Thomas Unseats Pennycuick in 24th District
Democrat Chris Thomas leads incumbent Republican Tracy Pennycuick in unofficial returns for the state Senate seat covering parts of Berks and Montgomery counties.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Democrat Chris Thomas defeated incumbent Republican Tracy Pennycuick in the 24th Senatorial District election held Tuesday, with unofficial totals showing Thomas at 61,779 votes and Pennycuick at 50,140. The totals remain incomplete and may not yet include all mail and provisional ballots.
Why it matters
The result would flip a state Senate seat held by Pennycuick, who was elected in 2022 and is serving her first term, to Democratic control. Final certified numbers will determine whether the outcome holds for voters across the district.
These are unofficial vote totals for the 24th Senatorial District, with Thomas leading Pennycuick by about 11,600 votes districtwide. Pennycuick carried Berks County, but the final count depends on certification of remaining mail and provisional ballots.
The players
Chris Thomas
Democrat who is a former executive director for the Montgomery County Democratic Committee, a former middle school math and science teacher, and a volunteer firefighter.
Tracy Pennycuick
Republican state senator who was first elected in 2022 to represent the 24th Senatorial District and was seeking reelection.
The details
The race covers parts of eastern Berks County and northwest Montgomery County. Thomas, a former executive director for the Montgomery County Democratic Committee who began in construction and later taught middle school math and science, is also a volunteer firefighter. Independent candidate Mike Schonewolf received 2,100 votes.
Timeline
Pennycuick was elected to represent the 24th District in 2022.
The election was held Tuesday, November 4, 2026.
Political Context
Control of the Pennsylvania state Senate depends on individual district contests like this one, and a single seat change can alter the balance of the chamber. Opposition to Pennycuick's record and her party's stance on district issues was not detailed in the available extraction.
Voters in the 24th District will be represented in the state Senate by whichever candidate is certified as the winner once remaining ballots are counted. The final outcome determines who represents eastern Berks and northwest Montgomery counties in Harrisburg.
The takeaway
A single state Senate seat can shift control of the chamber, so the certified count matters more than early returns. Readers should watch for official certification before treating the outcome as final.
Further reading
For more on how state Senate races shape the chamber, see Elections coverage across Pennsylvania.
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