Wrightson Leads Brown in 40th District Senate Race
Democrat Brian Wrightson holds an early lead over incumbent Republican Rosemary Brown in unofficial Pennsylvania Senate returns.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Democrat Brian Wrightson led incumbent Republican Rosemary Brown in the 40th District state Senate race in unofficial results, with 43,818 votes to Brown's 37,885 as of 10:16 p.m. Wrightson jumped to an early lead through mail-in votes, which Brown narrowed with Election Day ballots.
Why it matters
The race for the 40th District, which covers all of Monroe County and parts of Lackawanna and Wayne counties, turns on voter concerns about data centers, a major point of contention in the district. The outcome will determine whether the seat changes hands in the Pennsylvania Senate.
Unofficial returns show Wrightson ahead by 5,933 votes with Lackawanna County fully reported and most Monroe and Wayne precincts still outstanding. Final certified totals will determine the outcome, and those counts have not yet been released.
The players
Brian Wrightson
Democratic candidate for the 40th District state Senate seat, a communications business owner and former American Red Cross emergency services director leading in unofficial returns.
Rosemary Brown
Republican incumbent state senator representing the 40th District, seeking a second term after first winning the seat in 2022.
The details
Wrightson, 57, owns and operates Fire Tower Communications and previously served as director of emergency services for the American Red Cross. Brown, 55, is seeking a second term representing the 40th District after winning in 2022, and in February unveiled a four-piece "Residents First" legislative package.
Timeline
2022: Brown won election to her current state Senate seat.
February 2026: Brown unveiled her Residents First legislative package.
November 3, 2026: Election Day; unofficial results were tallied Tuesday night.
Political Context
Data center proposals in Lackawanna County, including roughly 100 campuses and at least six natural gas power plants, have become a central issue in the race. A proposed three-year moratorium bill would pause such development, and the outcome of this contest will indicate how voters weigh that trade-off.
The outcome determines who represents the 40th District in the state Senate, which affects local decisions on data center development and related energy infrastructure. Residents in Monroe, Lackawanna and Wayne counties will see the policy consequences of whichever candidate wins.
The takeaway
Voters in the 40th District are weighing data center development against local concerns, and the final tally will signal how that trade-off is received. Watch for certified results as remaining precincts report.
Further reading
Track the latest developments in Pennsylvania Elections as vote counts are finalized.
Live Poll
Should your community limit new large-scale data center development?
