As Northeast Pennsylvania voters prepare to cast ballots next month in key races for federal and state office, Democrats and Republicans maintain sometimes significant voter registration advantages in different congressional, state House and state Senate districts across the region.
While individual voters are free agents who can support candidates from any party, partisan registration advantages in a given district — the number of registered Democrats compared to Republicans or vice versa — provide a general picture of the political landscape there that can help explain electoral trends and why, in terms of competitiveness, certain seats are considered relatively safe for one party or the other.
Republicans, for example, maintain a massive voter registration advantage over Democrats of 157,263 in the GOP-heavy 9th Congressional District spanning all or parts of 12 counties, including all of Susquehanna, Wyoming and Schuylkill and part of Luzerne in the northeast. Major race forecasters see that seat as safe for incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser of Jackson Twp. as he faces a challenge from Schuylkill County Democrat Rachel Wallace of East Brunswick Twp.
Democrat Rachel Wallace is challenging incumbent Republican Dan Meuser in the race for Pennsylvania’s 9th Congressional District. (FILE)
But putting too much stock into registration advantages can be risky, especially in districts where the advantage for either party is relatively modest during an election cycle where proposed data center development, affordability concerns and other issues have galvanized voters of all political stripes and partisan affiliations. Independent, third-party or otherwise unaffiliated voters also often play a major role in local, state and federal elections.
Incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan of Dallas Twp. overcame a Democratic registration advantage in the 8th Congressional District two years ago to win his seat in Congress, and will likely have to do so again to keep it. He’s in a fierce reelection battle with Democratic Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti in the district that includes all of Lackawanna, Wayne and Pike and parts of Luzerne and Monroe counties, where registered Democrats outnumber their Republican counterparts by about 15,388.
At left, U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan walks out of the Dallas Township Municipal Office Road Department building after voting on Election Day in Dallas Twp. SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER. At right, Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti stops to talk inside Isaac Tripp Elementary School in Scranton on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO
That House race is expected to be among the nation’s most competitive, with forecasters still listing it as a toss-up with about a month of campaigning left before Election Day. Nearly 89,900 registered potential voters in the district aren’t affiliated with either the Republican or Democratic parties and could prove key to getting one candidate or the other over the finish line.
As Democrats work to regain and Republicans fight to maintain control of Congress in the midterms, this election cycle will also determine the balance of power in Harrisburg. Voter registration data updated each Monday by the Pennsylvania Department of State breaks down registration figures by state House and Senate district.
Here’s what the most recent district-level data shows in races for state office across the region:
State Senate
Republicans currently maintain a four-seat majority in the state Senate and have controlled the upper chamber for decades. But Democrats hoping to flip the Senate see an opportunity this cycle, when even-numbered Senate districts are on the ballot.
There are three such seats up for grabs in the northeast region, two held by Republican incumbents and one held by a Democrat.
In the 20th Senate District spanning parts of Luzerne and Wayne and all of Pike, Susquehanna and Wyoming counties, five-term GOP incumbent Sen. Lisa Baker of Lehman Twp. seeks a sixth against Democratic challenger Jackie Baker of Liberty Twp., whom she comfortably defeated in the 2022 general election. Republicans maintain a significant registration advantage in the district, outnumbering Democrats by 37,831 registered potential voters.
Lackawanna County Elections Director Beth Hopkins and Election Department Staff Erin Flynn collected ballots at the Lackawanna County Government Center in downtown Scranton on Friday, May 1, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Democrats maintain a similarly large advantage in the neighboring 22nd Senate District, where they outnumber registered Republicans by 31,399. Incumbent Democratic state Sen. Marty Flynn of Dunmore faces a challenge from Republican Sharon Soltis Sparano of La Plume Twp. in the district covering parts of Lackawanna and Luzerne counties.
The local state Senate district with the most parity between the two major parties is the 40th, where incumbent Republican Sen. Rosemary Brown of Middle Smithfield Twp. is battling for reelection against Democratic challenger Brian Wrightson of Archbald. The district that includes parts of Lackawanna and Wayne and all of Monroe counties is home to 74,746 registered Democrats and 72,316 registered Republicans, for a modest Democratic advantage of 2,430.
Tens of thousands of other registered potential voters who aren’t affiliated with either major party live in each of the three local Senate districts. Unaffiliated individuals account for almost 17% of total registrations in the 20th, nearly 15% in the 22nd and just over 19% in the 40th districts, the state data shows.
State House
Democrats seized majority control of the state House in 2022 after more than a decade in the minority, and held their narrow majority in the lower chamber in 2024. It currently stands at three seats, with all 203 seats statewide up for election Nov. 3.
Against that backdrop, here’s a look at the partisan registration advantages in House districts across the region:
107th: In the 107th state House District covering parts of Schuylkill and Northumberland counties, Republicans hold a registration advantage over Democrats of about 14,223. Incumbent GOP state Rep. JoAnne Stehr of Hegins Twp. seeks reelection there against Democratic challenger Ryan T. Coleman.
110th: Republicans outnumber Democrats by about 16,626 in the 110th state House District that includes parts of Bradford County and all of Wyoming County. It’s represented by longtime incumbent Republican state Rep. Tina Pickett of Wysox Twp., who faces a challenge this cycle from Democrat Pamela J. Hemann of Meshoppen Twp.
