The realignment of Pennsylvania’s senatorial Districts following the 2020 Census resulted in Times News area municipalities being represented by five different senators.

Because not all 50 senators currently in office are up for re-election, there will be elections in four of the five districts. They are the 14th, 16th, 18th and 40th districts. Meanwhile, in the 29th District, Sen. David Argall is midterm and still has two years remaining on his term, although the redistricting has changed some municipalities that he will be representing.

Primary election balloting for Democratic and Republican nominations for seats in the Pennsylvania Senate that are up for grabs this year will take place on Tuesday, when voting polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. All of the positions are for four-year terms.

The district boundaries were finalized earlier this year when the Supreme Court of PA entered a unanimous (7-0) order on March 16 finding “that the Final Reapportionment Plan of the Pennsylvania Legislative Reapportionment Commission filed on Feb. 4, 2022, is in compliance with the mandates of the Pennsylvania Constitution and the U.S. Constitution and is not contrary to law, and, therefore, shall have the force of law.”

The court also “ordered that said plan shall be used in all forthcoming elections to the General Assembly until the next constitutionally mandated reapportionment shall be approved.”

The result of the high court’s order, and the filing of nominating petitions in Carbon, Schuylkill, Lehigh, Northampton and Monroe counties affects voters in the following senatorial districts in the Times News reading area:

14th District

The district consists of parts of Lehigh County, consisting of the City of Allentown (parts, wards 1-12, 14-17 and 19) and the townships of Hanover, Salisbury, South Whitehall (parts, districts 1, 2, 4 5 and 7) and Whitehall and the boroughs of Catasauqua, Coplay, Emmaus and Fountain Hill, and part of Northampton County, consisting of the townships of Allen, Bushkill, East Allen, Hanover, Lehigh and Moore and the boroughs of Bath, Chapman, North Catasauqua, Northampton and Walnutport.

The primary election candidates include Democrats Nick Miller and Yamelisa Taveras, both of Lehigh County, and Tara Zrinski of Northampton County. The winner of that runoff will face the winner of a three-person Republican race of Cindy Miller and Omy J. Maldonado, both of Northampton County, and Dean D. Browning of Lehigh County.

16th District

The district consists of parts of Bucks County, consisting of the townships of Bedminster, Bridgeton, Durham, East Rockhill, Haycock, Hilltown, Milford, Nockamixon, Richland, Springfield, Tinicum and West Rockhill and the boroughs of Dublin, Perkasie, Quakertown, Richlandtown, Riegelsville, Sellersville, Silverdale, Telford (Bucks County portion) and Trumbauersville, and parts of Lehigh County, consisting of the City of Allentown (part, wards 13 and 18), the townships of Heidelberg, Lower Macungie, Lower Milford, Lowhill, Lynn, North Whitehall, South Whitehall (part, districts 03, 06 and 08), Upper Macungie, Upper Milford, Upper Saucon, Washington and Weisenberg and the boroughs of Alburtis, Coopersburg, Macungie and Slatington.

Sen. Pat Browne of Allentown, a Republican, is running for re-election and is being challenged by Jarrett Coleman of Upper Macungie Township. The lone Democrat seeking the nomination is Mark Pinsley of South Whitehall Township.

18th District

The district consists of parts of Lehigh County, consisting of the City of Bethlehem (Lehigh County portion) and parts of Northampton County, consisting of the cities of Bethlehem (Northampton County portion) and Easton, the townships of Bethlehem, Forks, Lower Mount Bethel, Lower Nazareth, Lower Saucon, Palmer, Plainfield, Upper Mount Bethel, Upper Nazareth, Washington and Williams, and the boroughs of Bangor, East Bangor, Freemansburg, Glendon, Hellertown, Nazareth, Pen Argyl, Portland, Roseto, Stockertown, Tatamy, West Easton, Wilson and Wind Gap.

Incumbent Sen. Lisa Boscola, a Democrat from Northampton, is unopposed within her party and will face Republican John Merhottein of Northampton County in the general election as he is unopposed on the GOP side in the primary.

40th District

The district consists of all of Monroe County; parts of Lackawanna County consisting of the City of Carbondale, the townships of Carbondale, Clifton, Covington, Elmhurst, Fell, Jefferson, Madison, Roaring Brook, Spring Brook and Thornhurst, and the boroughs of Archbald, Blakely, Jermyn, Jessup, Mayfield, Moscow, Olyphant and Vandling; and parts of Wayne County consisting of the townships of Canaan, Cherry Ridge, Dreher, Lake, Lehigh, Salem, South Canaan, Sterling and Texas, and the boroughs of Honesdale, Prompton and Waymart.

Sen. Mario Scavello, a Republican from Mount Pocono, has represented the district but is not seeking re-election.

The candidates are Republican Rosemary Brown, a current House of Representatives members from Middle Smithfield Township, and Democrat Jennifer Shukaitis of Stroud Township. The two will square off against each other in November.

29th District

The realignment changed some boundaries in the 29th District that is currently represented by Sen. David Argall, a Republican from Lake Hauto.

The biggest change is that all of Carbon County was moved from the 14th District to the 29th. Argall is not up for re-election, but will automatically assume representation of Carbon County when the redistricting takes effect next year, even though Carbon voters did not participate in the 29th District voting.

Sen. John Yudichak, an Independent, is currently representing Carbon as it is part of the 14th District. Yudichak is not seeking re-election.

The “new” 29th District consists of all of Carbon and Schuylkill counties and parts of Luzerne County consisting of the City of Hazleton, the townships of Bear Creek, Buck, Dennison, Foster and Hazle, and the boroughs of Bear Creek Village, Freeland, Jeddo, Penn Lake Park, West Hazleton and White Haven.