PITTSBURGH TIMES-REVIEW: Democrats and Republicans have alternated the governor’s office every eight years since 1946 (or 1954, depending on where you mark the streak’s start), but Democrats haven’t controlled the Senate for more than 20 years…
Republicans have the Senate majority with 27 senators to the Democrats 23. They’ve had the majority since 1980 for all but 16 months — November 1992 to March 1994 — when former local Sen. Robert J. Mellow, a Democrat, was Senate president pro tempore. Democrats hope to reach at least a 25-25 tie.
Assuming Mr. Wolf wins and they get a tie in the Senate, Democrats would have control over what bills come up for a vote because the Democratic lieutenant governor candidate, Sen. Mike Stack, would break tie votes on procedural matters. A lieutenant governor cannot break ties on the final passage of bills, according to the state constitution… (more)
EDITOR: Gerrymandering of districts have enabled Republicans to retain control despite the large Democrat registration plurality in the state. What party is in control during the reapportionment year of 2021 will either retain the imbalance or help to correct it.
