Up for Grabs: Open Seats in the State Legislature in the 2022 Election

(Photo: Paul Brady/Shutterstock.com)

By Ashley Adams

February 24, 2022

All 203 seats in the state House of Representatives and 25 of the 50 seats in the state Senate are up for election in 2022.

We have a lot of decisions to make in 2022. In addition to choosing a new US Senator, governor, and lieutenant governor, we have to decide who we want to represent us in the state House and Senate.

All 203 state House seats and 25 Senate seats are up for election.

The state House of Representatives currently has 88 Democrats and 112 Republicans filling the 203 available seats. Three seats are vacant. Republicans have controlled the state House for 24 of the last 30 years. 

In the state Senate, there are 20 Democrats, 28 Republicans, and one Independent. One of the 50 total seats is vacant. Republicans have controlled the Senate for the past 27 years.

According to research, incumbents in the state House win 96.8% of the time, while incumbent state senators win more than 95% of the time. 

Incumbents have a better chance of winning reelection because they often have more name recognition and easier access to campaign funds, as well as government resources, said Terry Madonna, a senior fellow for political affairs at Millersville University.

“It is important that incumbents have strong challenges in an election,” Madonna said. “It is important to a democracy.”

So when an incumbent decides not to run again, a newcomer has a better chance of getting elected, whether Democrat or Republican.

A handful of incumbent lawmakers from both parties have announced they are not seeking reelection. 

State Senators

Jake Corman

Republican Sen. President Pro Tempore Jake Corman was first elected in 1998 to represent the 34th district, which includes all of Centre, Juniata, and Mifflin counties, and part of Huntingdon County.

Instead of running for reelection, Corman is seeking the Republican nomination for governor.

Bob Mensch

Republican Bob Mensch was first elected in 2009 to represent the 24th district, which includes parts of Berks, Bucks, and Montgomery counties. He is vice chairperson of the Health and Human Services Committee.

Mensch announced in October that he was retiring after his current term.

Mario Scavello

Republican Sen. Mario Scavello was first elected in 2014 to represent the 40th district, which includes parts of Monroe and Northampton counties. 

He will not seek reelection due to health issues.

Robert Tomlinson

Republican Sen. Robert Tomlinson was first elected in 1994 to represent the 6th district, which includes part of Bucks County. He is chairperson of the Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure Committee.

Tomlinson announced his retirement in a letter to his constituents on his Facebook page.

John Yudichak

Independent Sen. John Yudichak was first elected in 2010 to represent the 14th district, which includes Carbon County and part of Luzerne County. He is chairperson of the Community, Economic & Recreational Development Committee.

He recently said he was not seeking reelection so he could spend more time with his family, but Yudichak’s district was moved to another part of the state in redistricting.

State Representatives

Karen Boback

Republican Rep. Karen Boback was first elected in 2006 to represent the 117th district, which includes Wyoming County and parts of Lackawanna and Luzerne counties. She is chairperson of the Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee.

She recently announced she would not run for reelection.

Rosemary Brown

Republican Rep. Rosemary Brown was first elected in 2010 to represent the 189th district, which includes parts of Monroe and Pike counties. She is chairperson of the Urban Affairs Committee and is also a member of the Transportation Committee.

When announcing she was not seeking re-election, Brown said 12 years seemed like the right time for her to move on to another position, whether it be in government or the private sector.

Mike Carroll

Democratic Rep. Mike Carroll was first elected in 2006 to represent the 118th district, which includes part of Lackawanna and Luzerne counties. He is the Democratic chairperson of the Transportation Committee. 

When announcing that he wasn’t seeking reelection, Carroll said it is “abundantly evident” to him that the time has come to seek new challenges and allow a new generation of leaders to step forward.

Frank Farry

Republican Rep. Frank Farry was first elected in 2008 to represent the 142nd district, which includes part of Bucks County. He is chairperson of the Human Services Committee.

Farry is running for the 6th district state Senate seat, currently held by Tomlinson who recently announced his retirement. 

Susan Helm

Republican Rep. Susan Helm was first elected in 2006 to represent the 104th district, which includes parts of Dauphin and Lebanon County. She is chairperson of the Gaming Oversight Committee.Helm announced recently that she is retiring from the state Legislature.

Dianne Herrin

Democratic Rep. Dianne Herrin was first elected in 2020 to represent the 156th district, which includes part of Chester County. 

She recently announced that she would not seek reelection to a second term for personal reasons.

David Hickernell

Republican Rep. David Hickernell was first elected in 2002 to represent the 98th district, which includes parts of Dauphin and Lancaster counties. He is chairperson of the Professional Licensure Committee and is also a member of the Education and Rules committees.

Hickernell announced his retirement from the state Legislature in December.

