Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania Endorsements

Nina Ahmad is the Democratic candidate for Pennsylvania Auditor General. Ahmad is a Bangladeshi immigrant who came to the U.S. to earn a PhD in Chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania. She married and stayed in the U.S. to raise a family and start a small business as a molecular biologist. She served with many nonprofits and advocacy groups and most recently as Deputy Mayor for Public Engagement under Mayor Kenney. If elected, she would be the first woman of color to hold the Auditor General position in Pennsylvania’s history. 

Ahmad’s platform is advocating for transparency and promoting the public good. She positions herself as the chief fiscal watchdog, who will use facts and data to ensure responsible governance. She is outspoken in her support for minority communities and for the historic marches for civil rights that have captivated the nation this year. 

Ahmad is facing three opponents in the general election: Timothy DeFoor, a Republican; Olivia Faison of the Green Party; and Jennifer Moore, a libertarian. DeFoor has also worked in government watchdog roles in the PA Attorney General’s office and the Dauphin County controller. He has no published platform except for allying himself closely with the police. Faison has very little campaign presence beyond a Facebook page with no information about the candidate or her views. Moore is the auditor in the Upper Province of Montgomery County. She has very little campaign presence except for an entry on a libertarian party page with vague claims of independence. 

Nina Ahmad is the clear progressive choice in this race.

Josh Shapiro is the Democratic candidate for Pennsylvania Attorney General. Shapiro spent the first part of his career working as advisors for U.S. Senators and leaders in Congress. He worked with U.S. Senators Carl Levin and Robert Torricelli and Congressmen Peter Deutsch and Joe Hoeffel. Shapiro also served in the Pennsylvania State House from 2005 to 2011 and as Montgomery County Commissioner from 2011 to 2017. He was elected Attorney General in 2017.

Shapiro’s top priorities are protecting seniors, veterans, and small businesses from scams, fighting the opioid epidemic and treating those suffering from addiction, and ensuring faith and integrity in the justice system. More recently, Shapiro has been focused on police misconduct and violence. He’s formed a coalition of officials to build a statewide police employee registry to ensure all citizens are protected from police brutality and racism. 

Shapiro is facing three opponents in the general election: Heather Heidelbaugh, a Republican; Richard Weiss from the Green Party, and Daniel Wassmer, a libertarian. Heidelbaugh, who is from Missouri, sat on the Allegheny Council. She prides herself in cutting social programs. Weiss has no published campaign platform. Wassmer has no campaign presence. 

Josh Shapiro is the clear progressive choice in this race.

Joseph Torsella is the Democratic candidate for Pennsylvania Treasurer. Torsella is from Berwick and graduated from University of Pennsylvania. He subsequently studied history at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar. In the 1990s, Torsella served as deputy mayor for planning and policy under Mayor Ed Rendell. He also served as chair of the Pennsylvania Board of Education. From 2011 to 2014, Torsella served as the U.S. Representative to the United Nations. He has served as Pennsylvania Treasurer since 2017. 

Torsella’s platform is a commitment to transparency and integrity, helping low and middle income families, and producing proven results for taxpayers. Torsella prides himself on making government spending as transparent as possible, and believes all citizens should be auditors. He is also committed to fighting inequality and helping families improve financial literacy. Torsella plans to create universal college savings and individual retirement accounts to help bridge the income gap. 

Torsella is facing three opponents in the general election: Stacy Garrity, a Republican; Timothy Runkle, from the Green Party, and Joseph Soloski, a libertarian. Garrity is an accountant and former Army reservist. She is running for political office on the platform of not being a politician. Runkle has no significant, public campaign platform. Soloski is an accountant who wants to eliminate taxes for the very wealthy and large corporations. 

Joseph Torsella is the clear progressive choice in this race.

Nikil Saval is a community organizer with over a decade of experience fighting for working people. He organized homeowners and won back 1,000 jobs that were cut in the public school system. Saval co-founded Reclaim Philadelphia, which fights for progressive change within the Democratic Party. For his work, Saval has been endorsed by over 30 different progressive organizations, unions, candidates, and politicians.

Saval’s top issues include investing in affordable housing and securing renters’ rights, creating a single-payer healthcare program, and a Green New Deal for Pennsylvania. Saval offers comprehensive plans to tackle nearly every issue on the progressive docket.

Nikil Saval defeated incumbent Sen. Lawrence Farnese, Jr. in the 2020 primary election.

He is running unopposed in the general election.

Vincent Hughes is the Democratic candidate for the Pennsylvania State Senate seat in the 7th senate district. Hughes grew up in Philadelphia. As a young man, he worked in libraries and got his early political experience advocating on behalf of workers in the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Union. In 1986, he was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. From 1991 to 1994, he was chairman of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus.

In his time as a state senator, Hughes has expanded healthcare for low-income workers, raised the minimum wage, defended the right to vote, fought for increased funding for public education, and helped rebuild the state’s distressed communities. As Democratic Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Sen. Hughes holds a major role in developing Pennsylvania’s annual budget of nearly $34 billion, guiding the state’s spending priorities.

Senator Hughes is well-known for championing the right to vote. He is co-chairman of the National Commission for Voter Justice, an organization that reveals numerous voter suppression tactics being utilized in communities throughout the nation. Senator Hughes is also well-known for fighting for affordable education. He championed the Pennsylvania Promise initiative, a statewide effort to provide free college for state residents. Finally, the senator has been recognized both locally and nationally for his work on HIV/AIDS, as well as his efforts to raise awareness on the challenges of mental health in the Black community. During the pandemic, Vincent Hughes voted to provide protective gear, testing, hazard pay, family leave, and preserve disaster declarations put in place to protect Pennsylvanians, even as Republicans almost unanimously voted against all of these measures.

Vincent Hughes is running unopposed.

SD13 has been identified as a key swing district. Democrats must win this seat to flip the State Senate and make progress for working families in Pennsylvania.