111th: The GOP also holds a significant registration advantage over Democrats of about 17,929 in the 111th state House District represented by incumbent Republican state Rep. Jonathan Fritz of Honesdale. He faces a challenge from Democrat Kyle Devlin of Susquehanna in the district that includes all of Susquehanna County and part of Wayne County.
112th: Democrats outnumber Republicans by about 9,265 in the 112th state House District spanning 13 Lackawanna County municipalities, almost all of them in the Midvalley or Upvalley regions. Incumbent Democratic state Rep. Kyle Mullins of Blakely seeks reelection there against Republican Joseph J. Sabia Jr. of Archbald. Tamara Misewicz-Healey, co-founder of the Stop Archbald Data Centers movement, had announced a write-in campaign for the seat but recently ended that bid, citing the need to focus on data centers.
Election Day 2026
113th: In the 113th state House District spanning parts of Scranton and several North Pocono-area municipalities in Lackawanna County, Democrats outnumber their GOP counterparts by about 7,494. Incumbent Democratic state Rep. Kyle Donahue of Scranton seeks reelection there against Republican challenger Lucas O’Brien of Moscow.
114th: The Democratic registration advantage over Republicans in the 114th state House District, represented by incumbent Democratic state Rep. Bridget Malloy Kosierowski of Waverly Twp., stands at about 6,789. Republican Logan Lombardo of Clarks Summit is challenging Kosierowski in the Lackawanna County district that includes all or part of 10 municipalities, including parts of Scranton and most of the Abingtons.
115th: In Monroe County’s 115th state House District, where incumbent Democratic state Rep. Maureen Madden of Coolbaugh Twp. faces a challenge from Republican Rich Szabo of Coolbaugh Twp., registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by about 4,751.
116th: Incumbent Republican state Rep. Dane Watro of Kline Twp. is uncontested for reelection in the 116th state House District that includes parts of Schuylkill and Luzerne counties, including Hazleton. Republicans account for almost 44% of the total registered potential voters there and outnumber Democrats by about 2,124.
117th: Republicans outnumber Democrats by about 14,084 in the 117th District, where incumbent Republican state Rep. Jamie Walsh of Ross Twp. seeks reelection against Democratic challenger Jeremy Benscoter of Hunlock Twp. The district covers nearly 30 Luzerne County municipalities.
118th: Incumbent Democratic state Rep. Jim Haddock of Pittston Twp. seeks reelection against Republican Luzerne County Councilman John Lombardo of Pittston in the 118th state House District spanning parts of Lackawanna and Luzerne counties. Democrats have a registration advantage over Republicans there of about 3,790.
119th: In the 119th state House District, where incumbent Republican state Rep. Alec Ryncavage of Hanover Twp. seeks reelection against Democratic challenger Lauren McCurdy of Wright Twp., Democrats maintain a modest registration advantage over Republicans of about 1,019. The district includes Nanticoke and a dozen other Luzerne County municipalities.
120th: Republicans outnumber Democrats by about 1,958 in Luzerne County’s 120th state House District represented by incumbent GOP state Rep. Brenda Pugh of Dallas Twp., who faces a challenge from Democrat Fern Leard, also of Dallas Twp., in a rematch of the 2024 race Pugh won. In addition to Dallas Twp., the district includes Exeter and Exeter Twp., Kingston and Kingston Twp., Wyoming, West Wyoming and other Luzerne County communities.
121st: In the 121st state House District in Luzerne County, Democrats hold a registration advantage over Republicans of about 7,029. Democratic Wilkes-Barre City Council Chairwoman Jessica McClay is running against Republican Bear Creek Village Mayor Mike Harostock to replace retiring longtime Democratic state Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski in the district that spans seven municipalities, including Wilkes-Barre.
123rd: Incumbent Republican state Rep. Tim Twardzik of Butler Twp. faces Democrat John Deatrich, the mayor of Palo Alto borough, in the 123rd state House District located entirely within Schuylkill County. Republicans outnumber Democrats by about 8,676 in the district spanning more than two dozen municipalities, including Pottsville.
124th: In the 124th state House District, which covers parts of Berks and Schuylkill counties, Republicans outnumber Democrats by about 13,644. Incumbent Republican state Rep. Jamie Barton of East Brunswick Twp. seeks reelection there against Democrat Tina Burns of Tamaqua.
139th: The GOP registration advantage over Democrats in the 139th state House District spanning parts of Pike and Wayne counties stands at about 14,962. Incumbent Republican state Rep. Jeff Olsommer of Sterling Twp. faces a challenge in the district from Democrat Dominique Azzollini of Dingman Twp.
176th: In the 176th state House District that includes parts of Monroe County, Republicans outnumber Democrats by about 5,091. Incumbent GOP state Rep. Jack Rader of Jackson Twp. seeks reelection there against Democrat Thomas Kucer of Hamilton Twp.
189th: Incumbent Democratic state Rep. Tarah Probst of Stroudsburg seeks reelection in the 189th state House District that includes parts of Pike and Monroe counties. Republican Danica Hartenfels of Smithfield Twp. is challenging Probst in the district, where Democrats outnumber Republicans by about 5,015.
The last day to register to vote in the upcoming election is Oct. 19.