title: Elections in Pennsylvania
text: # Elections in Pennsylvania
  
  Elections in Pennsylvania :
  
  Federal government
  
  U.S. President
  
  1789
  
  1792
  
  1796
  
  1800
  
  1804
  
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  1812
  
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  1820
  
  1824
  
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  1836
  
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  1856
  
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  1900
  
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  1916
  
  1920
  
  1924
  
  1928
  
  1932
  
  1936
  
  1940
  
  1944
  
  1948
  
  1952
  
  1956
  
  1960
  
  1964
  
  1968
  
  1972
  
  1976
  
  1980
  
  1984
  
  1988
  
  1992
  
  1996
  
  2000
  
  2004
  
  2008
  
  2012
  
  2016
  
  2020
  
  2024
  
  Presidential primaries
  
  Democratic
  
  2004
  
  2008
  
  2016
  
  2020
  
  Republican
  
  2008
  
  2020
  
  2024
  
  U.S. Senate
  
  1788
  
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  1952
  
  1956
  
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  1962
  
  1964
  
  1968
  
  1970
  
  1974
  
  1976
  
  1980
  
  1982
  
  1986
  
  1988
  
  1991 sp
  
  1992
  
  1994
  
  1998
  
  2000
  
  2004
  
  2006
  
  2010
  
  2012
  
  2016
  
  2018
  
  2022
  
  2024
  
  2028
  
  U.S. House of Representatives
  
  1788
  
  1791
  
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  5th sp
  
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  1800
  
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  1822
  
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  1824
  
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  1825
  
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  1827
  
  2nd sp
  
  1828
  
  1829
  
  8th sp
  
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  Jun
  
  Dec
  
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  12th sp
  
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  3rd sp
  
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  at-large sp
  
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  1911
  
  2nd sp
  
  14th sp
  
  1912
  
  1st sp
  
  1914
  
  1916
  
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  28th sp
  
  1918
  
  1919
  
  22nd sp
  
  1920
  
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  1921
  
  at-large sp
  
  1922
  
  1924
  
  1926
  
  1927
  
  1st sp
  
  1928
  
  8th sp
  
  1929
  
  12th sp
  
  1930
  
  1931
  
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  1932
  
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  1933
  
  9th sp
  
  1934
  
  1936
  
  1937
  
  18th sp
  
  1938
  
  1939
  
  4th sp
  
  1940
  
  1941
  
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  1942
  
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  1944
  
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  1946
  
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  1948
  
  1949
  
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  1950
  
  1951
  
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  1952
  
  1954
  
  1956
  
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  1960
  
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  1961
  
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  1962
  
  1963
  
  15th sp
  
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  1964
  
  5th sp
  
  1966
  
  1968
  
  1970
  
  9th sp
  
  1971
  
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  1972
  
  27th sp
  
  1974
  
  12th sp
  
  1976
  
  1st sp
  
  1978
  
  1980
  
  11th sp
  
  12th sp
  
  1981
  
  3rd sp
  
  1982
  
  1984
  
  1986
  
  1988
  
  1990
  
  1991
  
  2nd sp
  
  1992
  
  1994
  
  1996
  
  1998
  
  1st sp
  
  2000
  
  2001
  
  9th sp
  
  2002
  
  2004
  
  2006
  
  2008
  
  2010
  
  12th sp
  
  2012
  
  2014
  
  2016
  
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  2018
  
  7th sp
  
  15th sp
  
  18th sp
  
  2019
  
  12th sp
  
  2020
  
  2022
  
  2024 :
  
  State government
  
  Governor
  
  1790
  
  1793
  
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  1799
  
  1802
  
  1805
  
  1808
  
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  1841
  
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  1848
  
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  1872
  
  1875
  
  1878
  
  1882
  
  1886
  
  1890
  
  1894
  
  1898
  
  1902
  
  1906
  
  1910
  
  1914
  
  1918
  
  1922
  
  1926
  
  1930
  
  1934
  
  1938
  
  1942
  
  1946
  
  1950
  
  1954
  
  1958
  
  1962
  
  1966
  
  1970
  
  1974
  
  1978
  
  1982
  
  1986
  
  1990
  
  1994
  
  1998
  
  2002
  
  2006
  
  2010
  
  2014
  
  2018
  
  2022
  
  2026
  
  Lieutenant Governor
  
  1874
  
  1878
  
  1882
  
  1886
  
  1890
  
  1894
  
  1898
  
  1902
  
  1906
  
  1910
  
  1914
  
  1918
  
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  1926
  
  1930
  
  1934
  
  1938
  
  1942
  
  1946
  
  1950
  
  1954
  
  1958
  
  1962
  
  1966
  
  1970
  
  1974
  
  1978
  
  1982
  
  1986
  
  1990
  
  1994
  
  1998
  
  2002
  
  2006
  
  2010
  
  2014
  
  2018
  
  2022
  
  Attorney General
  
  1980
  
  1984
  
  1988
  
  1992
  
  1996
  
  2000
  
  2004
  
  2008
  
  2012
  
  2016
  
  2020
  
  2024
  
  Auditor General
  
  2000
  
  2004
  
  2008
  
  2012
  
  2016
  
  2020
  
  2024
  
  State Treasurer
  
  2000
  
  2004
  
  2008
  
  2012
  
  2016
  
  2020
  
  2024
  
  State Senate
  
  2000
  
  2002
  
  2004
  
  2006
  
  2008
  
  2010
  
  2012
  
  2014
  
  2016
  
  2018
  
  2020
  
  2022
  
  2024
  
  State House of Representatives
  
  2000
  
  2002
  
  2004
  
  2006
  
  2008
  
  2010
  
  2012
  
  2014
  
  2016
  
  2018
  
  2020
  
  2022
  
  2024 :
  
