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1 L i s t o f r e c e n t e l e c t i o n s
T o g g l e L i s t o f r e c e n t e l e c t i o n s s u b s e c t i o n
1 . 1 C l a s s 1
1 . 2 C l a s s 3
1 . 3 N o t e s
2 G r a p h s o f r e s u l t s
T o g g l e G r a p h s o f r e s u l t s s u b s e c t i o n
2 . 1 C l a s s 1 r e s u l t s f r o m 1 9 1 6 t o 2 0 1 8
2 . 2 C l a s s 3 r e s u l t s f r o m 1 9 1 4 t o 2 0 2 2
3 S e e a l s o
4 R e f e r e n c e s
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T o g g l e t h e t a b l e o f c o n t e n t s
L i s t o f U n i t e d S t a t e s S e n a t e e l e c t i o n s i n P e n n s y l v a n i a
A d d l a n g u a g e s
A d d l i n k s
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E n g l i s h
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T o o l s
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A c t i o n s
● R e a d ● E d i t ● V i e w h i s t o r y
G e n e r a l
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P r i n t / e x p o r t
● D o w n l o a d a s P D F ● P r i n t a b l e v e r s i o n
A p p e a r a n c e
F r o m W i k i p e d i a , t h e f r e e e n c y c l o p e d i a
United States Senate elections in Pennsylvania occur when voters in the U.S. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania select an individual to represent the state in the United States Senate in either of the state's two seats allotted by the U.S. Constitution . Regularly scheduled general elections occur on Election Day , coinciding with various other federal, statewide, and local races.
Per the original text of the U.S. Constitution, each state was allotted two U.S. senators selected by the state legislature for staggered six-year terms. After the election of the founding members of the U.S. Senate in 1788 , the Senate was divided into three groups, or "classes" (Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3) to stagger the six-year terms of its members. Per Article I, Section 3, Clause 2 of the Constitution, the founding members of Class 1 would serve two years, Class 2 four years, and Class 3 six years. All senators elected thereafter would serve full six-year terms such that one-third of the Senate would be up for re-election every two years.[1] [2] [3] 17th Amendment to the Constitution in 1913, U.S. senators are elected directly to six-year terms by the voters of each state at the general election held on Election Day. Special elections may be held to fill mid-term vacancies by electing an individual to serve the remainder of the unexpired term.[4]
The list below contains election returns from all nineteen Class 1 and twenty-one Class 3 post-17th Amendment U.S. Senate elections in Pennsylvania, including special elections, sorted by year and beginning with the first in 1914 and the most recent in 2022. Incumbent senators are listed as well as elected senators and runner(s )-up in each election, including major third-party candidates (garnering 5% or more of the popular vote). Parties are color-coded to the left of a Senator's or candidate's name according to the key below. The popular vote and percentage margins listed in the "Margin" column are the differences between the total votes received and percentage of the popular vote received by the top two finishers in the corresponding election (i.e. the margin-of-victory of an elected Senator over the nearest competitor).
