LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. —
Republican state Rep. Tom Jones has won the race for Pennsylvania’s 36th Senate District, defeating Democratic state Sen. James Malone, according to the Associated Press.
Jones will serve a four-year term representing the Lancaster County-based district. He now represents the 98th Legislative District in the state House.
Jones is a lifelong Lancaster County resident and local business owner. He campaigned on what he calls a “taxpayer-first” approach to government. His campaign says he supported balanced state budgets that did not raise taxes and backed property, sales and income tax relief. He opposed new energy taxes and utility rate increases. He also turned down the taxpayer-funded pension that state lawmakers can receive.
In the Senate, Jones says he will support term limits, expand health care options to lower costs and direct education funding toward students. He has also opposed fast-paced data center development that could affect farmland and open space.
Jones and his wife, Rochelle, raised four children in Maytown.
Malone won the seat in a March 2025 special election. Before that, he was mayor of East Petersburg for eight years. Earlier, he worked as a roofer to help pay for college and built a career in information technology.
Malone campaigned on funding public schools, expanding mental health care and lowering the cost of housing, health care, utilities and groceries. He is the Democratic chair of the Senate Game and Fisheries Committee and supported opening more Sundays to hunting.
Pennsylvania State Senate District 36 covers central and western parts of Lancaster County.
Pennsylvania has 50 State Senate districts. State senators serve four-year terms. For the Senate body, terms are staggered so that half of the 50 seats are up for election every two years.
There are currently no term limits for state senators.
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