Legislative Map Update: Last Wednesday, the PA Supreme Court rejected legal challenges to state legislative maps that the Legislative Reapportionment Commission had approved, giving the LRC-approved maps the force of law. In its ruling, the Court said that the maps, using 2020 Census data, did not violate state or federal constitutions and “is not contrary to law.”

The Court also laid out an abbreviated 11-day period for potential candidates for House and Senate seats to circulate nominating petitions, which began last Friday and will end on March 29.

PA Senate Retirements:

State Sen. John Yudichak, I-Luzerne, announced that he will not seek re-election to the 14^th Senate District seat he has held for three terms. Before his election to the Senate, he served for six terms in the PA House. The new legislative map moved his district to another part of the state.

State Sen. Robert Tomlinson, R-Bucks, announced that he would not seek re-election to the 6^th Senate District, a seat he has held since 1995. He is currently the Chairman of the Senate Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure Committee and serves on the Transportation and Community, Economic, and Recreational Development Committees.

State Sen. Mario Scavello, R-Monroe, also announced that he will retire from the 40^th Senate District seat. Sen. Scavello, currently the Senate Majority Policy Chairman, was elected to the Senate in 2014, after serving in the state House for more than a decade.

During his announcement, Senator Scavello said that he is endorsing State Rep. Rosemary Brown, R-Monroe, who previously announced that she would not seek re-election to the 189^th House District seat. She said that Sen. Scavello’s retirement prompted her to reconsider service on a larger level.

PA House Retirements: State Rep. Karen Boback, R-Wyoming, announced that she will not seek re-election to the 117^th House District seat. Rep. Boback has served the district since 2006 and is currently the Majority Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Services Committee.

State Rep. Andrew Lewis, R-Dauphin, also announced that he will not seek re-election for a third term. Rep. Lewis represented the 105^th House District for two terms; however, he no longer lives in the district following the legislative reapportionment process. He has decided not to run for the 104^th House District where he now resides under the new map.

State Rep. Kurt Masser, R-Northumberland/Columbia, also announced that he would not seek re-election to the 107th House District seat. Rep. Masser, a six-term legislator, serves as the Majority Caucus Administrator and is assigned to the Committees on Committees and the Rules Committee.

State Rep. Bob Brooks, R-Allegheny, also announced that he would not seek re-election since the 54^th House District was changed as part of the decennial redistricting process. The two-term lawmaker was drawn into the 55^th Legislative District which State Rep. Jason Silvis, R-Armstrong, represents.