In a twist for the 20th Senate District in Pennsylvania, state Sen. Lisa Baker is gearing up to face a challenge from within her own party. For the first time since her initial campaign, Baker will contend with a primary opponent for the Republican nomination.
Tyler Meyers, hailing from Luzerne County like Baker, has officially entered the race, hoping to secure the Republican nomination in the primary election scheduled for May 19. Baker’s political journey began with a contentious battle for the GOP nomination in 2006, which she won against four competitors. Since then, she has encountered no Republican rivals in subsequent re-election bids and consistently triumphed over Democratic contenders in the predominantly Republican district.
The primary victor will proceed to the general election on November 3, where Jackie Baker of Susquehanna County awaits as the Democratic candidate. Jackie, who shares no familial ties with Lisa Baker, previously faced defeat against her four years ago with a substantial margin of over two to one.
Meanwhile, other incumbents in northeast Pennsylvania are also confronting primary challenges. In the 22nd Senate District, Democratic Sen. Marty Flynn is being contested by Jeffrey Lake. Flynn, who ascended to the Senate through a special election in 2021, is vying for his second complete four-year term. The Democratic winner will square off against Sharon Soltis Sparano, who stands unopposed for the Republican nomination, with all contenders residing in Lackawanna County.
In the 115th House District, Democratic Rep. Maureen Madden is seeking her sixth term and will face fellow Democrat Anna Lopez. The victor will compete against Republican Richard Szabo, with all candidates based in Monroe County.
In the 117th District, the Republican nomination will be contested between first-term Rep. Jamie Walsh and William Jones. The winner will meet Jeremy Benscoter, who is running unopposed for the Democratic nomination. Both Republican candidates are from Luzerne County.
PA. HOUSE:
DISTRICT 68 (Bradford/Tioga)
- Rep. Clint Owlett, Republican, Morris Twp., Tioga
- Quentin Joseph Gee, Democratic, Gaines Twp., Tioga
DISTRICT 76 (Clinton/Union)
- Rep. Stephanie Borowicz, Republican, Wayne Twp., Clinton
- Sara Eggler, Democratic, Porter Twp., Clinton
DISTRICT 83 (Lycoming/Union)
- Rep. Jamie Flick, Republican, Armstrong Twp., Lycoming
DISTRICT 84 (Lycoming/Sullivan)
- Rep. Joe Hamm, Republican, Hepburn Twp., Lycoming
DISTRICT 85 (Union, Snyder, Mifflin and Juniata)
- Rep. David Rowe, Republican, East Buffalo Twp., Union
DISTRICT 107 (Northumberland/Schuylkill)
- Rep. Joanne Stehr, Republican, Hegins Twp., Schuylkill
- Ryan Coleman, Democratic, Hegins Twp., Schuylkill
DISTRICT 108 (Montour/Northumberland)
- Rep. Michael Stender, Republican, Upper Augusta Twp., Northumberland
- Amber Neidig, Democratic, Mahoning Twp., Montour
DISTRICT 109 (Columbia)
- Rep. Robert Leadbeter III, Republican, Catawissa Twp.
- Bloomsburg Mayor Justin Hummel, Democratic
DISTRICT 110 (Bradford/Wyoming)
- Rep. Tina Pickett, Republican, Wysox Twp., Bradford;
- Pamela Hemann, Democratic, Meshoppen Twp., Wyoming
DISTRICT 111 (Susquehanna/Wayne)
- Rep. Jonathan Fritz, Republican, Honesdale
- Kyle T. Devlin, Democratic, Susquehanna Depot, Susquehanna
DISTRICT 112 (Lackawanna)
- Rep. Kyle Mullins, Democratic, Blakely
- Joseph J. Sabia Jr., Archbald
DISTRICT 113 (Lackawanna)
- Rep. Kyle Donahue, Democratic, Scranton
- Lucas O’Brien, Republican, Moscow
DISTRICT 114 (Lackawanna)
- Rep. Bridget Kosierowski, Democratic, Waverly Twp.
- Robert Logan Lombardo, Republican, Clarks Summit
- David Burgerhoff, Republican, Scranton
DISTRICT 115 (Monroe)
- Rep. Maureen Madden, Democratic, Coolbaugh Twp.
- Anna Lopez, Democratic, Coolbaugh Twp.
- Richard Szabo, Republican, Coolbaugh Twp.
