Pennsylvania Perspective for Thursday, November 5, 2026

Pennsylvania

2026 General Election Recap

On Tuesday, November 3, 2026, Pennsylvania held its general elections with races including the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, all 17 U.S. Congressional seats, all 203 state House seats, and 25 of the 50 (even numbered districts) state Senate seats. Before Tuesday’s election, the state Senate was held by Republicans at a 27-23 majority, while the Governor’s office and state House were held by Democrats at a slim 103-100 majority. After a historic election night, Democrats were able to gain a Democratic trifecta in the Pennsylvania General Assembly for the first time since 1993 and won a majority in the U.S. House and Senate. Democrats are expected to have an expanded 113-90 in the state House and a 26-24 majority in the state Senate. Governor Shapiro was also re-elected Governor by a comfortable margin. All four U.S. House races in Pennsylvania that were considered competitive in the 1st, 7th, 8th, and 10th congressional districts went to Democrats. President Donald Trump has stated that he would accept the election results. Looking ahead to next year, members of Congress will be sworn in on Sunday, January 3, 2027, and Pennsylvania state legislators will assume office on the first day of December 2026. Click here for the full 2026 general election recap.

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PA Democratic Trifecta to Outline 100-Day Policy Agenda

After securing a historic political trifecta by expanding their majority in the state House and narrowly flipping the state Senate, Pennsylvania Democrats, led by Governor Josh Shapiro, have pledged to rapidly advance a sweeping policy agenda during their first 100 days of governing. Outlining priorities at dual news conferences in Harrisburg, Governor Shapiro and Democratic legislative leaders committed to immediately pursuing legislation to increase the state’s minimum wage, which has remained at the federal $7.25 level since 2006, while also promising action to fund mass transit, expand housing, codify reproductive rights, and establish a two-year window for childhood sexual abuse survivors to sue. Although House Speaker Joanna McClinton (D-191) and Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa (D-43) frame the election results as a mandate for change, Republican House Minority Leader Jesse Topper (R-78) argued the outcome simply reflects national dissatisfaction rather than support for a far-left wishlist. Democratic leaders acknowledge they will need to carefully navigate ideological divides between progressives and moderates within their own ranks to maintain unity and successfully deliver on their legislative promises with bare majorities in both chambers.

Philadelphia

Voters Approve Charter Amendments on Arts and Small Businesses

Philadelphia voters passed two ballot measures that will amend the city’s Home Rule Charter to prioritize local commerce and the arts. The first initiative revises city procurement procedures, allowing officials to prioritize small and local businesses for contracts between $75,000 and $500,000 rather than focusing on race or gender, a shift prompted by a recent federal court settlement over previous contracting rules. The second measure permanently establishes Creative Philadelphia as a centralized office led by the Chief Cultural Officer to manage and promote the local creative economy. The passage of both initiatives aligns with a long-standing trend of Philadelphia voters overwhelmingly approving city charter amendments over the past two decades.

Pittsburgh

Voters Reject Expanded Powers for Allegheny County Council

Allegheny County voters overwhelmingly rejected a ballot measure that would have allowed the County Council to expand its administrative capabilities and budget, with nearly 68 percent opposing the initiative. The defeated measure sought to overturn a charter provision that currently prohibits the part-time council members from receiving pensions and benefits, hiring individual support staff, and opening district offices. Supporters argued that additional resources would improve constituent services and establish a stronger legislative check on the county executive. Conversely, opponents cautioned that the measure would needlessly expand bureaucracy and increase the financial burden on taxpayers at a time when the county is already navigating rising costs, a looming property reassessment, and a massive pension shortfall.

Federal

Democratic Senate Majority Neutralizes Senator Fetterman’s Leverage

With Democrats securing at least 54 seats in the U.S. Senate following the midterm elections, political strategists and observers say Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) has lost significant leverage, as the party no longer needs to accommodate his Republican-friendly votes or fear a potential party switch to maintain control of the chamber. The decisive majority effectively checkmates Senator Fetterman, whose future political prospects in Pennsylvania appear bleak amid increasing unpopularity within his own party and sharp criticism from fellow Democrats, leading some to predict he will be a one-term senator. As attention turns to his 2028 seat, U.S. Representative Brendan Boyle (D-PA-2), a frequent Senator Fetterman critic, announced he will not mount a primary challenge, opting instead to focus on his anticipated role as chairman of the powerful House Budget Committee, while U.S. Representative Chris Deluzio (D-PA-17) continues to openly consider a run for the Senate seat.

Governor Shapiro, Speculation About 2028 Presidential Run

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s commanding 22-point reelection victory, which propelled Democrats to their first state government trifecta since 1993 and flipped four congressional seats, is intensifying national conversations about his potential as a 2028 presidential contender. Driven by a desire to push back against the Trump administration’s policies, Governor Shapiro spent $10 million in campaign funds to support downballot candidates and campaigned as a pragmatic, effective manager capable of bridging partisan divides, successfully appealing to moderate, independent, and even conservative voters across the state. While supporters argue his ability to unite progressives and moderates makes him an ideal national figure to counter “Trumpism,” some political analysts and progressive voters caution that his strictly centrist approach and avoidance of culture-war issues may struggle to galvanize the Democratic Party’s increasingly left-leaning national base.

Cozen Corner

Blue Tsunami: What We Saw & What Comes Next

Democrats have taken control of the House and Senate and scored major victories in governors’ races, delivering a forceful rebuke to President Trump. Historic Senate wins in South Carolina and Texas, a breakthrough in Kansas after 94 years, and flips in Maine, Iowa, North Carolina, and Ohio redrew the political map. With races still to be called and the size of Democrats’ congressional majorities taking shape, what does this blue tsunami mean for the Trump administration’s agenda, congressional oversight, and the next two years of governing? Featuring Public Strategies’ Howard Schweitzer (DC), Mark Alderman (PA), and Rodney Whitlock (DC). Click here to listen.

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