GOP leadership fight brews in Pa. Senate

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi is expected to face a challenge to his leadership for the first time in eight years — a move that signals growing conservative influence in the powerful Republican caucus just as Democratic Gov.-elect Tom Wolf prepares to take office.

Republican senators told The Associated Press today that they expect Appropriations Committee Chairman Jake Corman of Centre County to challenge Pileggi, of Delaware County.

The caucus is scheduled to hold leadership votes Wednesday, and a loss by Pileggi would shift influence at the top of caucus leadership away from Philadelphia’s politically moderate suburbs and to the more conservative central Pennsylvania.

Corman did not respond to requests for comment. But Sens. John Eichelberger of Blair County and Don White of Indiana County said Corman has confirmed his intentions to them in conversations as recently as Wednesday.