Senate and House Republicans will have new leadership when the new legislative session begins in January as a result of caucus elections held Wednesday.  Ironic that in losing seats, the Senate and House Democrats were the ones not to change their top Leadership.

After the Leadership elections, both the Senate and House adjourned sine die and ended the 2013-14 legislative session.

Sen. Jake Corman (R-Centre) is the new Senate Majority Leader, replacing Sen. Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware), in a contested race.  Sen. Pat Browne (R-Lehigh) becomes the new Majority Appropriations Committee Chair, replacing Sen. Corman, and Sen. John Gordner (R-Columbia) was elected Majority Whip replacing Sen. Browne.  Sen. Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) was re-elected as President Pro Tempore of the Senate.

Rep. David Reed (R-Indiana) won a contested election as the new House Majority Leader, replacing Rep. Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny), who was elected Speaker of the House replacing the retiring Sam Smith.  Rep. Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster), replaces Rep. Stan Saylor (R-York) as Majority Whip.  Rep. Bill Adolph (R-Delaware) was re-elected as Majority Appropriations Chair.

Senate Democrats will have largely the same team: Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) was re-elected as Minority Leader, Sen. Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia) is Minority Chair of the Appropriations Committee and Sen. Anthony Williams (D-Philadelphia) is Minority Whip.

House Democrats re-elected Rep. Frank Dermody (D-Allegheny) House Minority Leader in a contested race.  Rep. Joe Markosek (D-Allegheny) was re-elected as Minority Appropriations Committee Chair and Rep. Mike Hanna (D-Clinton) was re-elected as Minority Whip.

These are the complete results--

House

House Speaker-Designee: Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny), formerly House Majority Leader

Republicans

Majority Leader: David Reed (R-Indiana), formerly Chair of GOP Policy Committee

Majority Whip: Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster), was Stan Saylor (R-York)

Appropriations Chair: Bill Adolph (R-Delaware), re-elected

Caucus Chair: Sandra Major (R-Susquehanna), re-elected

Policy Committee Chair: Kerry Benninghoff (R-Mifflin), was David Reed (R-Indiana)

Caucus Administrator: Brian Ellis (R-Butler) was Richard Stevenson (R-Mercer) retiring

Caucus Secretary: Donna Oberlander (R-Armstrong), was Mike Vereb (R-Montgomery)

Democrats

Minority Leader: Frank Dermody (D-Allegheny), re-elected

Minority Whip: Mike Hanna (D-Clinton), re-elected

Appropriations Chair: Joe Markosek (D-Allegheny), re-elected

Caucus Chair: Dan Frankel (D-Allegheny), re-elected

Policy Committee Chair: Mike Sturla (D-Lancaster), re-elected

Caucus Administrator: Neal Goodman (D-Schuylkill), re-elected

Caucus Secretary: Rosita Youngblood (D-Philadelphia), was Ron Waters (D-Philadelphia)

Senate

Interim President Pro Tempore: Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson), re-elected

Republicans

Majority Leader: Jake Corman (R-Centre), was Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware)

Majority Whip: John Gordner (R-Columbia), was Pat Browne (R-Lehigh)

Appropriations Chair: Pat Browne (R-Lehigh), was Jake Corman (R-Centre)

Caucus Chair: Bob Mensch (R-Montgomery), was John Gordner (R-Columbia)

Policy Committee Chair: David Argall (R-Schuylkill), was Ted Erickson (R-Delaware) retiring

Caucus Administrator: Chuck McIlhinney (R-Bucks), was Richard Alloway (R-Franklin)

Caucus Secretary: Richard Alloway (R-Franklin), was Robert Robbins (R-Mercer) retiring

Democrats

Minority Leader: Jay Costa (D-Allegheny), re-elected

Minority Whip: Anthony Williams (D-Philadelphia), re-elected

Appropriations Chair: Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia), re-elected

Caucus Chair: Wayne Fontana (D-Allegheny), was Richard Kasunic (D-Somerset) retiring

Policy Committee Chair: Lisa Boscola (D-Lehigh), re-elected

Caucus Administrator: John Yudichak (D-Luzerne) was Wayne Fontana (D-Allegheny)

Caucus Secretary: Larry Farnese (D-Philadelphia), was Christine Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia)

NewsClips:

Senate GOP Ousts Pileggi, Turzai Wins As Speaker

Conservative Shift: Corman, Scarnati To Lead Senate GOP

John Baer: Harrisburg Takes A Step To The Right

With New Senate GOP Leadership, Is Wolf Honeymoon Over?

Senate Dems Re-Elect Costa For Leader

House GOP Names Reed Majority Leader, Turzai Speaker

House Rs Choose Majority Leader, Nominate A Speaker

Turzai Poised To Bargain On Severance Tax, Liquor Stores

House Democrats Re-Elect Dermody, Hanna

Sen. Wagner: House R Leadership To Blame For Corbett Defeat

11/17/2014