List of United States senators from Pennsylvania

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Current delegation
Bob Casey Jr. (D)
Pat Toomey (R)

Pennsylvania ratified the United States Constitution on December 12, 1787 and elects its U.S. senators to Class 1 and Class 3. Officeholders are popularly elected, for a six-year term, beginning January 3. Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1. Before 1914, they were chosen by the Pennsylvania General Assembly; before 1935, their terms began March 4. The state's current U.S. senators are Democrat Bob Casey Jr. (since 2007) and Republican Pat Toomey (since 2011), making it one of seven states to have a split United States Senate delegation. Arlen Specter was Pennsylvania's longest-serving senator (1981–2011).

List of senators[]

Class 1

Class 1 U.S. senators belong to the electoral cycle that has recently been contested in 2000, 2006, 2012, and 2018. The next election will be in 2024.

C

Class 3

Class 3 U.S. senators belong to the electoral cycle that has recently been contested in 1998, 2004, 2010, and 2016. The next election will be in 2022.

# Senator Party Dates in office Electoral history T T Electoral history Dates in office Party Senator #
1 WilliamMaclay.jpg
William Maclay
Anti-Admin. March 4, 1789 –
March 3, 1791
Elected in 1788.

Lost re-election.
1 1st 1 Elected in 1788.

Retired.
March 4, 1789 –
March 3, 1795
Pro-
Admin.
Robert morris portrait.jpg
Robert Morris
1
Vacant March 4, 1791 –
December 1, 1793
Legislature failed to elect due to a disagreement on election procedure. 2 2nd
2 AlbertGallatin.jpeg
Albert Gallatin
Anti-Admin. December 2, 1793 –
February 28, 1794
Elected to finish the vacant term.

Election voided for failure to meet the residency requirements for eligibility to the office.
3rd
Vacant March 1, 1794 –
April 23, 1794
 
3 Rossjamespa.jpg
James Ross
Pro-
Admin.
April 24, 1794 –
March 3, 1803
Elected to finish Gallatin's term.
Federalist 4th 2 Elected in 1795.

Retired.
March 4, 1795 –
March 3, 1801
Federalist WilliamBingham.jpg
William Bingham
2
Re-elected in 1797.

Retired.
3 5th
6th
7th 3 Elected in 1801.

Resigned to become Supervisor of Revenue of Pennsylvania.
March 4, 1801 –
June 30, 1801
Democratic-
Republican
JPMuhlenberg.jpg
J. Peter G. Muhlenberg
3
  June 30, 1801 –
December 17, 1801
Vacant
Elected to finish Muhlenberg's term.

Retired.
December 17, 1801 –
March 3, 1807
Democratic-
Republican
GeoLogan.jpg
George Logan
4
4 Samuel Maclay Democratic-
Republican
March 4, 1803 –
January 4, 1809
Elected in 1802.

Resigned, believing he would lose re-election.
4 8th
9th
10th 4 Elected in 1806.

Retired.
March 4, 1807 –
March 3, 1813
Democratic-
Republican
AndrewGregg.jpg
Andrew Gregg
5
Vacant January 4, 1809 –
January 9, 1809
Vacant
5 Michael Leib.jpg
Michael Leib
Democratic-
Republican
January 9, 1809 –
February 14, 1814
Elected January 9, 1809 to finish Maclay's term, having already won election to the next term.[1]
Elected on December 13, 1808.[2]

Resigned to become Postmaster of Philadelphia.
5 11th
12th
13th 5 Elected on December 8, 1812.[3]

Retired.
March 4, 1813 –
March 3, 1819
Democratic-
Republican
AbnerLacock.jpg
Abner Lacock
6
Vacant February 14, 1814 –
February 24, 1814
6 JonathanRoberts.jpg
Jonathan Roberts
Democratic-
Republican
February 24, 1814 –
March 3, 1821
Elected to finish Leib's term.
Re-elected in late 1814. 6 14th
15th
16th 6 Elected in 1818.

Retired.
March 4, 1819 –
March 3, 1825
Democratic-
Republican
Walter Lowrie.jpg
Walter Lowrie
7
Vacant March 4, 1821 –
December 10, 1821
Legislature failed to elect. 7 17th
7 WFindley.jpg
William Findlay
Democratic-
Republican
December 10, 1821 –
March 3, 1827
Elected late in 1821.

Retired.
18th
Jacksonian 19th 7 Elected in 1825.

Lost re-election.
March 4, 1825 –
March 3, 1831
Anti-Jacksonian WilliamMarks.jpg
William Marks
8
8 Isaac Barnard.jpg
Isaac D. Barnard
Jacksonian March 4, 1827 –
December 6, 1831
Elected in 1826.

