Harrisburg Senate Republicans Win and Change, Democrats Do Nothing

This is all you need to know about the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic situation: it's been 22 years since we've held the majority by the end of the next term, and it would take a lot to swing five seats to stop it from getting to 24. Most of that is not the fault of the current leadership in the Senate, since they took over from a long-time lazy leader in Bob Mellow. Still, the changes were minimal, after losing three seats.

Contrast that with the GOP's Senate Caucus elections today. Wow! Senator Pileggi is out as leader after years in the post. In his place comes Jake Corman, a more conservative Senator who was leading the Appropriations Committee before. So much for a victor's spoils! Lehigh County's Pat Browne will be the new Appropriations Chairman.

The Senate Republicans will move solidly to the right for the new session, a bad sign for the new Governor.