Wilmot invited a small group of friends and political leaders to the organization's first meeting, which took place in his home.

Senator Simon Cameron, Congressman Thaddeus Stevens, Colonel Alexander McClure and future governor Andrew Gregg Curtin.

Wilmot convinced the group to form local Republican Clubs in their home counties.

This is at least partially attributed to the desire of many in the state to promote its growing industries by raising taxes.

From the period immediately preceding the Civil War until the mid-1930s, political dominance in the state largely rested with the Republican Party.

[4] Republican dominance was ended by the growing influence of labor and urbanization, and the implementation of the New Deal.

Democrats continued to hold the governorship into 1963, following the 1958 election of Pittsburgh Mayor David L. Lawrence to succeed Leader.

However, in the 1970 election, Democrat Milton Shapp defeated Shafer's Lieutenant Governor, Ray Broderick.

In 1992, Pennsylvania was carried by Democrat Bill Clinton, who received 45.1% of the popular vote and Republican Bush got 36.1%.

Republicans would hold both of Pennsylvania's Senate seats until Santorum was defeated in his bid for a third term in 2006.

Casey also became the first Democrat elected to a full Senate term from Pennsylvania since Joseph Clark was re-elected in 1962.

In the gubernatorial election, incumbent Democratic governor Ed Rendell won a comfortable re-election over Republican challenger Lynn Swann.

Republican State Attorney General Tom Corbett was re-elected with 52.4% of the vote, defeating Democrat John Morganelli.

Additionally, in the election for two judges to the Commonwealth Court, Republicans Patricia McCullough and Kevin Broboson came-out on top of a four-candidate field.

Specter's partisan defection had briefly given Democrats control of both of Pennsylvania's Senate seats for the first time since before the Civil War.