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| Pennsylvania State Senate District 17 | ||
| Current incumbent | Daylin Leach  | |
| Population | 248,670 | |
| Ethnicity | 9.2% Black, 5.8% Hispanic | |
| Voting age | 78.2% age 18 and over | |
Pennsylvania's seventeenth state senate district is represented by Democratic Senator Daylin Leach.
As of the 2010 census, a total of 248,670 civilians reside within Pennsylvania's seventeenth state senate district. Pennsylvania state senators represent an average of 254,048 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 245,621 residents.
Members of the Pennsylvania State Senate serve four-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Pennsylvania legislators' terms officially begin on December 1 the year of their election. However, legislators take the oath of office the first Tuesday in January.
Under Article II of the Pennsylvania Constitution, Senators shall be at least twenty-five years of age and Representatives twenty-one years of age. They shall have been citizens 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.
| State legislators | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $87,180/year | $183/day |
Legislators in Pennsylvania are able to retire at age 50, while other state workers cannot retire until they turn 60. In 2011, the average legislative pension was $35,221 annually, while the average state employee pension was $23,491. According to former legislator David Mayernik, who began collecting a pension of $29,583 a year when he retired at age 50, the lowered retirement age was intended as compensation for small legislative salaries as well as the uncertainty of serving in office.
If there is a vacancy in the senate, a special election must be held to fill the vacant seat. The Senate President must call for a special election. There are no deadlines set in the state constitution on when a special election can be held.
Elections for the office of Pennsylvania State Senate will take place in 2020. The general election will be held on November 3, 2020. A primary is scheduled for April 28, 2020. The filing deadline is February 18, 2020.
Elections for the Pennsylvania State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election was held on April 26, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was February 16, 2016.
Incumbent Daylin Leach defeated Brian Gondek in the Pennsylvania State Senate District 17 general election.Pennsylvania State Senate District 17, General Election, 2016
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic |  Daylin Leach Incumbent |
63.98% | 88,827 | |
| Republican | Brian Gondek | 36.02% | 50,010 | |
| Total Votes | 138,837 | |||
| Source: Pennsylvania Department of State | ||||
Pennsylvania State Senate District 17, Democratic Primary, 2016
| Party | Candidate | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Daylin Leach Incumbent (unopposed) |
Pennsylvania State Senate District 17, Republican Primary, 2016
| Party | Candidate | |
|---|---|---|
| Republican | Brian Gondek (unopposed) |
Elections for the office of Pennsylvania State Senate consisted of a primary election on April 24, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was February 16, 2012. Incumbent Daylin Leach (D) defeated Charles Gehret (R) in the general election. Neither candidate faced opposition in their primary.
Pennsylvania State Senate, District 17, General Election, 2012
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Daylin Leach Incumbent |
63.2% | 78,508 | |
| Republican | Charles Gehret | 36.8% | 45,707 | |
| Total Votes | 124,215 | |||
From 2002 to 2016, candidates for Pennsylvania State Senate District 17 raised a total of $6,526,610. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $407,913 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.
Campaign contributions, Pennsylvania State Senate District 17
| Year | Amount | Candidates | Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | $130,377 | 2 | $65,189 | |
| 2012 * | $833,352 | 2 | $416,676 | |
| 2010 | $137,815 | 1 | $137,815 | |
| 2008 | $1,895,417 | 3 | $631,806 | |
| 2006 | $57,359 | 1 | $57,359 | |
| 2004 | $741,559 | 2 | $370,780 | |
| 2002 | $1,292,429 | 3 | $430,810 | |
| 2000 | $1,438,302 | 2 | $719,151 | |
| Total | $6,526,610 | 16 | $407,913 | |
| * Campaign finance data for 2012 is incomplete for this district. | ||||