Resigned to due ill health.
8 20th
21st
22nd 8 Elected in 1830.

Resigned to become U.S. Minister to Russia.
March 4, 1831 –
June 30, 1834
Jacksonian William Wilkins United States Senator - Brady-Handy.jpg
William Wilkins
9
Vacant December 6, 1831 –
December 13, 1831
 
9 Vice-president of the US George Dallas.jpg
George M. Dallas
Jacksonian December 13, 1831 –
March 3, 1833
Elected to finish Barnard's term.

Retired.
Vacant March 4, 1833 –
December 7, 1833
Legislature failed to elect. 9 23rd
10 SamuelMcKean.jpg
Samuel McKean
Jacksonian December 7, 1833 –
March 3, 1839
Elected late in 1833.
  June 30, 1834 –
December 6, 1834
Vacant
Elected to finish Wilkins's term. December 6, 1834 –
March 5, 1845
Jacksonian James Buchanan.jpg
James Buchanan
10
24th
Democratic 25th 9 Re-elected in 1836. Democratic
Vacant March 4, 1839 –
January 14, 1840
Legislature failed to elect. 10 26th
11 DSturgeon.jpg
Daniel Sturgeon
Democratic January 14, 1840 –
March 3, 1851
Elected late in 1840.
27th
28th 10 Re-elected in 1843.

Resigned to become U.S. Secretary of State.
Re-elected in 1845.

Retired.
11 29th
  March 5, 1845 –
March 13, 1845
Vacant
Elected in 1845.

Retired.
March 13, 1845 –
March 3, 1849
Democratic Smn Cameron-SecofWar.jpg
Simon Cameron
11
30th
31st 11 Elected in 1849. March 4, 1849 –
March 3, 1855
Whig JCooper.jpg
James Cooper
12
12 Richard Brodhead (US Senator from Pennsylvania).jpg
Richard Brodhead
Democratic March 4, 1851 –
March 3, 1857
Elected in 1851. 12 32nd
33rd
34th 12 Legislature failed to elect in 1856. March 4, 1855 –
January 14, 1856
Vacant
Elected late in 1856.

Retired.
January 14, 1856 –
March 3, 1861
Democratic William Bigler.jpg
William Bigler
13
13 Smn Cameron-SecofWar.jpg
Simon Cameron
Republican March 4, 1857 –
March 3, 1861
Elected in 1857.

Resigned to become U.S. Secretary of War.
13 35th
36th
Vacant March 4, 1861 –
March 14, 1861
  37th 13 Elected in 1861.

Lost re-election.
March 4, 1861 –
March 3, 1867
Republican Edgar Cowan - Brady-Handy.jpg
Edgar Cowan
14
14 David Wilmot.png
David Wilmot
Republican March 14, 1861 –
March 3, 1863
Elected in 1861 to finish Cameron's term.

Retired.
15 Charles R. Buckalew - Brady-Handy.jpg
Charles R. Buckalew
Democratic March 4, 1863 –
March 3, 1869
Elected in 1863. 14 38th
39th
40th 14 Elected in 1867. March 4, 1867 –
March 12, 1877
Republican Smn Cameron-SecofWar.jpg
Simon Cameron
15
16 JohnScottPA.jpg
John Scott
Republican March 4, 1869 –
March 3, 1875
Elected in 1869.

Retired.
15 41st
42nd
43rd 15 Re-elected in 1873.

Resigned.
17 William A. Wallace - Brady-Handy.jpg
William A. Wallace
Democratic March 4, 1875 –
March 3, 1881
Elected in early 1875.

Lost re-election.
16 44th
45th
  March 12, 1877 –
March 20, 1877
Vacant
Elected in 1877 to finish his father's term. March 20, 1877 –
March 3, 1897
Republican JDonaldC2.jpg
J. Donald Cameron
16
46th 16 Re-elected in 1879.
18 John I. Mitchell - Brady-Handy.jpg
John I. Mitchell
Republican March 4, 1881 –
March 3, 1887
Elected in early 1881. 17 47th
48th
49th 17 Re-elected in 1885.
19 MatthewQuay.jpg
Matthew S. Quay
Republican March 4, 1887 –
March 3, 1899
Elected in early 1887. 18 50th
51st
52nd 18 Re-elected in 1891.

Retired.
Re-elected January 17, 1893.

Legislature failed to re-elect.
19 53rd
54th
55th 19 Elected January 19, 1897. March 4, 1897 –
December 31, 1921
Republican Boies Penrose1.jpg
Boies Penrose
17
Vacant March 4, 1899 –
January 16, 1901
Quay was appointed to continue the term, but the Senate declared him not entitled to the seat 20 56th
MatthewQuay.jpg
Matthew S. Quay
Republican January 16, 1901 –
May 28, 1904
Elected late in 1901.

