PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Democrats won control of the Pennsylvania Senate, giving them a blue trifecta in Harrisburg for the first time in more than three decades.
The Associated Press called two final races Wednesday morning for Democrats Mark Pinsley and Brian Wrightson, shifting the balance of power in the state Senate to Democrats, 26-24.
Gov. Josh Shapiro, who won a second term on Tuesday by handily defeating state Treasurer Stacy Garrity, declared victory for his party during his acceptance speech, even while the Senate was still knotted up at 24-24.
“Now, with a Democratic trifecta, we’ll be able to get even more stuff done — from raising the minimum wage and lowering costs, to giving survivors their day in court, to building more housing and codifying abortion rights,” Shapiro said in a statement.
Lehigh University political science professor John Borick said Shapiro’s 20-point win over Garrity strengthens his standing as governor and possibly sets him up for a presidential run in 2028.
“Both his electoral success and now the success of his party, flipping the state Senate for the first time in decades and allowing Democrats control of both the House, the Senate, and the governor’s office, happened on his watch,” he said.
In the 16th Senate District, which covers Bucks and Lehigh counties, Democrat Mark Pinsey declared victory over Republican incumbent Jarrett Coleman. In the Poconos’ 40th Senate District, Democrat Brian Wrightsen beat incumbent Republican Rosemary Brown.
Democrats were able to add to their majority in the state House and hold a 108-86 advantage, with a few races still up in the air Wednesday morning.
The last time Democrats had control of the governor’s office, the state Senate and the House was in 1993.
State Rep. Matt Bradford, a Montgomery County Democrat and state House Majority Leader, called the electoral domination “a national repudiation of the chaos, the cruelty and corruption coming out of Washington, D.C.,” and said the trifecta would allow them to pass what he calls common-sense issues that had been blocked by Republicans in the state Senate.
“I believe that whether it’s House Bill 1 or Senate Bill 1, the first order of business needs to be making sure that Pennsylvania has a minimum wage that’s commensurate with the needs of working people and provides the dignity that work should provide to any Pennsylvanian,” he said.
In addition to raising the minimum wage from $7.25 an hour, Bradford said other legislative priorities include paid family leave, allowing child sex abuse survivors their day in court and properly funding mass transit, including SEPTA.
He added state House Democrats have operated until this point with a 102-101 majority, requiring Democrats to work across the aisle.
“The 102 may be a little bit larger, and our mandate may be expanded,” said Bradford, “but the humility must remain. Without that humility, we will suffer the same fate in terms of policy and at the ballot box.”