Jerry Knowles

Republican Rep. Jerry Knowles was first elected in 2010 to represent the 124th district, which includes parts of Berks, Carbon, and Schuylkill counties. He is chairperson of the Local Government Committee and is also a member of the Judiciary Committee.

Knowles announced his retirement from the state Legislature in January. 

Andrew Lewis

Republican Rep. Andrew Lewis was first elected in 2018 to represent the 105th district, which includes part of Dauphin County.Lewis announced he would not seek reelection because of changes with the legislative redistricting. He no longer lives in the 105th district.

Mark Longietti

Democratic Rep. Mark Longietti was first elected in 2006 to represent the 7th district, which includes part of Mercer County. He is the Democratic chairperson of the Education Committee.

Longietti announced in early February that he was not seeking reelection. He said, “it is time to turn to the next chapter of my life and new ways in which I hope to give back to my community.”

Daryl Metcalfe

Republican Rep. Daryl Metcalfe was first elected in 1998 to represent the 12th district, which includes part of Butler County. He is chairperson of the Environmental Resources & Energy Committee.

Metcalfe announced his retirement from the state Legislature in early January.

David Millard

Republican Rep. David Millard was first elected in 2004 to represent the 109th district, which includes part of Columbia County. He is chairperson of the Tourism & Recreational Development Committee and is also a member of the Judiciary Committee.

He announced his retirement from the state Legislature in December.

Lori Mizgorski

Republican Rep. Lori Mizgorski was first elected in 2020 to represent the 30th district, which includes part of Allegheny County.

Mizgorski is running for election to the state Senate to represent the 38th district. Sen. Lindsey Williams (D-Allegheny) currently represents the district.

Gerald Mullery

Democratic Rep. Gerald Mullery was first elected in 2010 to represent the 119th district, which includes part of Luzerne County. He is the Democratic chairperson of the Labor & Industry Committee and vice chairperson of the Committee on Ethics.

In announcing his decision to not seek reelection in January, Mullery said he never intended to make public service a life-long career.

“Our founding fathers wanted honorable people of common origin to serve for a limited time, then step aside and let others serve in their place,” Mullery said in a news release. “That is exactly what I intend to do.”

Michael Peifer

Republican Rep. Michael Peifer was first elected in 2006 to represent the 139th district, which includes parts of Pike and Wayne counties. He is chairperson of the Finance Committee and is also a member of the Professional Licensure Committee.

Peifer announced in December he was not seeking reelection.

Tracy Pennycuick

Republican Rep. Tracy Pennycuick was first elected in 2020 to represent the 147th district, which includes part of Montgomery County.

Pennycuick is running for the 24th district state Senate seat, currently held by Sen. Bob Mensch (R-Montgomery). Mensch is retiring.

Greg Rothman

Republican Rep. Greg Rothman was first elected in 2015 to represent the 87th district, which includes part of Cumberland County.

Rothman is not seeking reelection so he can run for state Senate in the 34th district. Corman currently represents the district, but he is running for governor.

Frank Ryan

Republican Rep. Frank Ryan was first elected in 2016 to represent the 101st district, which includes part of Lebanon County.

When announcing his decision to not seek reelection, Ryan said it’s evident a lot more needs to be done and he is leaving it up to the younger generation to finish.

Tommy Sankey

Republican Rep. Tommy Sankey was first elected in 2014 to represent the 73rd district, which includes part of Clearfield and Cambria counties.

Sankey announced earlier this month that he is retiring from the state Legislature.

Meghan Schroeder

Republican Rep. Meghan Schroeder was first elected in 2018 to the 29th district, which includes part of Bucks County. 

Schroeder said she was not seeking another term in office in order to pursue other opportunities.

Brian Sims

Democratic Rep. Brian Sims was first elected in 2012 to represent the 182nd district, which includes part of Philadelphia County.

Sims is not running for reelection because he is seeking the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania.

Pam Snyder

Democratic Rep. Pam Snyder was first elected in 2012 to represent the 50th district, which includes all of Greene County and parts of Fayette and Washington counties.

Snyder announced in February that she was retiring.

Curtis Sonney

Republican Rep. Curtis Sonney was first elected in 2004 to represent the 4th district, which includes part of Erie County. He is chairperson of the Education Committee and is also a member of the Professional Licensure Committee.

Sonney announced in January that he was retiring.

Wendi Thomas

Republican Rep. Wendi Thomas was first elected in 2018 to represent the 178th district, which includes part of Bucks County.

Thomas said she is retiring from politics to spend more time with her family.

Author

  • Ashley Adams

    In her 16 years in the communications industry, Ashley Adams has worn many hats, including news reporter, public relations writer, marketing specialist, copy editor and technical writer. Ashley grew up in Berks County and has since returned to her roots to raise her three children.

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