Died.
57th
58th 20 Re-elected on January 20, 1903.
20 Philander Knox, bw photo portrait, 1904.jpg
Philander C. Knox
Republican June 10, 1904 –
March 3, 1909
Appointed to continue Quay's term.

Elected on January 17, 1905 to finish Quay's term.[4]
Re-elected on January 18, 1905.[5]

Resigned to become U.S. Secretary of State.
21 59th
60th
Vacant March 4, 1909 –
March 17, 1909
  61st 21 Re-elected January 19, 1909.
21 George Oliver.jpg
George T. Oliver
Republican March 17, 1909 –
March 3, 1917
Elected to finish Knox's term
Re-elected January 11, 1911.

Retired.
22 62nd
63rd
64th 22 Re-elected in 1914.
22 Philander Knox, bw photo portrait, 1904.jpg
Philander C. Knox
Republican March 4, 1917 –
October 12, 1921
Elected in 1916.

Died.
23 65th
66th
67th 23 Re-elected in 1920.

Died.
Vacant October 12, 1921 –
October 24, 1921
 
23 William Evans Crow.jpg
William E. Crow
Republican October 24, 1921 –
August 2, 1922
Appointed to continue Knox's term.

Died.
  December 31, 1921 –
January 9, 1922
Vacant
Appointed to continue Penrose's term.

Elected to finish Penrose's term.

Lost renomination.
January 9, 1922 –
March 3, 1927
Republican George Wharton Pepper 745bfa7049 o.jpg
George Wharton Pepper
18
Vacant August 2, 1922 –
August 8, 1922
 
24 David Aiken Reed.jpg
David A. Reed
Republican August 8, 1922 –
January 3, 1935
Appointed to continue Knox's term.

Elected to finish Knox's term.
Elected in 1922. 24 68th
69th
70th 24 William S. Vare (R) was elected in 1926, but the Governor refused to certify the election and the Senate refused to qualify him. He was formally unseated December 9, 1929. March 4, 1927 –
December 9, 1929
Vacant
Re-elected in 1928.

Lost re-election.
25 71st
Appointed to continue Vare's term.

Lost nomination to finish Vare's term.
December 11, 1929 –
December 1, 1930
Republican Joseph R. Grundy cph.3a44489.jpg
Joseph R. Grundy
19
Elected November 4, 1930 to finish Vare's term December 2, 1930 –
January 3, 1945
Republican Jjdavis.jpg
James J. Davis
20
72nd
73rd 25 Re-elected in 1932.
25 Joseph Guffey.jpg
Joseph F. Guffey
Democratic January 3, 1935 –
January 3, 1947
Elected in 1934. 26 74th
75th
76th 26 Re-elected in 1938.

Lost re-election.
Re-elected in 1940.

Lost re-election.
27 77th
78th
79th 27 Elected in 1944.

Lost re-election.
January 3, 1945 –
January 3, 1951
Democratic M001127.jpg
Francis J. Myers
21
26 EdwardMartinPA.jpg
Edward Martin
Republican January 3, 1947 –
January 3, 1959
Elected in 1946. 28 80th
81st
82nd 28 Elected in 1950.

Lost re-election.
January 3, 1951 –
January 3, 1957
Republican James Henderson Duff.jpg
James H. Duff
22
Re-elected in 1952.

Retired.
29 83rd
84th
85th 29 Elected in 1956. January 3, 1957 –
January 3, 1969
Democratic JosephSClark.jpg
Joseph S. Clark
23
27 SenHughScott.jpg
Hugh Scott
Republican January 3, 1959 –
January 3, 1977
Elected in 1958. 30 86th
87th
88th 30 Re-elected in 1962.

Lost re-election.
Re-elected in 1964. 31 89th
90th
91st 31 Elected in 1968. January 3, 1969 –
January 3, 1981
Republican RichardSchweiker.jpg
Richard S. Schweiker
24
Re-elected in 1970.

Retired.
32 92nd
93rd
94th 32 Re-elected in 1974.

Retired.
28 John Heinz.jpg
John Heinz
Republican January 3, 1977 –
April 4, 1991
Elected in 1976. 33 95th
96th
97th 33 Elected in 1980. January 3, 1981 –
April 28, 2009
Republican Arlen Specter official portrait.jpg
Arlen Specter
25
Re-elected in 1982. 34 98th
99th
100th 34 Re-elected in 1986.
Re-elected in 1988.

