leach first assumed office in 2009.
- Daylin Leach: 11,467
- April 24 GOP primary:
- Charles Gehret: 10,920
- Charles Gehret: 10,920
November 6 General election candidates:
- Daylin Leach 78,508
- Charles Gehret 45,707
District 19
- April 24 Democratic primary:
- Andrew Dinniman: 8,969 - Incumbent Dinniman first assumed office in 2007.
- Andrew Dinniman: 8,969
- April 24 GOP primary:
- Christopher Amentas: 17,657
- Christopher Amentas: 17,657
November 6 General election candidates:
- Andrew Dinniman 83,589
- Christopher Amentas 61,914
District 21
Incumbent Republican Mary Jo White did not seek re-election.
- April 24 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- April 24 GOP primary:
- Scott Hutchinson: 17,904
- Scott Hutchinson: 17,904
November 6 General election candidates:
- Scott Hutchinson 75,905
District 23
- April 24 Democratic primary:
- Luana Cleveland: 6,980
- Luana Cleveland: 6,980
- April 24 GOP primary:
- Gene Yaw: 16,994 - Incumbent Yaw first assumed office in 2009.
- David Huffman: 5,542
- Gene Yaw: 16,994
November 6 General election candidates:
- Luana Cleveland 28,771
- Gene Yaw 66,277
District 25
- April 24 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- April 24 GOP primary:
- Joseph Scarnati: 19,138 - Incumbent Scarnati first assumed office in 2001.
- Joseph Scarnati: 19,138
November 6 General election candidates:
- Joseph Scarnati 75,096
District 27
- April 24 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- April 24 GOP primary:
- John Gordner: 17,599 - Incumbent Gordner first assumed office in 2003.
- John Gordner: 17,599
November 6 General election candidates:
- John Gordner 75,667
District 29
- April 24 Democratic primary:
- Tim Seip: 14,241
- Tim Seip: 14,241
- April 24 GOP primary:
- Brian Rich: 10,550
- David Argall: 12,610 - Incumbent Argall first assumed office in 2009.
November 6 General election candidates:
- Tim Seip 44,365
- David Argall 56,837
District 31
- April 24 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- April 24 GOP primary:
- Patricia Vance: 18,882 - Incumbent Vance first assumed office in 2005.
- Andrew Shaw: 14,291
- Patricia Vance: 18,882
November 6 General election candidates:
- Patricia Vance 123,096
District 33
- April 24 Democratic primary:
- Bruce Neylon qualified for the general ballot through a write-in campaign.
- April 24 GOP primary:
- Richard Alloway: 17,948 - Incumbent Alloway first assumed office in 2009.
- Richard Alloway: 17,948
November 6 General election candidates:
- Bruce Neylon 33,716
- Richard Alloway 81,503
District 35
- April 24 Democratic primary:
- John Wozniak: 20,516 - Incumbent Wozniak first assumed office in 1997.
- John Wozniak: 20,516
- April 24 GOP primary:
- Timothy Houser: 12,446
- Timothy Houser: 12,446
November 6 General election candidates:
- John Wozniak 46,637
- Timothy Houser 44,844
District 37
Incumbent Republican John Pippy did not seek re-election.
- April 24 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- April 24 GOP primary:
- Mark Mustio: 5,691
- D. Raja: 10,035
- Sue Means: 7,281
November 6 General election candidates:
- D. Raja 63,854
- Matt Smith 70,883
District 39
- April 24 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- April 24 GOP primary:
- Kim Ward: 14,872 - Incumbent Ward first assumed office in 2009.
- Kim Ward: 14,872
Independent candidates:
November 6 General election candidates:
- Kim Ward 92,984
- Ronald Gazze 13,946
District 41
- April 24 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- April 24 GOP primary:
- Don White: 19,171 - Incumbent White first assumed office in 2001.
- Don White: 19,171
November 6 General election candidates:
- Don White 82,761
District 43
- April 24 Democratic primary:
- Jay Costa: 19,200 - Incumbent Costa first assumed office in 1997.
- Jay Costa: 19,200
- April 24 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed.
November 6 General election candidates:
- Jay Costa 94,779
District 45
- April 24 Democratic primary:
- James Brewster: 15,662 - Incumbent Brewster first assumed office in 2011.
- James Brewster: 15,662
- April 24 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed.
November 6 General election candidates:
- James Brewster 72,189
District 47
- April 24 Democratic primary:
- Kimberly Villella: 16,577
- Kimberly Villella: 16,577
- April 24 GOP primary:
- Elder Vogel: 11,727 - Incumbent Vogel first assumed office in 2009.
- Elder Vogel: 11,727
November 6 General election candidates:
- Kimberly Villella 43,348
- Elder Vogel 57,613
District 49
Incumbent Republican Jane Earll did not seek re-election.
- April 24 Democratic primary:
- Sean Wiley: 7,055
- John Harkins: 4,973
- Brian Pitzer: 1,959
- Terry Scutella: 3,544
Buzz AndrezeskiAndrezeski was removed from the ballot in late March after a number of his petition signatures were ruled invalid.[4]
- Sean Wiley: 7,055
- April 24 GOP primary:
- Janet Anderson: 11,420
- Janet Anderson: 11,420
November 6 General election candidates:
- Sean Wiley 60,921
- Janet Anderson 40,592
See also
External links
Pennsylvania Department of State, 2012 General Election Official Candidate List by Office
Footnotes
