Malone Seeks Full Term in Pennsylvania Senate Race
The Democratic incumbent faces Republican state Rep. Tom Jones in the 36th Senate District contest.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Elections
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James Malone, the Democratic incumbent, is running to defend Pennsylvania's 36th Senate District against Republican Tom Jones. Malone won the seat in a 2025 special election and is seeking a full four-year term.
Why it matters
The 36th District had voted Republican since the 1800s, so Malone's defense of the seat is a test of whether his 2025 special election win holds in a regular contest. The race is one of the Pennsylvania Senate contests that will shape the chamber's balance.
The race pits a first-time winner of the seat against a two-term state representative, with Malone seeking a full four-year term. The source does not report polling figures for the contest.
The players
James Malone
James Malone is the Democratic incumbent who won Pennsylvania's 36th Senate District in a 2025 special election and previously served as mayor of East Petersburg.
Tom Jones
Tom Jones is a Republican state representative for Pennsylvania's 98th House District who has served two terms and previously chaired the East Donegal Township Board of Supervisors.
Josh Shapiro
Josh Shapiro is the Governor of Pennsylvania who endorsed Malone in the race.
The details
Malone, a former mayor of East Petersburg, was endorsed by Gov. Josh Shapiro. Jones, who was chairman of the East Donegal Township Board of Supervisors, represents Pennsylvania's 98th House District. The district includes parts of Lancaster County.
Timeline
Malone won the 36th District special election in 2025.
The article previewing the 2026 Senate race was published on November 1, 2026.
Political Context
Malone's 2025 special election win flipped a Pennsylvania Senate seat that had voted Republican since the 1800s. The 2026 contest against Jones will show whether that result was durable or specific to the special election.
The outcome determines which party controls the 36th Senate District seat for the next term. Pennsylvania voters in the district will choose between the two candidates in November.
The takeaway
The 36th District race is a direct test of whether a Democratic special election win in a long-Republican seat carries over to a full-term election. Voters in the district will decide that in November.
Further reading
For more on the state's contests, see Pennsylvania Elections.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WHP.
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