Janet Diaz is the Democratic candidate for the Pennsylvania State Senate seat in the 13th district. She is a longtime resident of Lancaster, Pennsylvania and spent much of her 17-year career as a Stroke Registrar Medical Analyst at Lancaster General Hospital. In the last few years she felt a calling to serve the broader community. She began to volunteer at nursing homes and became a sexual assault counselor at the YMCA. In 2017, she became the first Latina to serve on the Lancaster City Council. Since that time, she has joined the PA Dems Latino Caucus, NALEO Education Fund, the National Federation of Democratic Women, the Farmers Union, the African-American Historical Society, and the Pennsylvanian Municipal League.

Janet is running with a broad progressive platform. She supports increasing the minimum wage; protecting the environment and stopping the expansion of fracking; expansion of health care options for Pennsylvania (with particular attention to mental health); and the regulation of firearms to combat gun violence. Diaz is an outspoken advocate for the protection of reproductive rights, and she is dedicated to protecting the rights of communities of color and the LGBTQ+ community.

Janet Diaz is running to unseat Republican Scott Martin, who has held the seat since 2016. If she wins, she would be the first Latina to be elected State Senator in Pennsylvania. Martin has pledged to cut state worker pensions and reduce funding for public education. Martin’s voting record reflects a disregard for health and safety. In 2017, he sponsored a bill to put more guns in schools, increasing risks to students. Later that year, Martin attempted to eliminate the legal reproductive health rights of his neighbors. In the middle of a pandemic, Scott Martin joined Republicans in their near unanimous vote against providing protective gear, testing, hazard pay, family leave, and preserving disaster declarations put in place to protect Pennsylvanians.

Janet Diaz is the clear progressive choice in this race.

SD15 has been identified as a key swing district. Democrats must win this seat to flip the State Senate and make progress for working families in Pennsylvania.

George Scott is running for the State Senate seat in Pennsylvania’s 15th district. He was raised on a family farm in south-central Pennsylvania. He is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army and has a decorated military career that spans more than two decades.

George Scott has dedicated himself to a life of service and living his progressive values. After his military career, he returned to Pennsylvania to earn a master’s degree in divinity and became a pastor in Liverpool. He is an outspoken advocate for racial and LGBTQ+ justice. When he is not working on food drives to help those hardest hit by the pandemic, he spends his time putting up solar panels on government buildings.

George Scott narrowly lost a campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives coming short less than 8,000 votes out of almost 300,000 votes cast. In that race, Scott introduced himself to voters with a progressive platform of expanding funding for education, preserving and expanding health care coverage, and protecting disadvantaged groups of people from discrimination. In 2020, George Scott also added electoral fairness to his priorities, advocating for caps and transparency for campaign contributions, term limits, and same-day registration.

George Scott’s opponent is John DiSanto, a Republican incumbent who has held the seat since 2016. DiSanto’s voting record demonstrates a disregard for the health and safety of his constituents. In 2017, he voted to eliminate aid for Pennsylvanians living poverty. In 2019, he voted to bring more guns into Pennsylvania schools. Later that year, he voted to take away Medicare from his neighbors who were too sick to work. In the middle of a pandemic, DiSanto joined Republicans in their near unanimous vote against providing protective gear, testing, hazard pay, family leave, and preserving disaster declarations put in place to protect Pennsylvanians.

George Scott is the clear progressive choice in this race.

Amanda Cappelletti is the Democratic candidate for the Pennsylvania State Senate seat in the 17th senate district. Cappelletti is currently serving as Vice Chair of the East Norriton Board of Supervisors. She was previously a fellow for the ACLU of Pennsylvania, an advocate at the Office of Child Development and Early Learning and a policy specialist at the Department of Human Services.

Cappelletti’s platform is progressive. She pledges to make healthcare affordable, equitably fund education, and protect the environment. She also offers plans on less-visible progressive issues as well. This includes ending the wage gap, implementing workplace accommodations for new mothers and raising the minimum wage.

Cappelletti’s opponent is Republican Ellen Fisher. Fisher has no policy stances publicly available. In the middle of a pandemic, Fisher cheered Republicans in their near unanimous vote against providing protective gear, testing, hazard pay, family leave, and preserving disaster declarations put in place to protect Pennsylvanians.

Amanda Cappelletti is the clear progressive choice in this race.

Carolyn Comitta is the Democratic candidate for the Pennsylvania State Senate seat in the 19th district. Comitta has been in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives since 2016. Prior to serving in public office, Comitta was a teacher and two term mayor of West Chester.

Comitta’s demonstrates a commitment to her constituents health, safety, and prosperity. Comitta voted against loosening oil and gas drilling restrictions and voted against granting billions of dollars in tax subsidies to manufacturers that rely on fracked natural gas. She voted against the reinstatement of mandatory minimum sentences. Comitta also voted to enforce background checks on aspiring police officers. During the pandemic, Carolyn Comitta voted to provide protective gear, testing, hazard pay, family leave, and preserve disaster declarations put in place to protect Pennsylvanians, even as Republicans almost unanimously voted against all of these measures.

Comitta is facing Republican candidate Kevin Runey this fall. If elected, Runey plans to remove regulations that protect consumers and employees. He says schools need proper funding but does not offer a plan on how to get said funding. He is passionate about increasing funding for local EMS and fire companies but also has no plan for how to pay for it.

Carolyn Comitta is the clear progressive choice in this race.

SD31 has been identified as a key swing district. Democrats must win this seat to flip the State Senate and make progress for working families in Pennsylvania.

Shanna Danielson is the Democratic candidate for the Pennsylvania State Senate seat in the 31^st district. Danielson has spent most of her time in small Pennsylvania towns. A former elementary school teacher, Danielson says she entered politics after years of witnessing cuts to education in Pennsylvania.

