Lost amidst the circus-like atmosphere surrounding the presidential race in Pennsylvania is the contest for majority control in the state Senate.
Republicans hold a 28-22 advantage in the upper chamber but Democrats feel that they could flip enough seats to take control for the first time since 1993.
Gov. Josh Shapiro has often told the story that he oversees the only divided state government in the country and a flip in the state Senate, combined with Democrats remaining in control of the state House, would change that narrative, giving the party the elusive “trifecta.”
Here are the races to keep an eye on Tuesday night.
SD-5. Jimmy Dillon* (D) vs. Joe Picozzi (R)
Dillon (D-Philadelphia) was elected in 2022 to complete the term of John Sabatino. He faces a challenge from the 29-year-old Picozzi in an area of Northeast Philly that tends to have a more conservative bend. Picozzi previously worked on Capitol Hill for former House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy.
SD-9. John Kane* (D) vs. Mike Woodin (R)
Kane (D-Chester/Delaware), former business manager of the Philadelphia Plumbers Union 690, is looking for reelection against Woodin, a member of the Avon Grove school board. Kane won a first term by four points in this D+3 district.
SD-15. Patty Kim (D) vs. Nick DiFrancesco (R)
Kim, who represents Dauphin County in the state House, and DiFrancesco, a former Dauphin County commissioner, meet in a contest for the seat vacated by John DiSanto (R-Dauphin) who chose not to run for reelection. The district’s boundary redraw in 2022 favors Democrats, especially since GOP-dominated Perry County is no longer included.
SD-19. Carolyn Comitta* (D) vs. Duane Milne (R)
Comitta (D-Chester) looks for reelection against Milne, a former state representative. Comitta won her seat by 14 points in 2020 but Democrats hold just a 5 percentage-point edge in voter registration.
SD-37. Devlin Robinson* (R) vs. Nicole Ruscitto (D)
Perhaps the swingiest of all swing seats in the chamber, as the district has flipped back and forth from Democrats to Republicans four times since 2012. Robinson (R-Allegheny) is the incumbent but faces a serious challenge from Ruscitto, an educator and former local township councilor. The district leans slightly more Republican, but has increasingly voted Democratic at the top of the ticket.
SD-45. Nick Pisciottano (D) vs. Jen Dintini (R)
This race in Allegheny County came down to just 69 votes in 2020 and now, incumbent Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny) is not running for reelection. Pisciottano, a state representative, and Dintini, a small business owner, are candidates that were recruited by their parties’ leadership and that sets the stage for a close contest again. The seat is more favorable to Democrats after redistricting eliminated parts of GOP-leaning Westmoreland County.
SD-49. Dan Laughlin* (R) vs. Jim Wertz (D)
Can Democrats finally flip this Erie-based seat? Laughlin is looking for his third term in Harrisburg but is facing a competitive challenge from Wertz, former Erie County Democratic Party chair. Laughlin has been a moderate in the GOP caucus, supporting an increase in the minimum wage and legalizing recreational marijuana. Wertz has been a vocal critic of the incumbent for years and has been sued by Laughlin for libel.