Republican State Sen. Dave Arnold Has Died

Arnold died on Sunday after a battle with brain cancer.

LEBANON COUNTY — A Pennsylvania state senator stricken with brain cancer died Sunday, his family said.

Sen. Dave Arnold, R-Lebanon, died peacefully at home with his wife and daughter by his side, his family and staff said in a statement distributed by the Senate Republican press office.

“It is with heavy hearts that the family and staff of Senator David J. Arnold Jr. announce the end of his battle with brain cancer,” they wrote.

Arnold was 49.

After serving 14 years as Lebanon County’s district attorney, Arnold ran for and won the state Senate seat in a special election in January 2020. In early November 2019, during the campaign, he announced that he had been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor and had undergone surgery to remove it.

Arnold had also served on the Pennsylvania Sentencing Commission and as president of the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association. Closer to home, he had coached youth basketball and softball.

In a statement, Senate Republican leaders called Arnold “a good man and committed leader.”

Gov. Tom Wolf called Arnold dedicated and conscientious.

“He fought hard every day for his constituents, even while he was fighting a terrible disease,” Wolf said in a statement. “Our commonwealth has lost a great public servant.”

State Sen. Jay Costa, D-Allegheny, said Arnold leaves a “legacy of advocacy” for a cure for the disease that took his life.

Arnold is survived by his wife Alicia and daughter Reese.