Pennsylvania State Senate elections, 2010
Elections for the office ofPennsylvania's State Senate were held inPennsylvania onNovember 2, 2010. State senate seats in all even numbered districts were on the ballot in 2010.
Thesignature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 9, 2010. The primary election day was May 18, 2010.
In Pennsylvania, senators serve four-year terms with no term limits.
The incumbent senator ran for re-election in 22 of the 25 districts. (88%)
The 2010 elections did not affect the partisan composition of the chamber and Republicans retained a majority.
November 2 General Election Results
The following candidates won election on November 2, 2010:
- Bob Mensch
- Bob Robbins
- Charles McIlhinney
- Christine Tartaglione
- Edwin Erickson
- Jake Corman
- Jane Orie
- John Yudichak
- Jim Ferlo
- John Blake (Pennsylvania)
- John Rafferty
- LeAnna Washington
- Lisa Boscola
- Lisa Baker (Pennsylvania)
- Michael Brubaker
- Mike Folmer
- Mike Waugh
- Pat Browne
- Rich Kasunic
- Robert Tomlinson
- Stewart Greenleaf
- Timothy Solobay
- Wayne Fontana
- James Brewster
- Anthony Williams (Pennsylvania)
- John Eichelberger
Majority control
Heading into the November 2 election, the Republican Party held the majority in thePennsylvania State Senate:
| Pennsylvania State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 1, 2010 | After the 2010 Election | |
| Democratic Party | 20 | 20 | |
| Republican Party | 30 | 30 | |
| Total | 50 | 50 | |
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 fromFollow The Money.[1]
| Year | Number of candidates | Total contributions |
|---|---|---|
| 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 the2010 election, the total contributions to the 53 Senate candidates was $20,772,005. The top 10 contributors were:[2]
| 2010 Donors, Pennsylvania State Senate | |
|---|---|
| Donor | Amount |
| Pennsylvania Republican Party | $1,232,940 |
| Volpe Jr., Charles J | $690,659 |
| Students First | $365,000 |
| Metropolitan Regional Council of Carpenters & Joiners | $342,650 |
| Pennsylvania Association for Justice | $296,200 |
| Senate Republican Campaign Cmte of Pennsylvania | $293,903 |
| Friends of Dominic Pileggi | $282,650 |
| Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association | $270,000 |
| Electrical Workers Local 98 | $248,000 |
| Templeton Jr., John M | $154,500 |
Incumbency
- The incumbent did not run for re-election in 3 of the 25 seats up for election in November.
- 3 incumbent Democrats faced a primary opponent (Districts 4, 8 and 32) and no GOP incumbents faced primary opposition, which means that in the 22 seats where an incumbent sought re-election in 2010, 14% of those incumbents had a primary challenger.
- 6 GOP incumbents had no challenger for the November 2 general election. They wereLisa Baker,John Eichelberger,Michael Brubaker,Jane Orie,John Rafferty, andBob Robbins.
- 2 Democratic incumbents had no challenger in either May or November. They wereJim Ferlo andWayne Fontana.
- Democratic incumbentLeAnna Washington had a primary opponent but no Republican was in the race in November.
Qualifications
UnderArticle II of thePennsylvania 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
| Partisan dominance instate senates heading into the 2010 state legislative elections |
| 2010 State senate elections |
|---|
| AL •AK •AR •AR •CA •CO •CT •DE •FL •GA •HI •ID •IL •IN •IA •KY •ME •MD •MA •MI •MN •MO •MT •NE •NV •NH •NY •NC •ND •OH •OK •OR •PA •RI •SD •TN •TX •UT •VT •WA •WV •WI •WY |
| Parties with candidates |
| Impact of term limits |
| Successful challengers |
| Defeated incumbents |
| State house elections |
| State senate elections |
| State legislative elections |
District 2
- Christine Tartaglione: 12,594
a Incumbent Tartaglione first assumed office for the 2nd District in 1995.