Danielson’s top priorities are education, gun violence prevention, healthcare and government accountability. She is fighting for fair and equitable school funding. Danielson also says she will address student debt and promote affordable child care. She also advocates for universal firearm background checks and increased mental health resources. Additionally, Danielson believes healthcare is a right for all Pennsylvanians and will take a stand to protect the reproductive health of her constituents.

Shanna Danielson is challenging Republican Mike Reagan. When he was in the State House, Reagan cosponsored a bill to roll back rights for unions to organize. In 2017, Reagan sponsored a bill to take away aid from the unemployed. In 2019, he sponsored a bill to put more guns in schools. In the middle of a pandemic, Mike Reagan joined Republicans in their near unanimous vote against providing protective gear, testing, hazard pay, family leave, and preserving disaster declarations put in place to protect Pennsylvanians.

Shanna Danielson is the clear progressive choice in this race.

Jay Costa is the Democratic candidate for he Pennsylvania State Senate in the 43rd district. Prior to taking office, he was a deputy sheriff in Allegheny County and Allegheny County Register of Wills. Now, he is a principal of a Pittsburgh law firm.

Costa’s record demonstrates care for the health and safety of his constituents. Costa has cosponsored legislation to incrementally raise the minimum wage and establish the state’s medical cannabis program. He also cosponsored a bill to promote the development and use of alternative energy sources. Costa also voted last year against granting billions of dollars in tax breaks to manufacturers that rely on fracked natural gas. Additionally, Costa has voted against attempts to restrict Pennsylvanians’ legal right to reproductive health care. During the pandemic, Jay Costa voted to provide protective gear, testing, hazard pay, family leave, and preserve disaster declarations put in place to protect Pennsylvanians, even as Republicans almost unanimously voted against all of these measures.

Jay Costa is running unopposed.

SD49 has been identified as a key swing district. Democrats must win this seat to flip the State Senate and make progress for working families in Pennsylvania.

Democratic candidate Julie Slomski is running for Pennsylvania State Senate in the 49th district. She is a lifelong resident of Erie and comes from a working-class family of factory workers and health care providers. Slomski entered public service working as Chief of Staff for State Representative Bizzarro.

Slomski’s top priorities are supporting public education, combating gun violence and protecting reproductive rights. Slomski has used her platform to connect constituents to resources during the pandemic. She has also been outspoken in support of this year's historic civil rights marches against racism and police brutality.

Slomski is running against Republican incumbent Dan Laughlin. In 2018, Laughlin voted to take away Medicaid from Pennsylvanians who are too sick to work. In 2019, he also voted to repeal the largest anti-poverty program in the state. In the middle of a pandemic, Laughlin joined Republicans in their near unanimous vote against providing protective gear, testing, hazard pay, family leave, and preserving disaster declarations put in place to protect Pennsylvanians.

Julie Slomski is the clear progressive choice in this race.

Daniel Smith is the Democratic candidate for the Pennsylvania State House seat in the 12th legislative district. Smith is an openly gay man and former Republican. He spent 25 years in the financial industry. In 2018, he switched parties to run as a Democrat as his former party abandoned its principles.

Smith plans to increase spending for public school officials by shifting the system away from standardized testing. He aspires to implement a county-wide public transit system, which he says will expand all kinds of opportunities for the Butler community. Smith is also running to implement term limits for state representatives. His opponent has held his current office for 20 years.

Daniel Smith is running against Republican Daryl Metcalfe. He is notorious for his anti-LGBTQ+ record. Metcalfe not only co-sponsored legislation that would ban same-sex marriage, but also personally attacked Smith for his romantic and sexual orientation on the 2018 campaign trail. Metcalfe voted to end the General Assistance, the largest anti-poverty program in the state. He also voted to take food stamps away from his poorest constituents. In 2013, he voted against the most comprehensive transportation plan the state had seen in 20 years. In the middle of a pandemic, Daryl Metcalfe joined Republicans in their near unanimous vote against providing protective gear, testing, hazard pay, family leave, and preserving disaster declarations put in place to protect Pennsylvanians.

Daniel Smith is the clear progressive choice in this race.

HD13 has been identified as a key swing district. Democrats must win this seat to flip the State House and make progress for working families in Pennsylvania.

Richard Ruggieri is the Democratic candidate for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives seat in the 13^th legislative district. Ruggieri is a U.S. Army veteran and now serves as an Assistant Vice President of IT Service Management.

Ruggieri is a proponent of revitalizing the public education system by offering more resources and support to students, parents, teachers, and school personnel. He pledges to work for a bipartisan solution to the school funding shortage once elected that does not raise property taxes. Ruggieri is also in favor of transitioning the state to clean, renewable energy sources and creating jobs along the way. Ruggieri is also running to overturn legislation that privatizes the Chester Water Authority.

Ruggieri is challenging Republican incumbent John Lawrence. Since taking office in 2010, Lawrence has repeatedly supported legislation that gives tax breaks to corporations and millionaires. In 2017, Lawrence voted to usurp the decision-making power of local governments by banning local regulations to reduce litter. Last year, he voted in favor of legislation that undermines the ability of underfunded school districts to receive state funds. In the middle of a pandemic, John Lawrence joined Republicans in their near unanimous vote against providing protective gear, testing, hazard pay, family leave, and preserving disaster declarations put in place to protect Pennsylvanians.

Richard Ruggieri is the progressive choice in this race.

HD18 has been identified as a key swing district. Democrats must win this seat to flip the State House and make progress for working families in Pennsylvania.

Harold “Howie” Hayes is the Democratic candidate running for the Pennsylvania State House seat in the 18th legislative district. Hayes is a plumber, small business owner, and father. A native of Frankford, Hayes has called Bucks County home for the past decade. After high school, Hayes joined the apprentice program with Plumbers Local 690 and went on to build a business employing dozens of union members. He and his wife work on behalf of local Democratic candidates.

