2008 Pennsylvania Senate election

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.

2008 Pennsylvania Senate election

November 4, 2008
All odd-numbered seats in the Pennsylvania State Senate 26 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader Joe Scarnati Bob Mellow Party Republican Democratic Leader's seat 25th District 22nd District Last election 29 21 Seats won 14 11 Seats after 30 20 Seat change 1 1
Results      Democratic hold      Republican hold      Republican gain      No election

Make-up of the Senate following the 2008 elections

Affiliation		Members
	Democratic	20
	Republican	30
Total		50

General Elections

(see note)

District	Party		Incumbent	Status	Party		Candidate	Votes	%
1		Democratic	Vincent J. Fumo	retired		Democratic	Larry Farnese	92,088	80.8%
						Republican	Jack Morley	21,869	19.2%
3		Democratic	Shirley M. Kitchen	re-elected		Democratic	Shirley M. Kitchen	93,539	88.4%
						Republican	Robert Nix	12,270	11.6%
5		Democratic	Michael J. Stack III	re-elected		Democratic	Michael J. Stack III	69,284	72.0%
						Republican	John Farley	69,284	28.0%
7		Democratic	Vincent Hughes	re-elected		Democratic	Vincent Hughes	99,346	85.5%
						Republican	Marc Perry	16,860	14.5%
9		Republican	Dominic Pileggi	re-elected		Republican	Dominic Pileggi	74,669	58.1%
						Democratic	John Linder	53,795	41.9%
11		Democratic	Michael O'Pake	re-elected		Democratic	Michael O'Pake	73,686	71.4%
						Republican	Stephen Fuhs	29,445	28.6%
13		Republican	Gibson E. Armstrong	retired		Republican	Lloyd Smucker	65,708	57.0%
						Democratic	Jose Urdaneta	49,515	43.0%
15		Republican	Jeffrey E. Piccola	re-elected		Republican	Jeffrey E. Piccola	63,829	52.0%
						Democratic	Judy Hirsch	59,014	48.0%
17		Democratic	Connie Williams	retired		Democratic	Daylin Leach	76,350	61.5%
						Republican	Lance Rogers	47,873	38.5%
19		Democratic	Andrew Dinniman	re-elected		Democratic	Andrew Dinniman	84,141	57.7%
						Republican	Steven Kantrowitz	61,568	42.3%
21		Republican	Mary Jo White	re-elected		Republican	Mary Jo White	73,472	84.5%
						Libertarian	Mary Lea Lucas	13,477	15.5%
23		Republican	Roger A. Madigan	retired		Republican	Eugene Yaw	61,231	60.2%
						Democratic	Louis Casimir	29,503	29.0%
						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%
						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-elected1		Republican	James J. Rhoades	67,347	62.9%
						Democratic	Peter J. Symons	37,468	35.0%
						Independent	Dennis Baylor	2,298	2.1%
31		Republican	Patricia H. Vance	re-elected		Republican	Patricia H. Vance	78,070	70.6%
						Democratic	Susan Kiskis	32,524	29.4%
33		Republican	Terry Punt	retired		Republican	Richard Alloway	79,765	68.6%
						Democratic	Bruce Tushingham	36,563	31.4%
35		Democratic	John N. Wozniak	re-elected		Democratic	John N. Wozniak	62,464	65.9%
						Republican	Joseph Veranese	32,380	34.1%
37		Republican	John Pippy	re-elected		Republican	John Pippy	87,398	65.8%
						Democratic	Amy Jude Schmotzer	45,416	34.2%
39		Republican	Bob Regola	retired		Republican	Kim Ward	57,498	54.0%
						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%
						Democratic	Jason Petrella	44,995	43.2%
49		Republican	Jane M. Earll	re-elected		Republican	Jane M. Earll	61,134	58.1%
						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.