- Christine Tartaglione: 12,594
- Gary Adam Feldman: 1,942
a
- Gary Adam Feldman: 1,942
November 2 General election candidates:
Christine Tartaglione 37,825
Gary Adam Feldman 8,446
District 4
- LeAnna Washington: 29,257
a Incumbent Washington first assumed office for the 4th District in 2005. - W. Lamont Thomas: 4,669
- LeAnna Washington: 29,257
November 2 General election candidates:
LeAnna Washington 84,167
District 6
- Bryan Allen: 9,516
a - John Jordan: 5,619
- Bryan Allen: 9,516
- Robert Tomlinson: 13,988
a Incumbent Tomlinson first assumed office for the 6th District in 1995.
- Robert Tomlinson: 13,988
November 2 General election candidates:
Robert Tomlinson 49,958
Bryan Allen 35,879
District 8
- Anthony Williams: 20,774
a Incumbent Williams first assumed office for the 8th District in 1999.
- Anthony Williams: 20,774
- Rhashea Harmon: 3,604
a
- Rhashea Harmon: 3,604
November 2 General election candidates:
Anthony Williams 62,920
Rhashea Harmon 10,326
District 10
- Cynthia M. Philo: 14,139
a
- Cynthia M. Philo: 14,139
- Charles McIlhinney: 16,491
a Incumbent McIlhinney first assumed office for the 10th District in 2007.
- Charles McIlhinney: 16,491
November 2 General election candidates:
Charles McIlhinney 59,763
Cynthia M. Philo 40,282
District 12
- Ruth S. Damsker: 14,232
a
- Ruth S. Damsker: 14,232
- Stewart Greenleaf: 16,717
a Incumbent Greenleaf first assumed office for the 12th District in 1979.
- Stewart Greenleaf: 16,717
November 2 General election candidates:
Stewart Greenleaf 62,748
Ruth S. Damsker 35,266
District 14
- John Yudichak: 17,924
a - Tom Leighton: 9,100
- John Yudichak: 17,924
- Note: Incumbent DemocratRaphael Musto did not seek re-election.
- Stephen Urban: 8,942
a
- Stephen Urban: 8,942
November 2 General election candidates:
John Yudichak 37,466
Stephen Urban 26,212
Betsy Summers 3,748
District 16
- Richard Orloski: 11,070
a
- Richard Orloski: 11,070
- Pat Browne: 13,030
a Incumbent Browne first assumed office for the 16th District in 2005.
- Pat Browne: 13,030
November 2 General election candidates:
Pat Browne 46,402
Richard Orloski 29,028
District 18
- Lisa Boscola: 14,906
a Incumbent Boscola first assumed office for the 18th District in 1999.
- Lisa Boscola: 14,906
- Matt Connolly: 8,271
a
- Matt Connolly: 8,271
November 2 General election candidates:
Lisa Boscola 44,364
Matt Connolly 28,538
District 20
- Lisa Baker: 20,176
a Incumbent Baker first assumed office for the 20th District in 2007.
- Lisa Baker: 20,176
November 2 General election candidates:
Lisa Baker 63,010
District 22
- John Blake: 9,594
a - Charles Volpe: 8,871
- Christopher Doherty: 8,084
- Jim Wansacz: 8,038
- Joseph Corcoran: 7,410
- Christopher Phillips: 1,604
- John Blake: 9,594
- Note: Incumbent DemocratRobert Mellow did not seek re-election in 2010.
- Frank Scavo: 9,315
a
- Frank Scavo: 9,315
November 2 General election candidates:
John Blake 49,299
Frank Scavo 29,432
District 24
- Bill Wallace: 11,237
a
- Bill Wallace: 11,237
- Bob Mensch: 14,922
a Incumbent Mensch first assumed office for the 24th District in 2009.
- Bob Mensch: 14,922
November 2 General election candidates:
Bob Mensch 52,395
Bill Wallace 34,481
District 26
- Michael T. Farrell:13,630
a
- Michael T. Farrell:13,630
- Edwin Erickson: 19,803
a Incumbent Erickson first assumed office for the 26th District in 2001.
- Edwin Erickson: 19,803
November 2 General election candidates:
Edwin Erickson 54,408
Michael T. Farrell 38,413
District 28
- Mike Waugh: 22,524
a Incumbent Waugh first assumed office for the 28th District in 1999.