DISTRICT 116 (Luzerne/Schuylkill)
- Rep. Dane Watro Jr., Republican, Kline Twp., Schuylkill
DISTRICT 117 (Luzerne)
- Rep. Jamie Walsh, Republican, Ross Twp.
- William Jones, Republican, Dorrance Twp.
- Jeremy Benscoter, Democratic, Hunlock Twp.
DISTRICT 118 (Luzerne/Lackawanna)
- Rep. Jim Haddock, Democratic, Pittston Twp., Luzerne
- Luzerne County Councilman John F. Lombardo, Republican, Pittston City, Luzerne
DISTRICT 119 (Luzerne)
- Rep. Alec Ryncavage, Republican, Hanover Twp.
- Lauren McCurdy, Democratic, Wright Twp.
DISTRICT 120 (Luzerne)
- Rep. Brenda Pugh, Republican, Dallas Twp.
- Fern Leard, Democratic, Dallas Twp.
- Luzerne County Councilwoman Joanna Bryn Smith, Democratic, Wyoming
DISTRICT 121 (Luzerne)
- Michael Stadulis, Democratic, Wilkes-Barre
- Jessica McClay, Democratic, Wilkes-Barre
- Michael D. Harostock III, Republican, Bear Creek Village
DISTRICT 122 (Carbon)
- Rep. Doyle Heffley, Republican, Lower Towamensing Twp., Carbon
DISTRICT 123 (Schuylkill)
- Rep. Tim Twardzik, Republican, Butler Twp.
- John A. Deatrich Jr., Democratic, Palo Alto
DISTRICT 124 (Berks/Schuylkill)
- Rep. Jamie Barton, Republican, East Brunswick Twp., Schuylkill
- Tina Burns, Democratic, Tamaqua, Schuylkill
DISTRICT 139 (Wayne/Pike)
- Rep. Jeffrey Olsommer, Republican, Sterling Twp., Wayne
- Dominique N. Azzollini, Democratic, Dingman Twp., Pike
DISTRICT 176 (Monroe)
- Rep. Jack Rader Jr., Republican, Jackson Twp.
DISTRICT 189 (Monroe/Pike)
- Rep. Tarah Probst, Democratic, Stroudsburg, Monroe
- Danica Hartenfels, Republican, Smithfield Twp., Monroe
PA. SENATE
DISTRICT 20 (Luzerne/Pike/Susquehanna/Wayne/Wyoming)
- Sen. Lisa Baker, Republican, Lehman Twp., Luzerne
- Tyler Meyers, Republican, Sugar Notch, Luzerne
- Jackie Baker, Democratic, Liberty Twp., Susquehanna
DISTRICT 22 (Lackawanna/Luzerne)
- Sen. Marty Flynn, Democratic, Dunmore, Lackawanna
- Jeffrey Lake, Democratic, Clarks Summit, Lackawanna
- Sharon Soltis Sparano, Republican, LaPlume Twp., Lackawanna
DISTRICT 40 (Lackawanna/Monroe)
- Sen. Rosemary Brown, Republican, Middle Smithfield Twp., Monroe
- Brian Wrightston, Democratic, Archbald, Lackawanna
U.S. HOUSE
DISTRICT 7 (Monroe/Northampton/Lehigh)
- Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, Republican, Lower Macungie Twp., Lehigh
- Lamont McClure, Democratic, Bethlehem Twp., Northampton
- Carol Obando-Derstine, Democratic, Upper Saucon Twp., Lehigh
- Ryan Crosswell, Democratic, Allentown, Lehigh
- Bob Brooks, Democratic, Moore Twp., Northampton
DISTRICT 8 (Lackawanna/Luzerne/Monroe/Pike/Wayne)
- U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan, Republican, Dallas Twp., Luzerne
- Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti, Democratic, Lackawanna
DISTRICT 9 (Luzerne/Berks/Bradford/Columbia/Lebanon/Luzerne/Lycoming/Montour/Northumberland/Schuylkill/Sullivan/Susquehanna/Wyoming)
- U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, Republican, Jackson Twp., Luzerne
- Rachel Wallace, Democratic, East Brunswick Twp., Schuylkill
DISTRICT 15 (Armstrong/Cameron/Centre/Clarion/Clearfield/Clinton/Elk/Forest/Indiana/Jefferson/Lycoming/McKean/Potter/Snyder/Tioga/Union/Venango/Warren)
- Rep. Glenn Thompson, Republican, Howard Twp., Centre
- Ray Bilger, Democratic, College Twp., Centre
