HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi is facing a challenge to his leadership for the first time in eight years.

This is a move that signals growing conservative influence in the powerful Republican caucus.

This coming at a time when the GOP is stronger in the Legislature after Tuesday’s election, and just before it will face Democrat Governor-elect Tom Wolf next year.

Appropriations Committee Chairman Jake Corman of Centre County signed a letter to fellow Republican senators Thursday announcing his candidacy for majority leader. The caucus holds leadership votes Wednesday.

A loss by Pileggi would shift influence atop caucus leadership away from Philadelphia’s heavily populated and politically moderate suburbs that Pileggi helps represent to more conservative central Pennsylvania.

Corman’s challenge move follows caucus contention over a failure to pass major legislation overhauling public pension benefits and privatizing the sale of liquor and wine.

Leadership votes are taken by secret ballot, but Pileggi says he believes he has the support to win.