Wikipedia

Pennsylvania Democratic Party

ThePennsylvania Democratic Partyis the affiliate of theDemocratic Partyin theU.S. stateofPennsylvania.It is headquartered inHarrisburgand is the largest political party in the state. Its chair is Senator Sharif Street.

Pennsylvania Democratic Party
AbbreviationPADems
ChairmanSharif Street
GovernorJosh Shapiro
Lieutenant GovernorAustin Davis
Senate LeaderJay Costa
House SpeakerJoanna McClinton
House LeaderMatthew Bradford
Founded1792(1792)
Headquarters229 State St.
Harrisburg,PA17101
Student wingPennsylvaniaCollege Democrats
High School Democratsof Pennsylvania
Youth wingPennsylvania Young Democrats
Women's wingPennsylvania Federation of Democratic Women
Membership(May 2021)4,059,810[1]
IdeologyModern liberalism
Progressivism[2]
National affiliationDemocratic Party
ColorsBlue
U.S. Senate Seats
2 / 2
U.S. House Seats
9 / 17
Statewide Executive Offices
3 / 5
State Senate
22 / 50
State House
102 / 203
State Supreme Court
5 / 7
Election symbol
Website
www.padems

As of May 2024, it controls three out of five statewide offices, both U.S. Senate seats, 9 out of 17 U.S. House seats, and thePennsylvania House of Representatives.Along with thePennsylvania Republican Party,it is one of the two major parties in the state. GovernorJosh Shapirois a Pennsylvania Democrat.

Platform

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The state Democratic Party has recently made economic factors a major component of its platform, with advocacy for middle class workers of particular prominence. The party has also opposedRepublican-sponsored legislation to require a photo ID for voting, asserting that such a requirement would discourage minorities, youth, and those with low incomes from voting because they are less likely to possess a state-issued ID. Additionally, the party has committed itself to maintaining thesocial safety netand encouraging more transparency in state government.[3]

Key issues for the party include affordable healthcare, jobs and wages, support for workers and unions, fairer taxes, strong public education, retirement security, civil rights, environmental protection, marijuana legalization, and criminal justice reform.[4]

A priority for Pennsylvania Democrats in the 2010s and 2020s has been increasing theminimum wage.[5]

History

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Early history

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The Pennsylvania Democratic Party traces its history to 1792. Pennsylvania DemocratJames Buchananwas electedpresidentin1856but did not seek re-election four years later, whenAbraham Lincoln,a Republican, was elected president. Buchanan's rise and fall from political prominence coincided with that of the Democratic Party in Pennsylvania; for much of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, the party was largely out of power.[6][7]

Recent history

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The party held thegovernorshipfrom 2003 to 2011 with the election ofEd Rendellin2002and his re-election in2006.The party lost control of the governorship following the election of RepublicanTom Corbettin2010.The party picked up a U.S. Senate seat in2006with the election ofBob Casey Jr.Pennsylvania Democrats also briefly held both of the state's U.S. Senate seats followingArlen Specter'sparty-switch.However,Joe Sestakdefeated Specter in theMay 2010 Democratic primarybefore losing thefall general electionto RepublicanPat Toomey.On the state legislative level, the party won a majority in thePennsylvania House of Representativesin2006and in2008but lost its majority in the2010 election.[8]

RepublicangovernorTom Corbettwas defeated for re-election to a second term byDemocratTom Wolf.This marked the first time an incumbent governor lost re-election in Pennsylvania.[9]Wolf was re-elected in2018.[10]

Current officeholders

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The party controls three of five statewide executive offices, including the governorship, and is in the minority in thePennsylvania State Senate.Democrats hold both of the state's U.S. Senate seats, nine of the state's 17 U.S. House seats, and thePennsylvania House of Representatives.

Federal

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U.S. Senate

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U.S. House of Representatives

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District Member Photo
2nd Brendan Boyle
3rd Dwight Evans
4th Madeleine Dean
5th Mary Gay Scanlon
6th Chrissy Houlahan
7th Susan Wild
8th Matt Cartwright
12th Summer Lee
17th Chris Deluzio

State

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Executive

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Legislature

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Floor Leaders
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As of 19 November 2024:

Senate[11] Leadership Position House[12]
Jay Costa Floor Leader Matthew Bradford
Christine Tartaglione Whip Mike Schlossberg
Maria Collett Caucus Chairperson Robert Matzie
Steve Santarsiero Caucus Secretary Tina Davis
Vincent Hughes Appropriations Committee Chairman Jordan Harris
Judy Schwank Caucus Administrator Leanne Krueger
Nick Miller Policy Committee Chairman Ryan Bizzarro

Mayors

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Leadership

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See also

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Notes

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References

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  1. ^"Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Voter Registration Statistics".Pennsylvania Department of State.
  2. ^"Democrat John Fetterman wins Senate race in Pennsylvania".RetrievedDecember 6,2022.
  3. ^"On the Issues, Every #PASEN Democrat Will Beat Toomey in the General Election".April 5, 2016.
  4. ^"OUR KEYSTONE ISSUES".Pennsylvania Democratic Party.RetrievedJanuary 6,2021.
  5. ^Levy, Marc (November 20, 2019)."Senate sends fight over Pennsylvania's minimum wage to House".Associated Press.RetrievedJanuary 27,2021.
  6. ^"Pennsylvania | Infoplease".RetrievedDecember 14,2011.
  7. ^"Presidents".The White House.RetrievedDecember 14,2011.
  8. ^"Our History".PA Democratic Party.RetrievedFebruary 15,2015.
  9. ^"NBC News Projects: PA's Corbett Ousted by Democrat Tom Wolf".NBC News.November 4, 2014.RetrievedNovember 4,2014.
  10. ^Levy, Marc (November 7, 2018)."Democrat Tom Wolf wins 2nd term as Pennsylvania governor".Associated Press.RetrievedJanuary 27,2021.
  11. ^Ulrich, Steve (November 13, 2024)."PA Senate Democratic Caucus Elects Leadership Team".PoliticsPA.RetrievedNovember 19,2024.
  12. ^Ulrich, Steve (November 13, 2024)."PA House Democrats Announce Leadership Team".PoliticsPA.RetrievedNovember 19,2024.
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