Hayes's platform is progressive. He advocates for worker’s rights to safe working conditions and collective bargaining, and especially to healthcare coverage. He has two young children who are students in the district and is committed to improving educational opportunities for all Pennsylvania’s students. Hayes also believes residents have a right to clean air and water and advocates to protect the environment.

Hayes is running against incumbent Republican Rep. Kathleen (KC) Tomlinson. Hayes narrowly lost a low-turnout special election against Tomlinson in March. On her Facebook page, Tomlinson has attacked the historic civil rights marches against racism and police brutality. In the middle of a pandemic, Tomlinson joined Republicans in their near unanimous vote against providing protective gear, testing, hazard pay, family leave, and preserving disaster declarations put in place to protect Pennsylvanians.

Harold Hayes is the clear progressive choice in this race.

Emily Kinkead is the Democratic candidate running for the Pennsylvania State House in the 20th legislative district. She has lived and worked in Pittsburgh her whole life. Kinkead comes from a family of paramedics, which she says taught her the importance of public service. After college she worked as a lawyer advocating for people with disabilities, lobbying for public financing of elections, and pushing businesses to be more responsive to climate change. She also co-chairs the Women in the Law Division of the Allegheny County Bar Association, which strives to end bias in the legal profession.

Kinkead’s platform is progressive. She advocates for increasing the minimum wage, championing policy that sees healthcare as a right, combating climate change, increasing funding for education, and protecting the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. During the pandemic, Kinkead cheered Democratic efforts to provide protective gear, testing, hazard pay, family leave, and preserve disaster declarations put in place to protect Pennsylvanians, even as Republicans almost unanimously voted against all of these measures.

Emily Kinkead is running unopposed.

Sara Innamorato is the Democratic candidate for the Pennsylvania State House in the 21st legislative district. Innamorato is a lifetime Pittsburgh resident. After her father died as a result of opioid addiction, she devoted her career to nonprofit work in community development, job creation, and environmental justice. She eventually started her own company, Innamo Co, which focused on the promotion of social justice and women’s rights.

Innamorato’s record reflects her progressive values. She voted to prevent GOP from taking away legal reproductive rights. She also voted against efforts to defund poorer school districts in favor of wealthier districts and charter schools. Closer to home, she has dedicated her office’s resources to fighting for affordable housing in the Lawrenceville neighborhood. During the pandemic, Innamorato voted to provide protective gear, testing, hazard pay, family leave, and preserve disaster declarations put in place to protect Pennsylvanians, even as Republicans almost unanimously voted against all of these measures.

Her opponent, Republican John Waugh, is a strong supporter of President Trump. Waugh does not have detailed policy positions but has posted support for the police on his facebook page in response to nationwide marches against racism and police violence.

Sara Innamorato is the clear progressive choice in this race.

Peter Schweyer is the Democratic candidate for the Pennsylvania State House seat in the 22nd district. Schweyer’s background is in education and health care. He spent much of his career prior to holding office working in pre-K and elementary school. Prior to holding state office, he sat on the Allentown City Council.

Schweyer’s voting record is progressive. In 2017, he sponsored a bill to provide more mental health resources to schools. In 2018, he sponsored a bill to protect domestic abuse survivors from gun violence. In 2019, he sponsored a bill to require more de-escalation training for police officers; and this year sponsored a bill to also require they have background checks for histories of violence. During the pandemic, Peter Schweyer voted to provide protective gear, testing, hazard pay, family leave, and preserve disaster declarations put in place to protect Pennsylvanians, even as Republicans almost unanimously voted against all of these measures.

Peter Schweyer is running unopposed.

Dan Frankel is the Democratic candidate for the Pennsylvania State House’s 23rd legislative district. He was born in Pittsburgh, and returned to the city after college to work on social issues. He spent more than a decade working on the Board of Urban Redevelopment and with several Jewish community organizations. Rep. Frankel has been an outspoken advocate for civil rights and public health for most of his career.

In office, Frankel has worked with urban development authorities to preserve and expand green spaces in the Pittsburgh area. He also expanded his work in public health and civil rights and opposed GOP efforts to limit women’s healthcare. Today, Frankel is the co-chair of Pennsylvania’s LGBTQ+ Equality and PA Safe Caucuses. During the pandemic, Frankel voted to provide protective gear, testing, hazard pay, family leave, and preserve disaster declarations put in place to protect Pennsylvanians, even as Republicans almost unanimously voted against all of these measures.

Dan Frankel is running unopposed.

Ed Gainey is the Democratic candidate for the Pennsylvania State House in the 24th legislative district. Gainey grew up in the East Liberty section of Pittsburgh. He got his bachelor's degree in Business Management from Morgan State before returning to Pittsburgh to work on community development. During that time, he championed the Minority Media Initiative, diversity education for the Pittsburgh police, and the 52 Weeks of Peace Initiative. In 2010, he became the first Black chairman for the Pittsburgh City Democratic Committee.

Gainey is active in progressive church organizations in the Pittsburgh Black community and has won awards for his outreach work. He is also known as a champion of reproductive and LGBTQ+ rights. Most recently, he has cosponsored a bill to automatically register Pennsylvania citizens to vote through the Department of Transportation, Human Services, and the VA. During the pandemic, Ed Gainey voted to provide protective gear, testing, hazard pay, family leave, and preserve disaster declarations put in place to protect Pennsylvanians, even as Republicans almost unanimously voted against all of these measures.

Ed Gainey is running unopposed.

HD26 has been identified as a key swing district. Democrats must win this seat to flip the State House and make progress for working families in Pennsylvania.

Paul Friel, Jr. is the Democratic candidate in the Pennsylvania State House’s 26th legislative district. Friel grew up near Gilbertsville. He has four kids attending public school and sits on the local school board. He owns a business that produces consumer goods and conducts environmental engineering management.

