Ballotpedia identifies six battleground districts in the Pennsylvania Senate elections

General elections for the Pennsylvania State Senate will occur on Nov. 5, 2024. There are 25 state Senate seats up for election. Republicans currently have a 28-22 majority.

Both the Republican State Leadership Committee and the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee listed Pennsylvania as a state in which they would prioritize state legislative elections in 2024.

If Democrats gain control of the state Senate and maintain control of the state House in 2024, Pennsylvania would become a Democratic trifecta. If Republicans maintain control of the state Senate or gain control of the state House, Pennsylvania would remain a divided government.

If Democrats gain three seats, the chamber would be tied with 25 Democrats and 25 Republicans, with Lt. Gov. Austin Davis (D) breaking tie votes. If Democrats gain more than three seats, they would control the chamber outright. If Republicans lose fewer than three seats, they would retain control of the chamber and prevent a Democratic trifecta.

Ballotpedia has identified six battleground districts. Democrats and Republicans each currently represent three of those districts. Incumbents are running in four of these races, and the other two seats are open, meaning no incumbent is running. Click here to read more about the battleground elections.

Reporter Anna Gustafson wrote, “Democratic lawmakers told the Pennsylvania Independent that they are paying particular attention to three districts in the Senate: the recently redrawn 15th District in central Pennsylvania, the 37th in Allegheny County, and the 49th in Erie County. Each of those districts is currently represented by a Republican. Democrats also said they’re looking to retain control of the 45th in Allegheny County.”

Pennsylvania Senate Republican Campaign Committee communications director Michael Straw said, “While our candidates in these seats have proven records and have put themselves in a strong position, we are taking nothing for granted. As far as offensive pick-ups, … we see some real opportunities in Western and Southeast Pennsylvania to expand our majority.”

No incumbents lost in the primaries. Click here to learn more.

Pennsylvania is one of 10 states with a divided government. Democrats control the governor’s office and the state House, and Republicans control the state Senate. The last Democratic trifecta in Pennsylvania was 1993. The last Republican trifecta in Pennsylvania was 2014.

The Pennsylvania State Senate is one of 85 state legislative chambers with elections in 2024. There are 99 chambers throughout the country.