State Senate Democrats, eager to narrow the Republican majority, are pegging their hopes on a few open seats.

Republicans currently hold a 29-21 advantage in the chamber, a majority Democrats hope to erase in two years. But for now, the immediate focus is on seats without incumbents.

"We are looking at a couple of open seats, and we're very optimistic about them," state Sen. Connie Williams (D-Montgomery), who is chairing the Democratic State Senate Campaign Committee, told PolitickerPA.com in an interview this week.

Democrats are closely eyeing  the seat being vacated by Williams, who is retiring from the 17th Senatorial District after this year. State Rep. Daylin Leach (D-Upper Merion) faces Republican Lance Rogers in that race, and Leach would seem to have a head start in an increasingly Democratic district, parts of which he already represents in the state House.

The other open seats are in western Pennsylvania. In the 39th District, Democrats are hoping that Republican turmoil from state Sen. Bob Regola's (R-Westmoreland) departure from the race has created a good opportunity for Democratic challenger Tony Bompiani.

"Clearly, the polls showed that Sen. Regola had lost the truth of his constituents," Williams said. "It has changed, there's a new candidate [Kim Ward], but she doesn't have the most sterling record. So I'm not sure the dynamic has changed that much."

And in the 47th District, the party hopes to hold onto the seat being vacated by state Sen. Gerald LaValle (D-Beaver).

"On the local scene, as on the national scene, there's a lot of concern about the Republican leadership in the country," Williams said.

<< BACK