Friel’s platform is progressive. He pledges to fight for affordable healthcare and education to make them more affordable for his neighbors. He seeks to equitably distribute state income to ensure that all Pennsylvania students get a quality education. Friel has also proposed short-term state relief programs to businesses to help recover from the pandemic.

Friel's opponent is Republican incumbent Timothy Hennessey, who has held the seat since 1993. Hennessy voted in favor of forcing hospitals to cremate or bury the tissue removed during abortions or miscarriages. In 2013, he voted to prohibit insurance companies from covering abortions in the health insurance exchange. In the middle of a pandemic, Hennessey joined Republicans in their near unanimous vote against providing protective gear, testing, hazard pay, family leave, and preserving disaster declarations put in place to protect Pennsylvanians.

Paul Friel, Jr. is the clear progressive choice in this race.

HD28 has been identified as a key swing district. Democrats must win this seat to flip the State House and make progress for working families in Pennsylvania.

Emily Skopov is the Democratic candidate running for the Pennsylvania State House seat in the 28th legislative district. Skopov grew up in a working-class community. Her mom was a public school teacher and her dad was a small business owner. After college, she moved to the Pittsburgh area and soon started No Crayon Left Behind, a non-profit that helped distribute school supplies that were headed for landfills.

Skopov has a progressive platform. She advocates ending gun violence, fighting for fair redistricting, expanding job training programs, and increasing the minimum wage. Skopov is particularly focused on fair funding for public education by taking the burden off property tax payers.

This seat was recently vacated by former Republican House Speaker Mike Turzai. The GOP primary winner, Rob Mercuri, is an extremist who has been endorsed by the NRA, even as the organization faces dissolution due to large-scale fraud. On his social media, Mercuri cheered Republicans in their near unanimous vote against providing protective gear, testing, hazard pay, family leave, and preserving disaster declarations put in place to protect Pennsylvanians.

Emily Skopov is the clear progressive choice in this race.

HD29 has been identified as a key swing district. Democrats must win this seat to flip the State House and make progress for working families in Pennsylvania.

Marlene Katz is the Democratic candidate running for the Pennsylvania State House seat in the 29th legislative district. Prior to her run, Katz worked in the wellness industry. She is a political newcomer, and an outspoken progressive.

Katz’s platform is progressive, too. She supports sensible regulations of firearms, environmental protections, infrastructure investments, combating the opioid epidemic, and protecting reproductive rights. It is no surprise that Katz has received endorsements from several big progressive organizations, including EveryTown for Gun Safety, the National Organization of Women, and Emily’s List.

Katz is challenging Republican incumbent Meghan Schroeder. She has held the seat since 2018. Schroeder voted twice to restrict reproductive rights in 2019. She also voted to eliminate the general assistance program, the largest anti-poverty program in the state. In the middle of a pandemic, Schroeder joined Republicans in their near unanimous vote against providing protective gear, testing, hazard pay, family leave, and preserving disaster declarations put in place to protect Pennsylvanians.

Marlene Katz is the clear progressive choice in this race.

HD30 has been identified as a key swing district. Democrats must win this seat to flip the State House and make progress for working families in Pennsylvania.

Lissa Geiger Schulman is the Democratic candidate for the Pennsylvania State House seat in the 30th legislative district. Schulman grew up in Pennsylvania and began her career as a public school teacher in Pittsburgh. She worked in a leadership program that helps place gifted teachers in underfunded schools. This experience led her to work on the legislative process, first as chief of staff for a state representative and later in nonprofit advocacy for early childhood education.

Schulman’s platform is progressive. She is a strong advocate for public education in Pennsylvania. Schulman advocates for working families through expanding affordable health care and job creation. She's been outspoken in support of historic civil rights marches against police violence and racism.

Schulman is challenging incumbent Republican incumbent Lori Mizgorski, who has held the seat since 2018. Mizgorski co-sponsored a bill to siphon funding out of public schools and into private schools that serve wealthier communities. In her short time in office, Mizgorski also sponsored a bill to take away reproductive rights from people in her district. In the middle of a pandemic, Mizgorski joined Republicans in their near unanimous vote against providing protective gear, testing, hazard pay, family leave, and preserving disaster declarations put in place to protect Pennsylvanians.

Lissa Geiger Schulman is the clear progressive choice in this race.

Perry Warren is the Democratic candidate for the Pennsylvania State House seat in the 31st legislative district. Perry is a former public school teacher and a community leader. Prior to his work in Harrisburg, he served as a member of the Newtown Borough Council for almost seven years.

During his time on the council, Warren helped write the Borough’s anti-discrimination ordinance, which defends the LGBTQ+ community from discrimination. In Harrisburg, Perry has also fought to increase funding for Pennsylvania’s education system and fight the opioid epidemic. Perry is also well-known for his fight to end partisan gerrymandering. His record also includes consistently working to champion the preservation of open spaces and the environment. During the pandemic, Perry Warren voted to provide protective gear, testing, hazard pay, family leave, and preserve disaster declarations put in place to protect Pennsylvanians, even as Republicans almost unanimously voted against all of these measures.

Warren is being challenged by Republican Charles Adcock, a local auctioneer with no prior political experience and few clear policy positions. On his facebook page, Adcock demands the removal of health protections that keep Pennsylvanians safe during the pandemic.

Rep. Perry Warren is the clear progressive choice in this race.

Summer Lee is the Democratic candidate for the Pennsylvania State House seat in the 34th legislative district. Lee is a lifelong resident of the district and has been a dedicated community advocate the majority of her career. In 2016, Lee served as a field organizer for the Pennsylvania Democratic Party. The following year, she started a campaign to unseat the Woodland Hills School Board after they failed to address repeated incidents of violence against students from the police.

Since being elected to office, Lee has supported legislation to create jobs and rebuild infrastructure. She has also introduced legislation to hold police accountable and keep communities safe. During the pandemic, Summer Lee voted to provide protective gear, testing, hazard pay, family leave, and preserve disaster declarations put in place to protect Pennsylvanians, even as Republicans almost unanimously voted against all of these measures. Summer recently beat her primary challenger by a big margin due to her progressive values, people-first organizing, and clear messaging.