List of recent elections [ edit ]
Parties[note 1]
Independent Democratic Republican Prohibition Progressive Party (1924) Progressive Party (1912)
Class 1 [ edit ]
2012 election, between Bob Casey, Jr. (blue) and Tom Smith (red)
2018 election, between Bob Casey, Jr. (blue) and Lou Barletta (red)
Election*
Incumbent Senator
Elected Senator
Votes
Runner(s )-up
Votes
Margin
Notes
1916
George T. Oliver
Philander C. Knox
680,451 (56.36%)
Ellis L. Orvis
450,106 (37.28%)
230,345 (19.08%)
[5]
1922 *
David A. Reed
David A. Reed
860,483 (86.15%)
Others 138,377 (13.85%)
—
[6] [note 2]
David A. Reed
David A. Reed
802,146 (56.04%)
Samuel E. Shull
423,583 (29.59%)
378,563 (26.45%)
William J. Burke
127,180 (8.88%)
1928
David A. Reed
David A. Reed
1,948,646 (64.38%)
William N. McNair
1,029,055 (34.00%)
919,591 (30.38%)
[7]
1934
David A. Reed
Joseph F. Guffey
1,494,001 (50.78%)
David A. Reed
1,366,877 (46.46%)
127,124 (4.32%)
[8]
1940
Joseph F. Guffey
Joseph F. Guffey
2,069,980 (51.79%)
Jay Cooke
1,893,104 (47.36%)
176,876 (4.43%)
[9]
1946
Joseph F. Guffey
Edward Martin
1,853,458 (59.26%)
Joseph F. Guffey
1,245,338 (39.81%)
608,120 (19.45%)
[10]
1952
Edward Martin
Edward Martin
2,331,034 (51.57%)
Guy K. Bard
2,168,546 (47.98%)
162,488 (3.59%)
[11]
1958
Edward Martin
Hugh Scott
2,042,586 (51.21%)
George M. Leader
1,929,821 (48.38%)
112,765 (2.83%)
[12]
1964
Hugh Scott
Hugh Scott
2,429,858 (50.64%)
Genevieve Blatt
2,353,223 (49.05%)
76,635 (1.59%)
[13]
1970
Hugh Scott
Hugh Scott
1,874,106 (51.43%)
William Sesler
1,653,774 (45.38%)
220,332 (6.05%)
[14]
1976
Hugh Scott
John Heinz
2,381,891 (52.39%)
William Green
2,126,977 (46.78%)
254,914 (5.61%)
[15]
1982
John Heinz
John Heinz
2,136,418 (59.28%)
Cyril Wecht
1,412,965 (39.20%)
723,453 (20.08%)
[16]
1988
John Heinz
John Heinz
2,901,715 (66.45%)
Joe Vignola
1,416,764 (32.45%)
1,484,951 (34.00%)
[17]
1991 *
Harris Wofford
Harris Wofford
1,860,760 (55.01%)
Dick Thornburgh
1,521,986 (44.99%)
338,774 (10.02%)
[18] [note 3]
1994
Harris Wofford
Rick Santorum
1,735,691 (49.40%)
Harris Wofford
1,648,481 (46.92%)
87,210 (2.48%)
[19]
2000
Rick Santorum
Rick Santorum
2,481,962 (52.42%)
Ron Klink
2,154,908 (45.51%)
327,054 (6.91%)
[20]
2006
Rick Santorum
Bob Casey, Jr.
2,392,984 (58.68%)
Rick Santorum
1,684,778 (41.32%)
708,206 (17.36%)
[21]
2012
Bob Casey, Jr.
Bob Casey, Jr.
3,021,364 (53.69%)
Tom Smith
2,509,132 (44.59%)
512,232 (9.10%)
[22]
2018
Bob Casey, Jr.
Bob Casey, Jr.
2,792,437 (55.74%)
Lou Barletta
2,134,848 (42.62%)
657,589 (13.12%)
[23]
Note: Asterisk (*) next to year denotes a special election.
Class 3 [ edit ]
2016 election, between Pat Toomey (red) and Katie McGinty (blue)
2022 election, between John Fetterman (blue) and Mehmet Oz (red)
Election*
Incumbent Senator
Elected Senator
Votes
Runner(s )-up
Votes
Margin
Notes
1914
Boies Penrose
Boies Penrose
519,801 (46.75%)
Gifford Pinchot
269,235 (24.22%)
250,566 (22.53%)
[24]
A. Mitchell Palmer
266,415 (23.96%)
1920
Boies Penrose
Boies Penrose
1,069,785 (59.98%)
John A. Farrell
484,352 (24.22%)
585,433 (35.76%)
[25]
Leah C. Marion
132,610 (7.44%)
1922 *
George W. Pepper
George W. Pepper
819,507 (57.60%)
Fred Kerr
468,330 (32.92%)
351,177 (24.68%)
[26] [note 4]
1926
George W. Pepper
William S. Vare
822,178 (54.64%)
William B. Wilson
648,680 (43.11%)
173,498 (11.53%)
[27]
1930 *
Joseph R. Grundy
James J. Davis
1,462,186 (71.54%)
Sedgwick Kistler
523,338 (25.61%)
938,848 (45.93%)
[28] [note 5]
1932
James J. Davis
James J. Davis
1,368,707 (49.35%)
Lawrence H. Rupp
1,200,322 (43.28%)
168,385 (6.07%)
[29]
1938
James J. Davis
James J. Davis
2,086,932 (54.72%)
George H. Earle
1,694,464 (43.11%)
392,468 (11.61%)
[30]
1944
James J. Davis
Francis J. Myers
1,864,735 (49.99%)
James J. Davis
1,840,943 (49.35%)
23,792 (0.64%)
[31]
1950
Francis J. Myers
James H. Duff
1,820,400 (51.30%)
Francis J. Myers
1,694,076 (47.74%)
126,324 (3.56%)
[32]
1956
James H. Duff
Joseph S. Clark, Jr.
