The November 3 election gave Democrats control of both chambers of the Pennsylvania General Assembly for the first time since 1993. Democrats are on track to hold 114 of 203 seats in the House and 26 of 50 seats in the Senate. Each of the legislature’s four caucuses are in the process of electing their respective leaders for the 2027-28 legislative session, with the House Democrats, House Republicans, and Senate Democrats, all announcing leadership slates this week.
(For what the new trifecta could mean for policy, see Pennsylvania’s First Democratic Trifecta in 30 Years: What It Means for 2027.)
Members will be sworn in on Tuesday, January 5, 2027. Committee chairs have not been named yet. Click any leader below to see their district, time in the role and what the job involves.
Pennsylvania House leadership for 2027-28
Both House caucuses met on Tuesday, November 10. House Democrats kept their leadership team the same. Majority Leader Matt Bradford returns for his third session in the role. House Democrats chose Speaker Joanna McClinton as Speaker-designate. The full House votes on January 5.
House Republicans re-elected Jesse Topper as Republican Leader and added two new members to the team. Rep. Jamie Barton will serve as Appropriations Chairman, and Rep. Marla Brown will serve as Caucus Administrator.
House DemocratsMajority
Speaker-designateJoanna McClinton
191st District · Philadelphia and Delaware counties
Elected by the full House on January 5, 2027. Speaker since February 2023.
District shown statewide, with a close-up of the boxed area.
The role: Presides over the House. Rules on procedure, refers bills to committees and appoints majority committee chairs.
Majority LeaderMatt Bradford
70th District · Montgomery County
Third session as leader.
District shown statewide, with a close-up of the boxed area.
The role: Runs the floor. Decides which bills come up for a vote and when, and leads the majority in negotiations with the other chamber and the Governor.
WhipMike Schlossberg
132nd District · Lehigh County
Second session as whip.
District shown statewide, with a close-up of the boxed area.
The role: Counts votes. Makes sure members are present and keeps the caucus together on key floor votes.
Appropriations ChairJordan Harris
186th District · Philadelphia County
Third session as chair.
District shown statewide, with a close-up of the boxed area.
The role: Leads the caucus on the state budget. Reviews the cost of legislation and negotiates the annual spending plan.
Caucus ChairRob Matzie
16th District · Beaver County
Second session in the role.
District shown statewide, with a close-up of the boxed area.
The role: Runs the private caucus meetings where members discuss bills and strategy before floor votes.
Caucus SecretaryTina Davis
141st District · Bucks County
Fourth session in the role.
District shown statewide, with a close-up of the boxed area.
The role: Keeps the record of caucus actions and supports the caucus chair in running meetings.
Caucus AdministratorLeanne Krueger
161st District · Delaware County
Third session in the role.
District shown statewide, with a close-up of the boxed area.
The role: Manages caucus operations, including staff, offices and the caucus budget.
Policy Committee ChairRyan Bizzarro
3rd District · Erie County
Fourth session in the role.
District shown statewide, with a close-up of the boxed area.
The role: Holds hearings across the state to gather input from residents and experts, and helps shape the caucus agenda.
House RepublicansMinority
Republican LeaderJesse Topper
78th District · Bedford and Fulton counties
Second session as leader.
District shown statewide.
The role: Leads the minority caucus. Speaks for it on the floor and represents it in negotiations with the majority and the Governor.
WhipTim O'Neal
48th District · Washington County
Second session as whip.
District shown statewide.
The role: Counts votes. Makes sure members are present and keeps the caucus together on key floor votes.
Appropriations ChairJamie BartonNew
124th District · Schuylkill and Berks counties
First session as chair. Replaces Jim Struzzi.
District shown statewide.
The role: Leads the caucus on the state budget. Reviews the cost of legislation and negotiates the annual spending plan.
Caucus ChairMartina White
170th District · Philadelphia County
Second session in the role.
District shown statewide, with a close-up of the boxed area.
The role: Runs the private caucus meetings where members discuss bills and strategy before floor votes.
Caucus SecretaryClint Owlett
68th District · Tioga and Bradford counties
Second session in the role.
District shown statewide.
The role: Keeps the record of caucus actions and supports the caucus chair in running meetings.
Caucus AdministratorMarla BrownNew
9th District · Lawrence County
First session in the role. Replaces Sheryl Delozier.
District shown statewide, with a close-up of the boxed area.