Summer Lee is running unopposed.

Austin Davis is the Democratic candidate for the Pennsylvania State House in the 35th legislative district. Davis got his start in public service as an intern in the state legislature, and by the age of 21 he was described by the Tribune Review as “a veteran at the politics of helping others.” He went on to work as an executive assistant to County Executive Rich Fitzgerald where he served as representative for the Jail Oversight Board as well as the Minority, Women, and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Advisory Board. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2018 via special election.

Davis’s platform is progressive. Davis combats the opioid crisis by advocating for access to treatment and holding the pharmaceutical companies accountable. He voted against loosening regulations on oil and gas drilling. Davis has also co-sponsored legislation that would make it easier for formerly incarcerated people to acquire work licenses. Davis voted against legislation that would make it impossible for some employees to qualify for full disability benefits. Additionally, he voted consistently to protect Pennsylvanians’ legal right to reproductive health care. During the pandemic, Austin Davis voted to provide protective gear, testing, hazard pay, family leave, and preserve disaster declarations put in place to protect Pennsylvanians, even as Republicans almost unanimously voted against all of these measures.

Austin Davis is running unopposed.

Jessica Benham is the Democratic candidate for the Pennsylvania State House in the 36th legislative district. Prior to taking office, Benham co-founded the Pittsburgh Center for Autistic Advocacy (PCAA), the only LGBTQ+ autistic-led advocacy organization in the Greater Pittsburgh Area. If elected, Benham would be Pennsylvania’s first openly LGBTQ+ female legislator.

Benham’s platform prioritizes the rights and safety of LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians. She supports increased funding for justice reform and increased funding in education for people with disabilities. She also supports raising the wage and lowering taxes.

She is facing Republican opponent A.J. Doyle in the general election. The seat has been left open by the retirement of Democratic Rep. Harry Readshaw. Doyle’s website offers no specific policy solutions, but he is generally in favor of strengthening workers’ unions and against gun control. In the middle of a pandemic, A.J. Doyle supported Republicans in their near unanimous vote against providing protective gear, testing, hazard pay, family leave, and preserving disaster declarations put in place to protect Pennsylvanians. On social media, Doyle cheers individuals who refuse wear a masks during the pandemic, even though health experts have repeatedly called for their universal use to prevent needless sickness and death.

Jessica Benham is the clear progressive choice in this race.

Nick Pisciottano is the Democratic candidate for the Pennsylvania State House seat in the 38th legislative district. Pisciottano works as a public accountant and auditor. He also volunteers as President of the West Mifflin Community Foundation, a non-profit that provides educational support, disaster relief and financial aid to the surrounding communities. Additionally, Pisciottano is a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Pisciottano’s platform prioritizes working families. He plans to advocate for the creation of good-paying jobs that can support families, and for stronger workers’ unions. Components of his ten-year economic development plan include investing in transportation and local businesses and the redevelopment of brownfields. He also plans to increase state investment in public schools and pre-kindergarten programs and regulate charter schools.

Nick Pisciottano is running unopposed.

Dan Miller is the Democratic candidate for the Pennsylvania State House seat in the 42nd legislative district. Miller has carried many titles over the course of his tenure in public service, including public defender, volunteer firefighter, and municipal commissioner.

This year, he signed a letter alongside nine of his colleagues in the House urging the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to halt evictions while the state was under emergency orders. In 2019, he voted against the reinstatement of mandatory minimum sentences. In the same year, he was named Representative of the Year by the Arc of Pennsylvania, an advocacy organization dedicated to serving the needs of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Miller has also voted against legislation that would have would defund poorer school districts in favor of wealthier ones. Miller also voted against Republican legislation to take away Medicaid from Pennsylvanians too sick to work. During the pandemic, Dan Miller voted to provide protective gear, testing, hazard pay, family leave, and preserve disaster declarations put in place to protect Pennsylvanians, even as Republicans almost unanimously voted against all of these measures.

Dan Miller is running unopposed.

HD44 has been identified as a key swing district. Democrats must win this seat to flip the State House and make progress for working families in Pennsylvania.

Michele Knoll is the Democratic candidate for the Pennsylvania State House seat in the 44th legislative district. For 15 years, Knoll has been an early intervention educator for children with disabilities. Over the course of her career, she has started her own small business where she served as a developmental therapist, as well as a non-profit organization that provides wider access to books for children.

Knoll speaks to the issues of fair compensation for workers, access to affordable healthcare, and responsible school funding. She places emphasis on making sure our tax dollars are being reinvested in our communities in sensible ways. She also believes raising the minimum wage would enhance the ability of workers to support local businesses. Every step of the way, Knoll offers a big picture backing to her plans.

Knoll is challenging incumbent Republican Valerie Gaydos, who has been in office since 2018. Gaydos voted to repeal General Assistance, the largest anti-poverty program in the state. She was one of only 25 Pennsylvania state legislators who called for District Attorneys in the state to refuse to enforce public health protections in the middle of the pandemic, which led to the Pennsylvania House Democrats naming Gaydos specifically as a threat to public safety. Gaydos joined Republicans in their near unanimous vote against providing protective gear, testing, hazard pay, family leave, and preserving disaster declarations put in place to protect Pennsylvanians.

Michele Knoll is the clear progressive choice in this race.

Liz Hanbidge is the Democratic candidate for the Pennsylvania State House seat in the 61st legislative district. She has held the seat since 2018 and is the first Democrat to serve this district since its formation in 1969. Her background is in child advocacy. She has worked for years with the Montgomery Child Advocacy Project and served as court appointed guardians for vulnerable children.

