Pa. Senate Democrats, Republicans elect legislative leaders

Pennsylvania’s Senate Democrats and Republicans on Wednesday elected their respective leadership teams for the 2023-24 legislative session. 

The Senate Democratic Caucus welcomed a new member, Senator Nick Miller of Allentown. The new and returning members elected the following Caucus Leadership Team: 

• Leader – Jay Costa, Jr. (Allegheny County) 
• Caucus Whip – Tina Tartaglione (Philadelphia County) 
• Appropriations Committee Chair – Vincent Hughes (Montogomery/Philadelphia counties) 
• Appropriations Vice Chair – Tim Kearney (Chester/Delaware counties) 
• Caucus Chair – Wayne D. Fontana (Allegheny County) 

• Caucus Secretary – Maria Collett (Bucks/Montgomery counties) 
• Administrator – Judy Schwank (Berks County) 

Costa issued a statement thanking his fellow Pennsylvania Democratic senators for entrusting him with the responsibility of Leader of the caucus. “I am excited about the work before us, and I am honored to be leading the Democratic caucus as we continue to deliver for Pa.’s families.” 

Senate Republicans elected Kim Ward (Westmoreland County) to serve as interim Senate President Pro Tempore from Dec. 1 until Jan. 2. The Senate will vote on Jan. 3 for a President Pro Tempore to serve for the new two-year legislative session. Ward becomes the first woman to hold the position, the third-highest post in Pennsylvania government. She previously served as Senate Majority Leader. 

The Senate Republican team includes the following: 

• Senate Majority Leader – Joe Pittman (Armstrong/Butler/Indiana/Westmoreland counties) 
• Majority Whip – Ryan Aument (Lancaster County) 
• Senate Appropriations Committee – Scott Martin (Lancaster County) 
• Majority Caucus Chair – Kristin Phillips-Hill (York County) 
• Senate Majority Caucus Secretary – Camera Bartolotta (Beaver/Washington/Greene counties) 

Ward said in an statement that she looks forward to joining with all members of the Senate, Democrat and Republican, to “chart a path forward that requires us to selflessly work together advocating for all Pennsylvanians and their families by putting the principles and respect for this institution and our Commonwealth above all.” 

Stressing bipartisanship among members, she cited the work being done by Pennsylvania Senate Democrats and Republicans as “proof we can be diverse and unified at the same time.”