- Mike Waugh: 22,524
November 2 General election candidates:
Mike Waugh 62,061
Edward Gately 11,499
District 30
- John Eichelberger: 23,828
a Incumbent Eichelberger first assumed office for the 30th District in 2007.
- John Eichelberger: 23,828
November 2 General election candidates:
John Eichelberger 67,457
District 32
- Rich Kasunic: 19,213
a Incumbent Kasunic first assumed office for the 32nd District in 1995. - Ronald L. Gallo: 5,903
- Rich Kasunic: 19,213
November 2 General election candidates:
Rich Kasunic 58,000
District 34
- Jon Eich: 12,355
a
- Jon Eich: 12,355
- Jake Corman: 22,288
a Incumbent Corman first assumed office for the 34th District in 1999.
- Jake Corman: 22,288
November 2 General election candidates:
Jake Corman 53,822
Jon Eich 23,697
District 36
- Michael Brubaker: 23,459
a Incumbent Brubaker first assumed office for the 36th District in 2007.
- Michael Brubaker: 23,459
November 2 General election candidates:
Michael Brubaker 65,329
District 38
- Jim Ferlo: 25,547
a Incumbent Ferlo first assumed office for the 38th District in 2003.
- Jim Ferlo: 25,547
November 2 General election candidates:
Jim Ferlo 54,012
District 40
May 18 Democratic primary result:- Dan DeMarco: 3,358
a(write-in) - Jane Orie: 953(write-in)
- Others: 452(write-ins)
- Dan DeMarco: 3,358
- Note: No Democrats qualified for the primary ballot, but DeMarco received enough write-in votes to qualify for the November 2 election.[3]
May 18 GOP primary result:- Jane Orie: 22,947
a Incumbent Orie first assumed office for the 40th District in 2001.
- Jane Orie: 22,947
November 2 General election candidates:
Jane Orie 58,825
Dan DeMarco 42,643
District 42
- Wayne Fontana:24,952
a Incumbent Fontana first assumed office for the 42nd district in 2005.
- Wayne Fontana:24,952
November 2 General election candidates:
Wayne Fontana 51,358
District 44
May 18 Democratic primary result:- Matt Stehman
a(write-in)
- Matt Stehman
- Note: No Democrats qualified for the primary ballot, but Stehman received enough write-in votes to qualify for November 2 ballot.
- John Rafferty: 16,748
a Incumbent Rafferty first assumed office for the 44th District in 2003.
- John Rafferty: 16,748
November 2 General election candidates:
John Rafferty 56,388
Matt Stehman 34,180
District 46
- Timothy Solobay: 28,730
a
- Timothy Solobay: 28,730
- Note:Incumbent DemocratBarry Stout did not seek re-election in 2010.
- Kris Vanderman: 13,948
a
- Kris Vanderman: 13,948
November 2 General election candidates:
Timothy J. Solobay 40,560
Kris Vanderman 35,528
District 48
- Jo Ellen Litz: 10,913
a
- Jo Ellen Litz: 10,913
- Mike Folmer: 26,169
a Incumbent Folmer first assumed office for the 48th District in 2007.
- Mike Folmer: 26,169
November 2 General election candidates:
Mike Folmer 63,609
Jo Ellen Litz 24,298
District 50
- Bob Robbins:19,477
a Incumbent Robbins first assumed office for the 50th District in 1991.
- Bob Robbins:19,477
November 2 General election candidates:
Bob Robbins 59,267
Roberta Biros 13,211
See also
- Pennsylvania State Senate
- Pennsylvania State Legislature
- State legislative elections, 2010
- Primary election dates in 2010
External links
- 2010 Primary election
- Democratic State Senate Campaign Committee's list of 2010 state senate candidates
- Pennsylvania Republican Senate Campaign Committee's list of 2010 state senate candidates
- Project Vote Smart list of candidates for Pennsylvania State Senate in the November 2, 2010 election
- Official list of Pennsylvania candidates for the 2010 general elections
- General election results