  Elections by year
  
  State elections
  
  2000
  
  2001
  
  2002
  
  2003
  
  2004
  
  2005
  
  2006
  
  2007
  
  2008
  
  2009
  
  2010
  
  2011
  
  2012
  
  2014
  
  2015
  
  2016
  
  2017
  
  2018
  
  2019
  
  2020
  
  2021
  
  2022
  
  2023
  
  2024 :
  
  Philadelphia
  
  Mayoral elections
  
  1839
  
  1840
  
  1841
  
  1842
  
  1843
  
  1844
  
  1845
  
  1846
  
  1847
  
  1848
  
  1849
  
  1850
  
  1851
  
  1852
  
  1853
  
  1854
  
  1856
  
  1858
  
  1860
  
  1862
  
  1865
  
  1868
  
  1871
  
  1874
  
  1877
  
  1881
  
  1884
  
  1887
  
  1891
  
  1895
  
  1899
  
  1903
  
  1907
  
  1911
  
  1915
  
  1919
  
  1923
  
  1927
  
  1931
  
  1935
  
  1939
  
  1943
  
  1947
  
  1951
  
  1955
  
  1959
  
  1963
  
  1967
  
  1971
  
  1975
  
  1979
  
  1983
  
  1987
  
  1991
  
  1995
  
  1999
  
  2003
  
  2007
  
  2011
  
  2015
  
  2019
  
  2023
  
  City Council elections
  
  2015
  
  2019
  
  2022–23 sp.
  
  2023
  
  Other municipal elections
  
  1951
  
  1953
  
  1955
  
  1957
  
  1959
  
  1961
  
  2023 :
  
  Pittsburgh
  
  Mayors
  
  1909
  
  1913
  
  1917
  
  1921
  
  1925
  
  1929
  
  1933
  
  1937
  
  1941
  
  1945
  
  1949
  
  1953
  
  1957
  
  1959
  
  1961
  
  1965
  
  1969
  
  1973
  
  1977
  
  1981
  
  1985
  
  1989
  
  1993
  
  1997
  
  2001
  
  2005
  
  2007
  
  2009
  
  2013
  
  2017
  
  2021 :
  
  Allentown
  
  Mayors
  
  1993
  
  1997
  
  2001
  
  2005
  
  2009
  
  2013
  
  2017
  
  2019 sp
  
  2021 :
  
  Lancaster
  
  Mayors
  
  2009
  
  2017
  
  2021 :
  
  Harrisburg
  
  Mayors
  
  1969
  
  1973
  
  1977
  
  1981
  
  1985
  
  1989
  
  1993
  
  1997
  
  2001
  
  2005
  
  2009
  
  2013
  
  2017
  
  2021 :
  
  Government :
  
  vte :
  
  Elections in Pennsylvania elect the five state-level offices, the Pennsylvania General Assembly, including the senate and house of representatives, as well as the state's congressional delegation for the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. Presidential elections are held every four years in Pennsylvania. The state is one of the most competitive nationally, with narrow victories that alternate between the parties across all major offices. On the presidential level, the state has been considered a swing state throughout its entire history as it only voted for the nationwide loser on only 10 occasions (1824, 1884, 1892, 1912, 1916, 1932, 1948, 1968, 2000, and 2004). Meaning it has voted for the national winner 83% of the time, as of 2020.
  
  In a 2020 study, Pennsylvania was ranked by the Election Law Journal as the 19th hardest state for citizens to vote in.
  
  ## House of Representatives
  
  Pennsylvania's congressional delegation is composed of nine Democrats and eight Republicans, since the 2022 elections.
  
  The five most recent House elections:
  
  * 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania
  * 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania
  * 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania
  * 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania
  * 2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania
  
  ## Presidential elections
  
  Below is a table of the last eleven presidential elections in Pennsylvania, as well as national electoral college results. On the presidential level, the state has been considered a swing state throughout its entire history as it only voted for the nationwide loser on only 10 occasions (1824, 1884, 1892, 1912, 1916, 1932, 1948, 1968, 2000, and 2004). Meaning it has voted for the national winner 83% of the time, as of 2020. However, since the 1992 election, the state has leaned Democratic, voting that way in seven of the eight elections since then, although mostly by margins under 10 points.
  