In office, Hanbidge advocates for children and families by supporting increases in funding for public education and preventing taxpayer money from going into private charter schools. She also works to make healthcare affordable and protect reproductive rights. Hanbridge has introduced a resolution to study the benefits of electric vehicles to reduce pollution across the state. Earlier this year, Liz sponsored a measure ensuring medical consent, particularly for women who are subject to invasive procedures. During the pandemic, Hanbidge voted to provide protective gear, testing, hazard pay, family leave, and preserve disaster declarations put in place to protect Pennsylvanians, even as Republicans almost unanimously voted against all of these measures.

Liz Hanbidge’s Republican challenger is Lisa Friebel. Friebel has very little campaign presence and no stated policy positions.

Liz Hanbidge is the clear progressive choice in this race.

Matt Bradford is the Democratic candidate for the Pennsylvania State House seat in the 70th legislative district. Bradford has worked in the United Steelworkers Union's General Counsel's Office, the United States Attorney's Office, the office of a federal district court judge, and as the Municipal Administrator and Chief Executive Officer of Norristown Borough.

Bradford’s platform is progressive. Bradford voted against defunding poorer school district in favor of wealthier districts and charter schools. He voted in favor of boosting special education funding. Bradford has also shown his support for workers by voting against Republican efforts to limit union rights in a dispute. During the pandemic, Matt Bradford voted to provide protective gear, testing, hazard pay, family leave, and preserve disaster declarations put in place to protect Pennsylvanians, even as Republicans almost unanimously voted against all of these measures.

Republican candidate Jim Saring is running to unseat Bradford. Saring is the former executive director of the Montgomery County Republican Committee, but there is no information publicly available about his priorities or policy stances.

Matt Bradford is the clear progressive choice in this race.

Dan Williams is the Democratic candidate for the Pennsylvania State House seat in the 74th legislative district. Williams is a former UPS supervisor and Teamster member. He’s also been a pastor and community leader for twenty-five years. One of his many accomplishments before taking office was his facilitation of a “Guns for Amnesty” program, which allowed people in his community to relinquish illegally-owned firearms without fear of legal trouble.

Williams’s campaign has been endorsed by many unions and progressive organizations and his 2018 run was endorsed by former president Barack Obama. During his first term in office, Williams has consistently stayed true to progressive values. He voted against legislation which allows school security guards to make arrests. Williams also voted against granting billions of dollars in tax subsidies to manufacturers that rely on fracked natural gas. He also voted against Republican attempts to eliminate the General Assistance, the largest anti-poverty program in the state. During the pandemic, Dan Williams voted to provide protective gear, testing, hazard pay, family leave, and preserve disaster declarations put in place to protect Pennsylvanians, even as Republicans almost unanimously voted against all of these measures.

Williams is facing Republican opponent Dale Hensel. Hensel has no issue stances publicly available.

Dan Williams is the clear progressive choice in this race.

HD87 has been identified as a key swing district. Democrats must win this seat to flip the State House and make progress for working families in Pennsylvania.

Nicole Miller is the Democratic candidate for the Pennsylvania State House seat in the 87th legislative district. In 2018, her 19-year-old son died by suicide after battling mental health challenges his entire life. Her dedication to continuing to address the challenges he faced while alive prompted her to run.

Miller’s platform is progressive. She pledges to ensure all children get access to safe, healthy and fully-funded schooling they deserve. Miller also advocates for every Pennsylvanian to have access to quality, affordable healthcare.

Miller is running against Republican Greg Rothman who has held the seat since 2015. In 2019, Rothman cosponsored a bill to defund public education and put taxpayer money into wealthier school districts. Earlier that year, he cosponsored a bill to eliminate the largest anti-poverty program in the state. In the middle of a pandemic, Greg Rothman joined Republicans in their near unanimous vote against providing protective gear, testing, hazard pay, family leave, and preserving disaster declarations put in place to protect Pennsylvanians.

Nicole Miller is the clear progressive choice in this race.

HD88 has been identified as a key swing district. Democrats must win this seat to flip the State House and make progress for working families in Pennsylvania.

Democrat Tara Shakespeare is running for election to the Pennsylvania House of Representative in the 88th legislative district. Shakespeare’s parents both worked in the civil services assisting working people and folks with disabilities, which she credits for her work ethic and desire to help others. Since 2015, she has been working with the National Organization of Women on intersectional struggles facing women, which includes black and indigenous people of color, people in the LGBTQ+ community, the poor, the sick and the marginalized.

Shakespeare has made earning a living wage, affordable health care and fighting against inequality the center of her campaign. Since the unfolding of the nationwide protests against police violence and racism, she has stood firm in championing the causes of those fighting for justice.

She is running against Republican Sheryl Delozier who has held the seat since 2009. In 2011, Delozier cosponsored two bills to eliminate public assistance to struggling workers. The following year she cosponsored a bill to replace that aid with predatory payday loans. In 2018, Delozier cosponsored a bill to exempt oil drillers from reporting accidents involving oil spills. In the middle of a pandemic, Sheryl Delozier joined Republicans in their near unanimous vote against providing protective gear, testing, hazard pay, family leave, and preserving disaster declarations put in place to protect Pennsylvanians.

Tara Shakespeare is the clear progressive choice in this race.

Mike Sturla is the Democratic candidate for the Pennsylvania State House seat in the 96th legislative district. After graduating with a degree in environmental design, the Lancaster County native moved home to start a construction business. In 1987, he served on the Lancaster City Council and worked on the county planning commission until he was elected to the Pennsylvania House.

Over his years in ofice, Sturla has sponsored or cosponsored many progressive pieces of legislation, including increasing the minimum wage, promoting incentives for green energy, expanding education, protecting domestic abuse survivors from firearms violence, and expunging criminal records for misdemeanors. Sturla’s record is far from spotless; he’s also introduced bills to drug-test people applying for state aid, authorized school police to arrest students and allowed gun groups to sue localities that try to pass firearms regulations. That said, Sturla has stood up for his constituents when it mattered most. During the pandemic, Mike Sturla voted to provide protective gear, testing, hazard pay, family leave, and preserve disaster declarations put in place to protect Pennsylvanians, even as Republicans almost unanimously voted against all of these measures.

