Incumbent state Sen. Marty Flynn delivered a brief victory speech Tuesday after a commanding and lopsided win in the Democratic primary for the 22nd state Senate District seat he’s held since 2021.
State Sen. Marty Flynn talks with a voter at Isaac Tripp Elementary School in Scranton on Election Day Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
In the district spans parts of Lackawanna and Luzerne counties, Flynn has 17,302 votes to challenger Jeffrey Lake’s 7,935. It was not immediately clear how many votes might be outstanding.
Flynn arrived at Benny’s of Downtown, the Scranton eatery and bar hosting his election night party, about 8:40 p.m. He was greeted by a packed house of enthusiastic supporters, addressing them shortly after 9:30 p.m.
“We ran a very positive campaign … focused on my record,” Flynn said. “It shows today that the voters support that and think I’m doing a good job.”
“I’m honored to represent the 22nd District, the people of Lackawanna and Luzerne County, and I’m proud you guys put your faith in me,” he continued. “I’m going to continue to work hard to represent you day-in and day-out, and to bring as many resources back as I possibly can.”
Jeff Lake, running to unseat state Sen. Marty Flynn as the Democratic nominee for the 22nd Senatorial District, arrives to vote at Clarks Summit United Methodist Church on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO)
The race may serve as something of a test, albeit an imperfect one, of the political potency of data center opposition in a district rife with it. Lake, a progressive first-time candidate and the clear underdog in the primary battle, made opposition to data centers a feature of his campaign.
The controversial subject that’s triggered a massive, bipartisan and arguably unprecedented opposition movement locally also drove the lone debate between the two candidates earlier this month. Lake accused Flynn of supporting “an invasion of data centers,” portrayed him as a friend to data center developers and used the issue as a cudgel in other contests.
Flynn, a seasoned and well-funded incumbent first elected to the state House in 2012 before winning a Senate special election five years ago, flatly rejected during the debate that he stands for data centers, emphasizing he’s “1,000%” against data centers in neighborhoods while stressing the importance of maintaining local control.
But Flynn was less enthusiastic about a potential moratorium on data center development than Lake, who called for a three-year moratorium and endorsed an ambitious bipartisan proposal for such a pause.
The fierceness of the anti-data center movement locally hasn’t translated to a competitive election night in the 22nd Senate Democratic Democratic primary.
Flynn will face presumptive Republican nominee Sharon Soltis Sparano in November. The La Plume Twp. resident was uncontested Tuesday for the 22nd Senate District GOP nomination.
State senators serve four-year terms.
Check back for updates.
State Sen. Marty Flynn greets his father Marty Sr. at Isaac Tripp Elementary School in Scranton on Election Day Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
State Sen. Marty Flynn talks with a voter outside of the polling place at Isaac Tripp Elementary School in Scranton on Election Day Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Jeff Lake, running to unseat state Sen. Marty Flynn as the Democratic nominee for the 22nd Senatorial District, leaves the Clarks Summit United Methodist Church on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO)
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State Sen. Marty Flynn greets his father Marty Sr. at Isaac Tripp Elementary School in Scranton on Election Day Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)