Republicans Retake Pennsylvania 36th Senate Seat
Republicans won the 36th Senate District in Lancaster County while voters there rejected a proposed library property tax.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Republicans won the Pennsylvania 36th Senate District seat in Lancaster County, reversing a special election won by Democrat James Malone about a year and a half earlier. Election Day also saw Lancaster County voters reject a proposed property tax to fund the county's 14 public libraries.
Why it matters
The result shifts control of a Lancaster County state Senate seat and signals how local voters weighed a tax proposal for library funding. Results across Pennsylvania's Senate, House and governor races are being tallied together, shaping the statewide balance of power.
Brett Miller led Brad Chambers by just 41 votes in the 41st House District, while Dave Nissley won the 100th House District with 67% of the vote. Results were based on unofficial counts as of 12:42 a.m. Wednesday, and final certified totals were not yet reported.
The players
Josh Shapiro
Josh Shapiro is the Democratic governor of Pennsylvania who was reelected to a second term.
Stacy Garrity
Stacy Garrity is the Republican candidate for Pennsylvania governor who ran against Shapiro.
The details
Voting results were tallied in Lancaster County as Election Day closed, with Shapiro holding 110,620 votes to Garrity's 100,933 in the county as of 12:42 a.m. Wednesday. Voters also rejected a proposed 0.55 mill tax on taxable real estate that would have funded the county's 14 public libraries.
Timeline
Mid-2024: Democrat James Malone wins a special election for the 36th Senate District.
November 3, 2026: Election Day, with Republicans retaking the 36th Senate District.
November 4, 2026, 12:42 a.m.: Partial Lancaster County vote counts reported.
Political Context
The Republican win reverses the outcome of the 2024 special election that sent Democrat James Malone to the 36th Senate District. Opponents of the library tax argued against new county property levies, a concern that shaped the local vote.
The reversal of the 36th Senate District changes which party represents Lancaster County residents in the state Senate. Residents who relied on the county's 14 public libraries will keep current funding because voters rejected the proposed property tax.
The takeaway
Local races can turn on small margins, as the 41-vote gap in the 41st House District shows, so checking final certified results is worthwhile. Voters who care about library funding should watch county budget decisions that follow the rejected tax.
Further reading
Explore more in Elections coverage across Pennsylvania.
Source note: This article includes information reported by LancasterOnline.
Live Poll
Would you support a property tax to fund Lancaster County's public libraries?
