Democrats have modest goals in state legislative races in November -- to hold onto the seats they have in the Senate and perhaps pick up a few in the House.

		Candidates for Pennsylvania Legislature in November election

Republicans now control the Senate by a 29-21 margin and the House by 109 seats to 94. The Democrats would love to give Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell a majority in both chambers so Rendell could have an easier time pushing his agenda and avoiding conflicts such as last year's six-month budget battle.

But there are two major obstacles to the Democrats taking control of the General Assembly: gerrymandering by Republicans after the 2000 census and Rendell himself, who promised not to campaign against Republican candidates in suburban Philadelphia in exchange for votes for his budget and for slot machine gambling.

"It would take an unprecedented set of circumstances for Democrats to take control of the Legislature," said state Democratic Chairman T.J. Rooney, a House member from Lehigh County.

When the Legislature and party leaders rewrote boundaries for Senate and House districts based on shifting population, the new lines solidified Senate seats for Republicans already in office.

"I blame the Republicans for that," said Ken Snyder, campaign consultant for Senate Democrats. "They took as many Republican [Senate] seats as they could and drew the lines so they would be pretty much immune.

"As a result, we're really left fighting out on the margins. If we pick up two seats, we're 50 percent of the way there [to regaining control of the Senate]."

In this area, two of the four Senate seats have races: In Westmoreland County, Democrat Allen Kukovich of Manor is facing a stiff challenge from Hempfield Supervisor Bob Regola, and in western Allegheny County, Democrat Gianni Floro is challenging incumbent Republican John Pippy. Running without opposition are Democrats Jay Costa Jr. of Forest Hills and Sean Logan of Monroeville.

"We assume [Republicans] are looking at a challenge [of Kukovich] and we intend to defend that seat," Snyder said.

Josh Wilson, political director for the state Republican Party, said the party considers the southwestern corner of the state to be "very fertile ground" for the GOP. He said the party considers Kukovich vulnerable because he is "out of step with the values of the people in his district."

Snyder said Democrats believe they have a decent chance of defeating Sen. James J. Rhoades, R-Schuylkill, a veteran whom he described as having "an awfully short record." He is being challenged by businessman Mike Halcovich.

"It's a Republican-dominated district," Snyder said, "but we think, given the credibility of our candidate, there is a competitive opportunity to do something there."

Democrats say they also have some hope in the Harrisburg area, where ultraconservative Sen. Jeffrey Piccola is battling Eric Epstein.

On the House side, Democrats are fighting against what House Minority Leader D. William DeWeese, D-Waynesburg, called "a Faustian deal" Rendell made with Republicans. Under the agreement, Rendell agreed not to campaign against a handful of Republicans who supported his budget and gambling proposals.

"I'm generally confident Gov. Rendell would prefer a Democratic House and Senate," DeWeese said. "However, he has an almost impossible dilemma where he has to coddle some Republicans so he can move his agenda through.

"His campaign promises could never have been realized if he didn't get along with [Republican House Speaker John] Perzel."

Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Squirrel Hill, said his goal as finance chairman of the Democratic House election committee was to make modest gains this year and make a spirited run to take back control of the House when Rendell seeks re-election in two years. The party lost House seats four years ago when Democrat Al Gore won the presidential race in the state and two years ago when Rendell led the ticket.

"My goal is to reverse that trend," Frankel said. "I'm confident we will stop the bleeding. This is at least a two-cycle process [to take control of the House]."

Frankel said he understood Rendell's need to attract some Republican votes in the Legislature, but he said the governor had been helpful in supporting candidates in other areas.

"He has an extraordinary interest in seeing this caucus do well," Frankel said.

DeWeese said Rendell could be a big help raising money for candidates.

"We would hope to maintain our numbers, but we are under a serious and well-financed assault," DeWeese said. "I hope we can retain our ranks and rev up our campaign engine when Rendell competes for re-election. That will be the real test."

In this eight-county area, there are 39 House seats up for grabs in November. Of those, 36 have incumbents and 20 of those are unopposed.

One race without an incumbent is in Butler County, where Democrat Guy Travaglio retired. Democrat Fred M. Vero, Republican Brian Ellis and Constitution Party candidate Mike Rock are battling for that seat.

Another hotly contested race is in Beaver County, where Democrat Susan Laughlin retired. The contenders in that race are Democratic lawyer Sean Ramaley and Republican Pat Geho, an aide to U.S. Rep Melissa Hart.

In Armstrong County, Republican Jeff Pyle, 39, is running against Democrat Barry Crytzer, 46, for the seat held by Rep. Jeff Coleman, who is not seeking re-election.

In Westmoreland County, Democrat Tom Tangretti of Hempfield is facing a stiff challenge in an attempt to win an eighth term. His opponent is P. Scott Conner, a former Westmoreland County commissioner.