| Election Name: | 2002 Pennsylvania Senate election |
| Country: | Pennsylvania |
| Type: | legislative |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2000 Pennsylvania Senate election |
| Previous Year: | 2000 |
| Next Election: | 2004 Pennsylvania Senate election |
| Next Year: | 2004 |
| Seats For Election: | All even-numbered seats in the Pennsylvania State Senate |
| Majority Seats: | 26 |
| Election Date: | November 5, 2002 |
| Leader1: | Robert Jubelirer |
| Party1: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Leaders Seat1: | 30th district |
| Last Election1: | 30 |
| Seats Before1: | 29 |
| Seats1: | 15 |
| Seats After1: | 29 |
| Leader2: | Bob Mellow |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Leaders Seat2: | 22nd District |
| Last Election2: | 20 |
| Seats Before2: | 21 |
| Seats2: | 10 |
| Seats After2: | 21 |
| Map Size: | 350px |
Elections for the Pennsylvania State Senate were held on November 5, 2002, with even-numbered districts being contested.[1] State Senators are elected for four-year terms, with half of the Senate seats up for a vote every two years.[2] The term of office for those elected in 2002 ran from January 3, 2003[3] until November 28, 2006.[4] Necessary primary elections were held on May 21, 2002.[5]
This was the first Pennsylvania State Senate election held after the constitutionally-mandated[6] decennial reapportionment plan.[7] [8]
None of the seats of the three senators who did not run for re-election changed party hands. Robert C. Wonderling succeeded the retiring Republican senator, Edwin G. Holl. John C. Rafferty, Jr. succeeded Republican Senator James W. Gerlach, who successfully ran for Pennsylvania's 6th congressional district. Jim Ferlo, a veteran member of Pittsburgh's City Council, succeeded the retiring Democratic senator Leonard J. Bodack.[9]
| Affiliation | Members | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Republican Party | 29 | ||
| Democratic Party | 21 | ||
| Total | 50 | ||