Harrisburg, PA, November 12, 2026 – State Senator Jay Costa today announced following a reorganization of Senate Democratic leadership, that Senator Tina Tartaglione (D-2, Philadelphia) will serve as Deputy President Pro Tempore of the Pennsylvania Senate.
Senator Jay Costa will serve as President Pro Tempore, with Senator Maria Collett serving as Democratic Leader, Senator Vincent Hughes continuing to serve as Majority Appropriations Chair, and Senator Steve Santasiero taking over as Majority Whip.
Tartaglione previously served as Democratic Whip, a position she held during the historic 2026 election cycle as Democrats secured control of the Pennsylvania Senate for the first time in more than 30 years.
“I’m honored to serve as Deputy President Pro Tempore and grateful to my colleagues for the trust they have placed in me,” Tartaglione said. “Serving as Democratic Whip was an incredible responsibility, and I am proud of the work we did together to build our majority and give Pennsylvania voters a Senate that is ready to deliver meaningful results.”
Tartaglione said she looks forward to continuing to work alongside Costa, Collett and her Senate Democratic colleagues to advance an agenda focused on improving the lives of working families.
“We have a tremendous opportunity in front of us,” Tartaglione said. “Pennsylvania families need us to act on the issues that affect their everyday lives, from raising the minimum wage and addressing affordability to protecting workers and strengthening our communities. I’m ready to continue fighting for the people of Philadelphia and for working families across Pennsylvania in this new role.”
A longtime advocate for Pennsylvania’s working families, Tartaglione has served in the Pennsylvania Senate since 1995 and chaired the Senate Labor & Industry Committee before becoming the first woman elected Senate Democratic Whip. She is the longest-tenured woman in the Pennsylvania General Assembly and has spent her career fighting for working families, seniors, people with disabilities and underserved communities.
“I am proud of what we accomplished to build this majority, but our work is only beginning,” Tartaglione said. “Now we have the responsibility to show Pennsylvanians what a Democratic Senate can accomplish. I look forward to getting to work.”
Committee assignments are yet to be announced at this time.
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