The role: Manages caucus operations, including staff, offices and the caucus budget.
Policy Committee ChairDavid Rowe
85th District · Snyder, Union, Mifflin and Juniata counties
Second session in the role.
District shown statewide.
The role: Holds hearings across the state to gather input from residents and experts, and helps shape the caucus agenda.
Pennsylvania Senate leadership for 2027-28
Senate Democrats met on November 12, and elected their leadership team. Sen. Jay Costa is the caucus nominee for President Pro Tempore, and Sen. Maria Collett moves up from Caucus Chair to Majority Leader. Five senators are new to their roles. Sen. Vincent Hughes returns as Appropriations Chair, now leading the majority side of the budget process. Senate Republicans have not announced their team yet.
Senate DemocratsMajority
President Pro Tempore NomineeJay Costa
43rd District · Allegheny County
Senate Democratic Leader since 2011. The full Senate votes on January 5, 2027.
District shown statewide, with a close-up of the boxed area.
The role: The top elected leader of the Senate. Presides when the Lieutenant Governor is absent, refers bills to committees and is next in line to become Lieutenant Governor.
Majority LeaderMaria CollettNew
12th District · Montgomery County
First session as leader. Previously Caucus Chair.
District shown statewide.
The role: Runs the floor. Decides which bills come up for a vote and when, and leads the majority in negotiations with the other chamber and the Governor.
Majority WhipSteve SantarsieroNew
10th District · Bucks County
First session as whip. Replaces Christine Tartaglione. Previously Caucus Secretary.
District shown statewide.
The role: Counts votes. Makes sure members are present and keeps the caucus together on key floor votes.
Appropriations ChairVincent Hughes
7th District · Philadelphia and Montgomery counties
Returns as Appropriations Chair, now leading the majority side.
District shown statewide, with a close-up of the boxed area.
The role: Leads the caucus on the state budget. Reviews the cost of legislation and negotiates the annual spending plan.
Caucus ChairLisa BoscolaNew
18th District · Northampton County
First session in the role. Replaces Maria Collett.
District shown statewide.
The role: Runs the private caucus meetings where members discuss bills and strategy before floor votes.
Caucus SecretarySharif StreetNew
3rd District · Philadelphia County
First session in the role. Replaces Steve Santarsiero.
District shown statewide, with a close-up of the boxed area.
The role: Keeps the record of caucus actions and supports the caucus chair in running meetings.
Caucus AdministratorMarty FlynnNew
22nd District · Lackawanna and Luzerne counties
First session in the role. Replaces Judy Schwank.
District shown statewide.
The role: Manages caucus operations, including staff, offices and the caucus budget.
Policy Committee ChairNick Miller
14th District · Lehigh and Northampton counties
Returns as Policy Committee Chair.
District shown statewide.
The role: Holds hearings across the state to gather input from residents and experts, and helps shape the caucus agenda.
Senate RepublicansMinority
Republican LeaderTo be announced
Senate Republicans have not announced their leadership team yet. Check back soon.
The role: Leads the minority caucus. Speaks for it on the floor and represents it in negotiations with the majority and the Governor.
WhipTo be announced
Senate Republicans have not announced their leadership team yet. Check back soon.
The role: Counts votes. Makes sure members are present and keeps the caucus together on key floor votes.
Appropriations ChairTo be announced
Senate Republicans have not announced their leadership team yet. Check back soon.
The role: Leads the caucus on the state budget. Reviews the cost of legislation and negotiates the annual spending plan.
Caucus ChairTo be announced
Senate Republicans have not announced their leadership team yet. Check back soon.
The role: Runs the private caucus meetings where members discuss bills and strategy before floor votes.
Caucus SecretaryTo be announced
Senate Republicans have not announced their leadership team yet. Check back soon.
The role: Keeps the record of caucus actions and supports the caucus chair in running meetings.
Caucus AdministratorTo be announced
Senate Republicans have not announced their leadership team yet. Check back soon.
The role: Manages caucus operations, including staff, offices and the caucus budget.
Policy Committee ChairTo be announced
Senate Republicans have not announced their leadership team yet. Check back soon.
The role: Holds hearings across the state to gather input from residents and experts, and helps shape the caucus agenda.
Senate Republican leaders have not been announced yet. Check this space soon.
Photos: Official member portraits from the Pennsylvania General Assembly website.
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