The City & State Guide to Pennsylvania’s 2026 Primary Elections: Senate Districts

Pennsylvania is always a focal point of the political universe, and this year’s 2026 midterm elections are no exception. The commonwealth’s races for seats in the General Assembly and Congress will have major consequences for the direction of both Harrisburg and Washington, D.C., as control of both legislative bodies will hinge on election results across the Keystone State. 

Ahead of the May 19 primary election, City & State examined competitive primary races across the commonwealth, focusing on contests featuring multiple candidates to offer a glimpse into how primary battles could shape the ballot this November. 

Below, we take a look primary races for seats in the Pennsylvania Senate, where Republicans currently hold a majority.

THE STATE SENATE

4th Senate District

In the commonwealth’s 4th Senate District, Democratic state Sen. Art Haywood faces a primary challenge from Michael Cogbill, a Philadelphia area organizer. Throughout his time in the Senate, Haywood has advocated for affordable housing and policies aimed at addressing gun violence; he also serves as the minority chair of the Senate Health & Human Services Committee, is a governor on the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Board of Governors and served on the state’s COVID-19 Vaccine Joint Task Force during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cogbill previously ran for Congress in the state’s 3rd Congressional District and, per his campaign website, wants to raise the minimum wage, lower costs, protect polling places from intimidation and hold data center developers accountable.

8th Senate District

Longtime Democratic state Sen. Anthony H. Williams is facing a challenge from fellow Democrat David Goldsmith Jr., a realtor and community advocate. Williams has served in the state Senate since 1998, and has worked to expand school choice programs, combat gun violence, and was a prime sponsor of the state’s Clean Slate Act; he currently serves as minority chair of the Community, Economic & Recreational Development Committee. Goldsmith, according to his campaign website, wants to expand access to homeownership, push for vocational training and equitable education and advocate for policies that combat gun violence. 

16th Senate District

Two Democrats are angling to take on Republican state Sen. Jarrett Coleman in November, but only one will earn the party’s nomination in May. In the primary, Lehigh County Controller Mark Pinsley will face Bradley Merkl-Gump, a history and civics teacher from Perkasie who serves on the Pennridge School District School Board. If elected, Pinsley hopes to increase wages, push for property tax and income tax reforms, increase access to housing and codify reproductive rights in state law. Merkel-Gump, per his campaign website, wants to “fully and fairly” fund public schools, increase access to health care, and support policies that improve affordability.

20th Senate District

Republican state Sen. Lisa Baker, the current chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, is facing a primary challenge this year from Tyler Meyers, a U.S. Army veteran who, if elected, wants to cut taxes, eliminate red tape for small businesses and the agriculture industry, and protect Second Amendment rights. Baker currently serves as the majority caucus administrator for the Senate GOP, and throughout her time in the legislature has led efforts to reform the state’s juvenile justice system and advocated for policies benefiting crime victims and veterans.

22nd Senate District

In the state’s 22nd Senate District, incumbent state Sen. Marty Flynn faces a primary challenge from health care worker and nonprofit founder Jeffrey Lake in this year’s election cycle. Flynn has served in the Senate since 2021, and currently serves as minority chair of the Senate Transportation Committee. During his time in the Senate, Flynn has had several of his bills signed into law, including legislation designed to help the Pennsylvania Turnpike recoup uncollected toll revenue, and another bill that makes it an offense to evade arrest or detention on foot. Lake, per his campaign website, supports increasing affordable housing stock and scaling permanent supportive housing, enacting a three-year moratorium on hyperscale AI data centers, and implementing universal childcare in Pennsylvania.

32nd Senate District

Republican state Sen. Pat Stefano has served in the Senate since 2015, and will face a primary challenge this year from Harry Cochran, a U.S. Army veteran and former member of the state House of Representatives who served from 1979 to 1982. Stefano serves as the majority chair of the Senate Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure Committee; this session, he has introduced legislation to expand the state’s Castle Doctrine law, increase government transparency, and update the state’s mail-in voting law. If elected, Cochran wants to implement voter ID, repeal the state’s mail-in voting law and eliminate property taxes. 

34th Senate District

Two Democrats will face off in May for a chance to take on Pennsylvania GOP Chair and Republican state Sen. Greg Rothman in November. Nathan Wood, a personal trainer and former district office manager for Rothman, will face Rich Forsman, a member of Camp Hill Borough Council for the Democratic Party nomination. According to their campaign websites, Wood supports prohibiting lawmakers from engaging in external business while in office, tying public officials’ cost of living adjustments to the minimum wage and tackling income inequality; Forsman supports raising the minimum wage, making health care more affordable and increasing the availability of housing. 

36th Senate District

Two Republicans are seeking their party’s nomination in the 36th Senate District, with the ultimate goal being to face Democratic state Sen. James Malone in the fall and win back a seat the GOP lost in March 2025. GOP state Rep. Tom Jones opted to run for the 36th Senate District seat instead of seeking reelection to his House seat. Jones will face Jere Swarr, a former Rapho Township supervisor, in the GOP primary. Jones, if elected to the Senate, wants to reduce the tax burden on residents and small businesses, support policies that preserve “the sanctity of life” and back term limits for elected officials, among other priorities. Swarr has stated that supporting farmers and the agriculture industry would be a top priority, and his campaign website touts his record on farmland preservation as a township supervisor.

42nd Senate District

Democratic state Sen. Wayne Fontana faces a primary challenge this cycle from Paul Steenkiste, a Pittsburgh-based software engineer. Fontana has served in the state Senate since 2005, and is currently minority chair of the Senate Law & Justice Committee. This session, he’s sponsored legislation to combat gun violence by establishing a process for Extreme Risk Protection Orders in the commonwealth, and has also sponsored several bills to address risks posed by gambling. Steenkiste, per his campaign website, lists affordability, strengthening public education and addressing money in politics as some of his major priorities. 

46th Senate District

Republican state Sen. Camera Bartolotta is one of several Senate Republicans facing a primary challenge in 2026 – and the primary battle for the 46th Senate District has grown into a heated and contentious affair over the last several months. Bartolotta has authored a range of bills that have become law during her time in the Senate, and the chamber has advanced several of her bills this session, including one that would prevent government entities from restricting the types of vehicles consumers can buy. However, the Washington County GOP has soured on Bartolotta, accusing her of undermining President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign. Local party officials approved a “no confidence” vote against Bartolotta in January – a vote that was later voided by the Pennsylvania Republican Party. Bartolotta is facing a challenge from Albert Buchtan, a former member of the Carmichaels Area School District School Board and founder of a masonry business. Buchtan supports eliminating taxes and regulations, shrinking state government and protecting constitutional freedoms and the Second Amendment, per his campaign website.

48th Senate District

In the 48th Senate District, GOP state Sen. Chris Gebhard is facing a primary challenge from Clovis Crane, a thoroughbred horse trainer, wrestling coach and former professional cowboy. Gebhard has served in the Senate since 2021 and is the majority chair of the Senate Banking & Insurance Committee. He’s sponsored a constitutional amendment to eliminate school property taxes in Pennsylvania, and has introduced bills to end taxes on tips and regulate and tax skill gaming machines. Crane, meanwhile, supports eliminating property and inheritance taxes, cutting regulations, stopping overdevelopment and defending the Second Amendment.