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| Pennsylvania State Senate District 44 | ||
| Current incumbent | Katie Muth  | |
| Population | 288,673 | |
| Ethnicity | 9.5% Black, 3.5% Hispanic | |
| Voting age | 75.5% age 18 and over | |
Pennsylvania's forty-fourth state senate district is represented by Democratic Senator Katie Muth.
As of the 2010 census, a total of 288,673 civilians reside within Pennsylvania's forty-fourth 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.
Katie Muth (D) defeated incumbent John Rafferty (R) in the general election for Pennsylvania State Senate District 44 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate |
% |
Votes |
||
| ✔ |
|
Katie Muth (D) |
52.0
|
62,692 |
|
|
John Rafferty (R) |
48.0
|
57,943 | |
|
|
Total votes: 120,635 (100.00% precincts reporting) |
Katie Muth advanced from the Democratic primary for Pennsylvania State Senate District 44 on May 15, 2018.
Candidate |
% |
Votes |
||
| ✔ |
|
Katie Muth (D) |
100
|
13,974 |
|
|
Total votes: 13,974 |
Incumbent John Rafferty advanced from the Republican primary for Pennsylvania State Senate District 44 on May 15, 2018.
Candidate |
% |
Votes |
||
| ✔ |
|
John Rafferty (R) |
100
|
14,094 |
|
|
Total votes: 14,094 |
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 John Rafferty was unopposed in the Republican primary, while Kathleen Cozzone was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Rafferty defeated Cozzone in the general election.
Pennsylvania State Senate, District 44 General Election, 2014
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican |  John Rafferty Incumbent |
61.4% | 48,655 | |
| Democratic | Kathleen Cozzone | 38.6% | 30,597 | |
| Total Votes | 79,252 | |||
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 John Rafferty (R) defeated Matt Stehman (D) in the general election and was unopposed in the Republican primary. Stehman did not qualify for the primary ballot, but received enough write-in votes to qualify for the general election.
Pennsylvania State Senate, District 44, General Election, 2010
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | John Rafferty Incumbent |
62.3% | 56,388 | |
| Democratic | Matt Stehman | 37.7% | 34,180 | |
| Total Votes | 90,568 | |||
From 2002 to 2014, candidates for Pennsylvania State Senate District 44 raised a total of $2,968,033. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $228,310 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.
Campaign contributions, Pennsylvania State Senate District 44
| Year | Amount | Candidates | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | $977,682 | 2 | $488,841 |
| 2012 | $214,020 | 1 | $214,020 |
| 2010 | $343,725 | 2 | $171,863 |
| 2008 | $217,273 | 1 | $217,273 |
| 2006 | $387,526 | 2 | $193,763 |
| 2004 | $178,490 | 1 | $178,490 |
| 2002 | $614,769 | 3 | $204,923 |
| 2000 | $34,548 | 1 | $34,548 |
| Total | $2,968,033 | 13 | $228,310 |
