HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi is facing 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.

The Associated Press obtained a letter Thursday signed by Appropriations Committee Chairman Jake Corman of Centre County announcing his candidacy for majority leader.

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 the letter presents Corman on a slate of candidates with other Senate GOP leadership holdovers, including President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati.

“Now, as we prepare to face Governor-elect Tom Wolf’s promise to move the state away from fiscal responsibility, away from focus on the taxpayer, and away from smaller government, we as a caucus must return to the goals set in late 2006,” the letter signed by Scarnati, Corman and Browne said.