1996 Pennsylvania Senate election
The 1996 elections for the Pennsylvania State Senate were held on November 5, with 25 of 50 districts being contested. Primary elections were held on April 23, 1996. The term of office for those elected in 1996 began when the Senate convened in January 1997. Pennsylvania State Senators are elected for four-year terms, with half of the seats up for election every two years. The election coincided with the 1996 United States presidential election, United States House of Representatives elections and the election of the entirety of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
Republicans had controlled the chamber since the 1994 election.
Results summary
Retiring incumbents
Democrats
- District 35: William J. Stewart retired.
Republicans
- District 19: Earl M. Baker retired.
- District 21: Tim Shaffer retired.
- District 25: John Peterson retired to run for Congress.
- District 37: Mike Fisher retired to run for Attorney General.
Incumbents defeated in primary
Democrats
- District 39: Eugene Porterfield lost renomination to Allen Kukovich.