Pennsylvania State Senate District 48
Pennsylvania State Senate District 48 is represented by Chris Gebhard (R).
As of the 2020 Census, Pennsylvania state senators represented an average of 260,237 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 254,698 residents.
About the chamber
Members of the Pennsylvania State Senate serve four-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Pennsylvania legislators assume office on the first day of December after a general election.[1]
Qualifications
Article II of the Pennsylvania Constitution states:[2]
| “ | Senators shall be at least 25 years of age and Representatives 21 years of age. They shall have been citizens and inhabitants of the State four years, and inhabitants of their respective districts one year next before their election (unless absent on the public business of the United States or of this State), and shall reside in their respective districts during their terms of service.[3] | ” |
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2024[4] | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $106,422.33/year | $185/day |
Vacancies
If there is a vacancy in the Pennsylvania General Assembly, a special election must be held to fill the vacant seat. The presiding officer in the house where the vacancy happened must call for an election. There are no deadlines set in the state constitution on when a special election can be held.[5]
See sources: Pennsylvania Cons. Art. II, §2
District map
Redistricting
2020 redistricting cycle
On February 4, 2022, the Pennsylvania Legislative Reapportionment Commission voted 4-1 to approve new state House and Senate maps.[6] House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff (R) voted no, while Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward (R), state Rep. Joanna McClinton (D), state Sen. Jay Costa (D), and chairman Mark Nordenberg voted yes.[6] These maps took effect for Pennsylvania's 2022 legislative elections.
How does redistricting in Pennsylvania work? In Pennsylvania, the statutory authority to draw congressional district boundaries is vested with the Pennsylvania General Assembly. These lines are subject to gubernatorial veto.[7]
State legislative district lines are drawn by a politician commission. Established in 1968, the commission comprises five members:[7]
- The majority leader of the Pennsylvania State Senate appoints one member.
- The minority leader of the Pennsylvania State Senate appoints one member.
- The majority leader of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives appoints one member.
- The minority leader of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives appoints one member.
- The first four commissioners appoint a fifth member to serve as the commission's chair. If the commission is unable to reach an agreement, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court must appoint a commission chair.[7]
The Pennsylvania Constitution requires that state legislative districts be contiguous and compact. Further, state legislative districts should "respect county, city, incorporated town, borough, township and ward boundaries." There are no such requirements in place for congressional districts.[7]
Pennsylvania State Senate District 48
until November 30, 2022
Click a district to compare boundaries.
Pennsylvania State Senate District 48
starting December 1, 2022
Click a district to compare boundaries.
Elections
2022
General election
General election for Pennsylvania State Senate District 48
Incumbent Chris Gebhard defeated Calvin Clements in the general election for Pennsylvania State Senate District 48 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Chris Gebhard (R) | 68.4 | 74,127 |
| Calvin Clements (D) | 31.6 | 34,264 | ||
| Total votes: 108,391 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Pennsylvania State Senate District 48
Calvin Clements advanced from the Democratic primary for Pennsylvania State Senate District 48 on May 17, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Calvin Clements | 99.2 | 13,973 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.8 | 106 | ||
| Total votes: 14,079 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Pennsylvania State Senate District 48
Incumbent Chris Gebhard advanced from the Republican primary for Pennsylvania State Senate District 48 on May 17, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Chris Gebhard | 99.4 | 34,761 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.6 | 205 | ||
| Total votes: 34,966 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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2021
A special election for Pennsylvania State Senate District 48 was called for May 18, 2021.[8] Candidates running for special elections in Pennsylvania are selected by their respective political parties. The filing deadline for independent candidates was March 29, 2021.[9]
The seat became vacant after the death of David Arnold (R) on January 17, 2021.[10][11]
General election
Special general election for Pennsylvania State Senate District 48
Chris Gebhard defeated Calvin Clements, Ed Krebs, and Timothy McMaster in the special general election for Pennsylvania State Senate District 48 on May 18, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Chris Gebhard (R) | 62.0 | 30,367 |
| Calvin Clements (D) | 30.2 | 14,806 | ||
| Ed Krebs (Bring People Together) | 4.7 | 2,326 | ||
 | Timothy McMaster (L) | 3.1 | 1,499 | |
| Total votes: 48,998 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2020
A special election for Pennsylvania State Senate District 48 was called for January 14, 2020. Candidates running for special elections in Pennsylvania are selected by their respective political parties.