2,268,641 (50.08%)
James H. Duff
2,250,671 (49.69%)
17,970 (0.39%)
[33]
1962
Joseph S. Clark, Jr.
Joseph S. Clark, Jr.
2,238,383 (51.06%)
James E. Van Zandt
2,134,649 (48.70%)
103,734 (2.36%)
[34]
1968
Joseph S. Clark, Jr.
Richard Schweiker
2,399,762 (51.90%)
Joseph S. Clark, Jr.
2,117,662 (45.80%)
282,100 (6.10%)
[35]
1974
Richard Schweiker
Richard Schweiker
1,843,317 (53.00%)
Peter F. Flaherty
1,596,121 (45.89%)
247,196 (7.11%)
[36]
1980
Richard Schweiker
Arlen Specter
2,230,404 (50.48%)
Peter F. Flaherty
2,122,391 (48.04%)
108,013 (2.44%)
[37]
1986
Arlen Specter
Arlen Specter
1,906,537 (56.44%)
Robert W. Edgar
1,448,219 (42.87%)
458,318 (13.57%)
[38]
1992
Arlen Specter
Arlen Specter
2,358,125 (49.10%)
Lynn Yeakel
2,224,966 (46.33%)
133,159 (2.77%)
[39]
1998
Arlen Specter
Arlen Specter
1,814,180 (61.34%)
William R. Lloyd, Jr.
1,028,839 (34.79%)
785,341 (26.55%)
[40]
2004
Arlen Specter
Arlen Specter
2,925,080 (52.62%)
Joe Hoeffel
2,334,126 (41.99%)
590,954 (10.63%)
[41]
2010
Arlen Specter
Pat Toomey
2,028,945 (51.01%)
Joe Sestak
1,948,716 (48.99%)
80,229 (2.02%)
[42] [note 6]
2016
Pat Toomey
Pat Toomey
2,951,702 (48.77%)
Kathleen McGinty
2,865,012 (47.34%)
86,690 (1.43%)
[43]
2022
Pat Toomey
John Fetterman
2,751,012 (51.03%)
Mehmet Oz
2,487,260 (46.03%)
208,334 (4.04%)
[44]
Note: Asterisk (*) next to year denotes a special election.
^ As listed on the ballot and in election returns.
^ In 1922, a special election and a regularly scheduled general election were held simultaneously for the Class 1 seat. David Reed had been appointed in August 1922 to fill the vacancy created by the death of William E. Crow (who had been appointed to fill a vacancy created by the death of Philander C. Knox ) until the election of a successor. Reed was subsequently elected both to complete the term ending on March 4, 1923 (upper row), and to a full six-year term beginning on March 4, 1923 (lower row).
^ John Heinz died in a mid-air collision between two aircraft, one of which he was aboard, in April 1991. Democrat Harris Wofford was appointed by Governor Robert P. Casey in May 1991 to fill the vacancy. He was subsequently elected to serve the remainder of Heinz's term in the special election of November 1991.
^ In 1922, in addition to a special/general election for the Class 1 seat, a special election for the Class 3 seat was held. George W. Pepper was appointed by Governor William Sproul to fill the vacancy following the death of Boies Penrose in December 1921. Pepper was subsequently elected in 1922 to serve the remainder of Penrose's term.
