Democrat Brian Wrightson continues to maintain a lead over incumbent Republican Rosemary Brown in the 40th District state Senate race with the majority of precincts reporting across three counties, according to unofficial results Tuesday night.
In a race fueled by data centers, Wrightson, who lives in Northeast Pennsylvania’s data center hotspot of Archbald, led with 43,818 votes to Brown’s 37,885 as of 10:16 p.m., according to unofficial results tallied in Lackawanna, Monroe and Wayne counties.
State Sen. Rosemary Brown, R-40, Middle Smithfield Twp, discusses the development of data centers during an interview at the Jefferson Twp. Municipal Building on Monday, June 15, 2026. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO)
The 40th Senate District includes all of Monroe County and parts of Lackawanna and Wayne counties. In Lackawanna County, the district encompasses the Upvalley, Midvalley and North Pocono areas.
Wrightson jumped to an early lead through mail-in votes, which have historically skewed Democratic. Brown narrowed the gap with Election Day ballots.
In Lackawanna County, all 163 precincts have reported their complete results; 47 of 55 precincts in Monroe County are reporting their results; and 23 out of 35 Wayne County precincts have reported their results.
Wrightson, 57, is a Jessup native who owns and operates Fire Tower Communications, managing communications infrastructure and broadband expansion across Lackawanna, Monroe and Wayne counties, according to his campaign website. He previously served as director of emergency services for the American Red Cross, where he oversaw disaster responses across 10 counties in Northeast Pennsylvania.
He challenges Brown, 55, of Middle Smithfield Twp., as she seeks her second term representing the 40th District in the state Senate after winning in 2022. She previously worked in executive management positions in retail and pharmaceutical sales before she was elected to the state House in 2010.
Throughout the 40th District race, data centers have been a major point of contention among voters, especially in Lackawanna County, where developers proposed nearly 100 data centers across more than a dozen campuses, in addition to at least six proposed natural gas power plants. Wrightson has called for “a complete stop on new large-scale data center development in NEPA.”
Brown unveiled a four-piece “Residents First” legislative package in February that would limit large-scale campuses to industrial areas while requiring more information on projects before a developer can apply in a municipality. She co-sponsored a bill from state Sen. Katie Muth, D-44, calling for a three-year moratorium on data centers. The bill remains pending.
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