The seat became vacant after Mike Folmer (R) resigned on September 18, 2019. He resigned his seat after being charged with possession of child pornography.[12]
General election
Special general election for Pennsylvania State Senate District 48
David Arnold defeated Michael Schroeder in the special general election for Pennsylvania State Senate District 48 on January 14, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | David Arnold (R) | 64.7 | 18,234 | |
 | Michael Schroeder (D) | 35.3 | 9,950 | |
| Total votes: 28,184 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2018
General election
General election for Pennsylvania State Senate District 48
Incumbent Mike Folmer defeated Lois Herr in the general election for Pennsylvania State Senate District 48 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Mike Folmer (R) | 62.9 | 60,357 |
 | Lois Herr (D) | 37.1 | 35,545 | |
| Total votes: 95,902 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Pennsylvania State Senate District 48
Lois Herr advanced from the Democratic primary for Pennsylvania State Senate District 48 on May 15, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Lois Herr | 100.0 | 8,943 |
| Total votes: 8,943 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Pennsylvania State Senate District 48
Incumbent Mike Folmer advanced from the Republican primary for Pennsylvania State Senate District 48 on May 15, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mike Folmer | 100.0 | 19,468 |
| Total votes: 19,468 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2014
Elections for the Pennsylvania State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 20, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in that election was March 11, 2014. Incumbent Mike Folmer was unopposed in the Republican primary. Folmer was unchallenged in the general election.[13][14]
2010
Elections for the office of Pennsylvania State Senate consisted of a primary election on May 18, 2010, and a general election on November 2, 2010. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 9, 2010. Incumbent Mike Folmer (R) defeated Jo Ellen Litz (D) in the general election. Neither candidate faced opposition in their primary.[15][16]
| Pennsylvania State Senate, District 48, General Election, 2010 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Mike Folmer Incumbent |
72.4% | 63,609 | |
| Democratic | Jo Ellen Litz | 27.6% | 24,298 | |
| Total Votes | 87,907 | |||
Campaign contributions
From 2000 to 2022, candidates for Pennsylvania State Senate District 48 raised a total of $4,452,887. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $212,042 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money
| Campaign contributions, Pennsylvania State Senate District 48 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Amount | Candidates | Average |
| 2022 | $208,782 | 2 | $104,391 |
| 2021 | $297,133 | 4 | $74,283 |
| 2018 | $265,450 | 2 | $132,725 |
| 2014 | $177,937 | 1 | $177,937 |
| 2012 | $68,288 | 1 | $68,288 |
| 2010 | $246,539 | 2 | $123,270 |
| 2008 | $59,925 | 1 | $59,925 |
| 2006 | $1,405,352 | 3 | $468,451 |
| 2004 | $1,002,248 | 2 | $501,124 |
| 2002 | $643,174 | 2 | $321,587 |
| 2000 | $78,059 | 1 | $78,059 |
| Total | $4,452,887 | 21 | $212,042 |
See also
- Pennsylvania State Legislature
- Pennsylvania State Senate
- Pennsylvania House of Representatives
- Pennsylvania state legislative districts
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Pennsylvania Constitution, "Article II, Section 2," accessed November 1, 2021
- ↑ The Constitution of Pennsylvania, "Article II, Section 5: Qualifications of members," accessed May 23, 2025
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
- ↑ State of Pennsylvania, "Pennsylvania Constitution," accessed February 15, 2021 (Article II, Section 2)
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs nameddr - ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 All About Redistricting, "Pennsylvania," accessed May 8, 2015
- ↑ Fox 43, "Lt. Gov. John Fetterman signs writ calling for special election to fill vacant senate district seat," January 26, 2021
- ↑ Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of State, "CALENDAR FOR THE SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE HELD MAY 18, 2021," accessed February 15, 2021
- ↑ Senator Dave Arnold PA, "Announcement on the Passing of Senator David J. Arnold, Jr.," January 17, 2021
- ↑ Politics PA, "State Sen. Dave Arnold Dies at 49," January 17, 2021
- ↑ PoliticsPA, "Folmer Resigns After Being Charged With Possession of Child Pornography," September 18, 2019
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "Official primary results for May 20, 2014," accessed July 9, 2014
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "2014 Official Candidate Listing," accessed March 19, 2014
- ↑ "Pennsylvania Secretary of State - Official General Election Results," accessed November 4, 2013
- ↑ "Pennsylvania Secretary of State - Official Primary Election Results," accessed November 4, 2013