^ Although William S. Vare won the 1926 election, his victory was controversial and overshadowed by scandal. As a result, Governor Gifford Pinchot refused to certify the results and Vare (having never been sworn-in) was formally unseated by the U.S. Senate in December 1929. Joseph R. Grundy was appointed later that month by Governor John S. Fisher to fill the vacancy until the next election.
^ Specter changed party registration from Republican to Democratic in April 2009. He subsequently lost the primary election to Sestak.
Graphs of results [ edit ]
Class 1 results from 1916 to 2018 [ edit ]
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
1922 (special)
1922
1928
1934
1940
1946
1952
1958
1964
1970
1976
1982
1988
1991 (special)
1994
2000
2006
2012
2018
Republican
Major Third Party (>5%)
Other
Democratic
Class 3 results from 1914 to 2022 [ edit ]
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
1920
1922 (special)
1926
1930 (special)
1932
1938
1944
1950
1956
1962
1968
1974
1980
1986
1992
1998
2004
2010
2016
2022
Republican
Major Third Party (>5%)
Other
Democratic
See also [ edit ]
References [ edit ]
^ "U.S. Senate - Class I" . United States Senate. Retrieved May 5, 2013 .
^ "U.S. Senate - Class III" . United States Senate. Retrieved May 5, 2013 .
^ "Reference Home: Constitution of the United States" . United States Senate. Retrieved May 5, 2013 .
^ "Pennsylvania Senatorial Election Returns 1916" . Wilkes University. Retrieved May 4, 2013 .
^ "Pennsylvania Senatorial Election Returns 1922" . Wilkes University. Retrieved May 4, 2013 .
^ "Pennsylvania Senatorial Election Returns 1928" . Wilkes University. Retrieved May 4, 2013 .
^ "Pennsylvania Senatorial Election Returns 1934" . Wilkes University. Retrieved May 4, 2013 .
^ "Pennsylvania Senatorial Election Returns 1940" . Wilkes University. Retrieved May 4, 2013 .
^ "Pennsylvania Senatorial Election Returns 1946" . Wilkes University. Retrieved May 4, 2013 .
^ "Pennsylvania Senatorial Election Returns 1952" . Wilkes University. Retrieved May 4, 2013 .
^ "Pennsylvania Senatorial Election Returns 1958" . Wilkes University. Retrieved May 4, 2013 .
^ "Pennsylvania Senatorial Election Returns 1964" . Wilkes University. Retrieved May 4, 2013 .
^ "Pennsylvania Senatorial Election Returns 1970" . Wilkes University. Retrieved May 4, 2013 .
^ "Pennsylvania Senatorial Election Returns 1976" . Wilkes University. Retrieved May 4, 2013 .
^ "Pennsylvania Senatorial Election Returns 1982" . Wilkes University. Retrieved May 4, 2013 .
^ "Pennsylvania Senatorial Election Returns 1988" . Wilkes University. Retrieved May 4, 2013 .
^ "Pennsylvania Senatorial Election Returns 1991" . Wilkes University. Retrieved May 4, 2013 .
^ "Pennsylvania Senatorial Election Returns 1994" . Wilkes University. Retrieved May 4, 2013 .
^ "2000 General Election: United States Senator" . Pennsylvania Department of State. Retrieved May 4, 2013 .
^ "2006 General Election: United States Senator" . Pennsylvania Department of State. Retrieved May 4, 2013 .
^ "2012 General Election: United States Senator" . Pennsylvania Department of State. Retrieved May 4, 2013 .
^ "2018 General Election: United States Senator" . Pennsylvania Department of State. Retrieved November 7, 2018 .
^ "Pennsylvania Senatorial Election Returns 1914" . Wilkes University. Retrieved May 5, 2013 .
^ "Pennsylvania Senatorial Election Returns 1920" . Wilkes University. Retrieved May 5, 2013 .
^ "Pennsylvania Senatorial Election Returns 1922" . Wilkes University. Retrieved May 5, 2013 .
^ "Pennsylvania Senatorial Election Returns 1926" . Wilkes University. Retrieved May 5, 2013 .