Died.
35 101st
102nd
Vacant April 4, 1991 –
May 9, 1991
 
29 Harriswofford.jpg
Harris Wofford
Democratic May 9, 1991 –
January 3, 1995
Appointed to continue Heinz's term.

Elected to finish Heinz's term.

Lost re-election.
103rd 35 Re-elected in 1992.
30 Rick Santorum official photo.jpg
Rick Santorum
Republican January 3, 1995 –
January 3, 2007
Elected in 1994. 36 104th
105th
106th 36 Re-elected in 1998.
Re-elected in 2000.

Lost re-election.
37 107th
108th
109th 37 Re-elected in 2004.

Lost renomination.
31 Bob Casey Jr. official photo.jpg
Bob Casey Jr.
Democratic January 3, 2007 –
Present
Elected in 2006. 38 110th
111th
April 28, 2009 –
January 3, 2011
Democratic
112th 38 Elected in 2010. January 3, 2011 –
Present
Republican Pat Toomey, Official Portrait, 112th Congress.jpg
Pat Toomey
26
Re-elected in 2012. 39 113th
114th
115th 39 Re-elected in 2016.

Retiring at end of term.
Re-elected in 2018. 40 116th
117th
118th 41 To be determined in the 2022 election.
To be determined in the 2024 election. 41 119th
# Senator Party Years in office Electoral history T   T Electoral history Years in office Party Senator #
Class 1 Class 3

Living former senators[]

As of August 2021, there is one living former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania. The most recent senator to die was Harris Wofford (served 1991–1995) on January 21, 2019. The most recently serving senator to die was Arlen Specter (served 1981–2011) on October 14, 2012.

Senator Term of office Date of birth (and age)
Rick Santorum 1995–2007 (1958-05-10) May 10, 1958 (age 63)

Superlatives[]

Longest service[]

Senator First served Last served Length of service
Arlen Specter January 3, 1981 January 3, 2011 30 years, 0 days
(10,957 days)
Boies Penrose March 4, 1897 December 21, 1921 24 years, 292 days
(9,057 days)
J. Donald Cameron March 20, 1877 March 3, 1897 19 years, 348 days
(7,288 days)
Hugh Scott January 3, 1959 January 3, 1977 18 years, 0 days
(6,575 days)
Simon Cameron March 13, 1845 March 3, 1849 Combined total: 17 years, 363 days
(6,573 days)
March 4, 1857 March 3, 1861
March 4, 1867 March 12, 1877

Shortest service[]

Senator First served Last served Length of service
Albert Gallatin December 2, 1793 February 28, 1794 2 months, 3 weeks and 5 days
(88 days)
Peter Muhlenberg March 4, 1801 June 30, 1801 3 months, 3 weeks and 5 days
(118 days)
William E. Crow October 24, 1921 August 2, 1922 9 months, 1 week and 2 days
(282 days)
Joseph R. Grundy December 11, 1929 December 1, 1930 11 months, 2 weeks and 6 days
(355 days)
George M. Dallas December 13, 1831 March 3, 1833 1 year, 2 months, 2 weeks and 4 days
(446 days)

Youngest at beginning of service[]

Senator Date of birth First served Age
James Ross July 12, 1762 April 24, 1794 31 years, 9 months and 12 days
Albert Gallatin January 19, 1761 December 2, 1793 32 years, 10 months and 13 days
Walter Lowrie December 10, 1784 March 4, 1819 34 years, 2 months and 22 days
Isaac D. Barnard July 18, 1791 March 4, 1827 35 years, 7 months and 14 days
Boies Penrose November 1, 1860 March 4, 1897 36 years, 4 months and 3 days

Oldest at end of service[]

Senator Date of birth Last served Age
Arlen Specter February 12, 1930 January 3, 2011 80 years, 10 months and 22 days
Edward Martin September 18, 1879 January 3, 1959 79 years, 3 months and 16 days
Simon Cameron March 8, 1799 March 12, 1877 78 years and 4 days
Hugh Scott November 11, 1900 January 3, 1977 76 years, 1 month and 23 days
Joseph F. Guffey December 29, 1870 January 3, 1947 76 years and 5 days

Notes[]

  1. ^ "Pennsylvania 1809 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 3, 2018., citing Journal of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1808. 174-176.
  2. ^ "U.S. Senate Election - 13 December 1808" (PDF). Wilkes University. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
  3. ^ "Pennsylvania 1812 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 23, 2018., citing Journal of the Pennsylvania State Senate, 1812. 41-43.
  4. ^ Byrd, p. 159.
  5. ^ The World Almanac and Encyclopedia 1906. New York: The Press Publishing Co. New York World. 1905. p. 108.

References[]

See also[]

External links[]

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