  | Vote in Pennsylvania | Vote in Pennsylvania | National vote | National vote |
  | - | - | - | - |
  | Year | Candidate | Year | Candidate |
  | 1980 | Ronald Reagan | 1980 | Ronald Reagan |
  | 1984 | Ronald Reagan | 1984 | Ronald Reagan |
  | 1988 | George H. W. Bush | 1988 | George H. W. Bush |
  | 1992 | Bill Clinton | 1992 | Bill Clinton |
  | 1996 | Bill Clinton | 1996 | Bill Clinton |
  | 2000 | Al Gore | 2000 | George W. Bush |
  | 2004 | John Kerry | 2004 | George W. Bush |
  | 2008 | Barack Obama | 2008 | Barack Obama |
  | 2012 | Barack Obama | 2012 | Barack Obama |
  | 2016 | Donald Trump | 2016 | Donald Trump |
  | 2020 | Joe Biden | 2020 | Joe Biden |
  
  ## United States Senate elections
  
  ### Class I Senate elections
  
  The five most recent elections:
  
  * 2018 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania
  * 2012 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania
  * 2006 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania
  * 2000 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania
  * 1994 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania
  
  ### Class III Senate elections
  
  The five most recent elections:
  
  * 2022 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania
  * 2016 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania
  * 2010 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania
  * 2004 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania
  * 1998 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania
  
  Senator Bob Casey Jr. (serving since 2007) is the first Democrat to be popularly elected as a senator by Pennsylvania voters to more than two terms. Democratic senator John Fetterman entered office in January 2023, succeeding Republican Pat Toomey who retired after two terms.
  
  ## Gubernatorial elections
  
  Gubernatorial election results :
  
  | Year | Democratic | Republican |
  | - | - | - |
  | 1950 | 48.3% 1,710,355 | 50.7% 1,796,119 |
  | 1954 | 53.7% 1,996,266 | 46.2% 1,717,070 |
  | 1958 | 50.8% 2,024,852 | 48.9% 1,948,769 |
  | 1962 | 44.3% 1,938,627 | 55.3% 2,424,918 |
  | 1966 | 46.1% 1,868,719 | 52.1% 2,110,349 |
  | 1970 | 55.2% 2,043,029 | 41.7% 1,542,854 |
  | 1974 | 53.7% 1,878,252 | 45.1% 1,578,917 |
  | 1978 | 46.4% 1,737,888 | 52.5% 1,996,042 |
  | 1982 | 48.1% 1,772,353 | 50.8% 1,872,784 |
  | 1986 | 50.4% 1,717,484 | 48.4% 1,638,268 |
  | 1990 | 67.7% 2,065,244 | 32.4% 987,516 |
  | 1994 | 39.9% 1,430,099 | 45.4% 1,627,976 |
  | 1998 | 31.0% 938,745 | 57.4% 1,736,844 |
  | 2002 | 53.4% 1,913,235 | 44.4% 1,589,408 |
  | 2006 | 60.3% 2,470,517 | 39.6% 1,622,135 |
  | 2010 | 45.5% 1,814,788 | 54.5% 2,172,763 |
  | 2014 | 54.9% 1,920,355 | 45.1% 1,575,511 |
  | 2018 | 57.8% 2,850,210 | 40.7% 2,015,266 |
  | 2022 | 56.5% 3,031,137 | 41.7% 2,238,477 |
  
  The ten most recent elections:
  
  * 2022 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election
  * 2018 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election
  * 2014 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election
  * 2010 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election
  * 2006 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election
  * 2002 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election
  * 1998 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election
  * 1994 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election
  * 1990 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election
  * 1986 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election
  
  Democrats and Republicans have alternated in the governorship of Pennsylvania every eight years from 1950 to 2010. This has been referred to as "the cycle", but it was broken with a Democratic Party win in 2014. Pennsylvania has also voted against the party of the sitting president in 19 of the last 21 gubernatorial contests dating back to 1938; Democrats lost 16 of the previous 18 Pennsylvania gubernatorial races with a Democratic president in the White House, a pattern begun in 1860.
  
  ## Pennsylvania General Assembly elections
  
  The Pennsylvania General Assembly is a bicameral legislature, consisting of the Pennsylvania State Senate (the upper house) and the Pennsylvania House of Representatives (lower house). Members of the state house serve for 2 year terms, while the term for the state senate is 4 years. There are no limits on the amount of terms that members of the state legislature can serve. Republicans controlled the state House for all but four years from 1995 until 2023, and they have controlled the state Senate uninterrupted since 1993.
  
  ### Senate
  
  The five most recent elections:
  
  * 2022 Pennsylvania Senate election
  * 2020 Pennsylvania Senate election
  * 2018 Pennsylvania Senate election
  * 2016 Pennsylvania Senate election
  * 2014 Pennsylvania Senate election
  
  ### House of Representatives
  
  The five most recent elections:
  
  * 2022 Pennsylvania House of Representatives election
  * 2020 Pennsylvania House of Representatives election
  * 2018 Pennsylvania House of Representatives election
  * 2016 Pennsylvania House of Representatives election
  * 2014 Pennsylvania House of Representatives election
  