^ "Pennsylvania Senatorial Election Returns 1930" . Wilkes University. Retrieved May 5, 2013 .
^ "Pennsylvania Senatorial Election Returns 1932" . Wilkes University. Retrieved May 5, 2013 .
^ "Pennsylvania Senatorial Election Returns 1938" . Wilkes University. Retrieved May 5, 2013 .
^ "Pennsylvania Senatorial Election Returns 1944" . Wilkes University. Retrieved May 5, 2013 .
^ "Pennsylvania Senatorial Election Returns 1950" . Wilkes University. Retrieved May 5, 2013 .
^ "Pennsylvania Senatorial Election Returns 1956" . Wilkes University. Retrieved May 5, 2013 .
^ "Pennsylvania Senatorial Election Returns 1962" . Wilkes University. Retrieved May 5, 2013 .
^ "Pennsylvania Senatorial Election Returns 1968" . Wilkes University. Retrieved May 5, 2013 .
^ "Pennsylvania Senatorial Election Returns 1974" . Wilkes University. Retrieved May 5, 2013 .
^ "Pennsylvania Senatorial Election Returns 1980" . Wilkes University. Retrieved May 5, 2013 .
^ "Pennsylvania Senatorial Election Returns 1986" . Wilkes University. Retrieved May 5, 2013 .
^ "Pennsylvania Senatorial Election Returns 1992" . Wilkes University. Retrieved May 5, 2013 .
^ "Pennsylvania Senatorial Election Returns 1998" . Wilkes University. Retrieved May 5, 2013 .
^ "2004 General Election: United States Senator" . Pennsylvania Department of State. Retrieved May 4, 2013 .
^ "2010 General Election: United States Senator" . Pennsylvania Department of State. Retrieved May 4, 2013 .
^ "2016 General Election: United States Senator" . Pennsylvania Department of State. Archived from the original on December 21, 2016. Retrieved December 21, 2016 .
^ "2022 General Election: United States Senator" . Pennsylvania Department of State. Retrieved November 9, 2022 .
External links [ edit ]
t
e
Class 1
Class 3
Notes
† Never officially seated
R e t r i e v e d f r o m " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_United_States_Senate_elections_in_Pennsylvania&oldid=1179366228 " C a t e g o r i e s : ● U n i t e d S t a t e s s e n a t o r s f r o m P e n n s y l v a n i a ● P e n n s y l v a n i a p o l i t i c s - r e l a t e d l i s t s ● U n i t e d S t a t e s S e n a t e e l e c t i o n s i n P e n n s y l v a n i a ● L i s t s o f U n i t e d S t a t e s S e n a t e e l e c t i o n s b y s t a t e H i d d e n c a t e g o r i e s : ● A r t i c l e s w i t h s h o r t d e s c r i p t i o n ● S h o r t d e s c r i p t i o n i s d i f f e r e n t f r o m W i k i d a t a ● U s e m d y d a t e s f r o m F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 8
● T h i s p a g e w a s l a s t e d i t e d o n 9 O c t o b e r 2 0 2 3 , a t 1 7 : 2 4 ( U T C ) . ● T e x t i s a v a i l a b l e u n d e r t h e C r e a t i v e C o m m o n s A t t r i b u t i o n - S h a r e A l i k e L i c e n s e 4 . 0 ;
a d d i t i o n a l t e r m s m a y a p p l y . B y u s i n g t h i s s i t e , y o u a g r e e t o t h e T e r m s o f U s e a n d P r i v a c y P o l i c y . W i k i p e d i a ® i s a r e g i s t e r e d t r a d e m a r k o f t h e W i k i m e d i a F o u n d a t i o n , I n c . , a n o n - p r o f i t o r g a n i z a t i o n . ● P r i v a c y p o l i c y ● A b o u t W i k i p e d i a ● D i s c l a i m e r s ● C o n t a c t W i k i p e d i a ● C o d e o f C o n d u c t ● D e v e l o p e r s ● S t a t i s t i c s ● C o o k i e s t a t e m e n t ● M o b i l e v i e w
