Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi is coup target; fellow leaders seek to replace him with Sen. Jake Corman

Gov. Tom Corbett may not be the only high-ranking Republican in state government official to lose a re-election bid this month.

Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, R-Delaware County, is now seen at high risk of being pushed out of his top legislative leadership job when Senate Republicans convene Wednesday to elect caucus leaders for the 2015-16 session.

Senate President Pro Tempore Joseph Scarnati, R-Jefferson County, released a letter to his colleagues Thursday endorsing Sen. Jake Corman, R-Centre County, for the majority leader's post.

If successful, Senate historians say, this effort would mark the first time since 1976 that Senate Republicans have pushed aside an incumbent floor leader who had hoped to stay in office.

The leadership election is also of immense importance to Gov.-elect Tom Wolf, because it will establish the Senate leaders Wolf and his staff must deal with to achieve legislative and budget priorities.

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