Mike Sturla is running unopposed.

HD97 has been identified as a key swing district. Democrats must win this seat to flip the State House and make progress for working families in Pennsylvania.

Dana Hamp Gulick is the Democratic candidate for the Pennsylvania State House seat in the 97th district. Gulick grew up in Manheim Township and attended University of Pittsburgh. Gulick pursued her early career in Hawaii, but returned to Pennsylvania with her daughter to stay with family when her husband became addicted to opioids. Gulick says she entered public service to help families like hers that are torn apart by addiction.

Gulick’s positions reflect her progressive values. She has pledged to fight the opioid crisis with education, treatment and compassion. She also advocates reducing gun violence with background checks and red-flag laws. Gulick champions environmental conservation by aiming to eliminate fracking. Gulick states she will fight for affordable health care and help Pennsylvanians negotiate lower health care costs. She also is dedicated to an equitable education system and supporting teacher pensions.

Gulick is running against Republican incumbent Steven Mentzer, who has held the seat since 2013. Mentzer cosponsored a bill to defund poorer public schools in favor of wealthier ones. In 2018, he sponsored a bill that forced sick Pennsylvanians to work in order to get the life-saving healthcare they needed. In the middle of a pandemic, Steven Mentzer joined Republicans in their near unanimous vote against providing protective gear, testing, hazard pay, family leave, and preserving disaster declarations put in place to protect Pennsylvanians.

Dana Hamp Gulick is the clear progressive choice in this race.

HD104 has been identified as a key swing district. Democrats must win this seat to flip the State House and make progress for working families in Pennsylvania.

Patty Smith is the Democratic candidate for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives seat in the 104th legislative district. Smith is a former small business owner with experience working at nonprofits and in local government management.

Smith’s platform is progressive. She advocates for full funding of all public schools without raising taxes for Pennsylvanians. She is also in favor of closing the Delaware Loophole, a legal practice that allows large companies in Pennsylvania to evade taxes by having holding companies in Delaware. Smith pledges to pass the Marcellus Shale tax, which would prevent companies from exploiting natural resources. Smith’s platform also would ensure everyone has access to affordable healthcare.

Patty Smith is challenging Republican Susan Helm. She has represented the 104th district since 2007. During her first term in office, Helm voted against the expansion of subsidized health insurance to cover uninsured Pennsylvanians. She has voted to defund poorer school districts in favor of wealthier ones. Despite being the first woman from Dauphin County to serve in the legislature, Helm has cosponsored legislation imposing harsh and unnecessary regulations on affordable healthcare clinics that largely serve women. In the middle of a pandemic, Susan Helm joined Republicans in their near unanimous vote against providing protective gear, testing, hazard pay, family leave, and preserving disaster declarations put in place to protect Pennsylvanians.

Patty Smith is the clear progressive choice in this race.

HD105 has been identified as a key swing district. Democrats must win this seat to flip the State House and make progress for working families in Pennsylvania.

Democratic candidate Brittney Rodas is the Democratic candidate for the Pennsylvania State House in the 105th legislative district. Rodas has a master’s degree from Penn State University in Public Administration, specializing in public policy and public sector human resources. She has a professional background in the State House as a policy and research analyst.

Rodas’s platform is progressive. Her top priority is fully and fairly funding Pennsylvania’s schools while reducing the burden of property taxes. She is an advocate for affordable and accessible healthcare through Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) expansion and lowered prescription drug costs. Rodas is an outspoken advocate for governmental reform through campaign finance restructuring, increasing access to voting, and forming an independent commission to address gerrymandering.

Brittney Rodas is challenging first-term Republican Representative Andrew Lewis. He has voted to defund poorer school districts in favor of wealthier ones. Lewis has also voted to put more guns in our schools. Additionally, Lewis voted to eliminate the largest anti-poverty program in the state. In the middle of a pandemic, Lewis joined Republicans in their near unanimous vote against providing protective gear, testing, hazard pay, family leave, and preserving disaster declarations put in place to protect Pennsylvanians.

Brittney Rodas is the clear progressive choice in this race.

HD106 has been identified as a key swing district. Democrats must win this seat to flip the State House and make progress for working families in Pennsylvania.

Lindsay Drew is the Democratic candidate for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives seat in the 106th legislative district. In 2016, Drew was given a Community Achievement Award from Central Penn Business Journal and named one of their “Top 25 Women of Influence.” She works in non-profit advocacy and says she was compelled to do community work after the tragic loss of her sister and becoming a mom.

Drew’s platform is progressive. Drew pledges to pass legislation prohibiting surprise medical billing and prescription drug pricing. She is a proponent of raising the minimum wage and expanding paid sick leave for working families. She advocates for the expansion of public transit and green infrastructure to both create jobs and protect the environment. Drew also calls for a broad non-discrimination policy that includes LGBTQ+ rights, a policy that has never been enacted in Pennsylvania at the state level.

Drew is challenging Republican incumbent Thomas Mehaffie. He was first elected to the office in 2017. Mehaffie voted to make it more difficult for Pennsylvanians to access affordable healthcare by imposing further restrictions on Medicaid qualifications. He also voted against loosening oil and gas drilling regulations in the past and more recently voted to grant billions of dollars in tax breaks to manufacturers that rely on fracking. In the middle of a pandemic, Mehaffie joined Republicans in their near unanimous vote against providing protective gear, testing, hazard pay, family leave, and preserving disaster declarations put in place to protect Pennsylvanians.

Lindsay Drew is the clear progressive choice in this race.

HD120 has been identified as a key swing district. Democrats must win this seat to flip the State House and make progress for working families in Pennsylvania.

Joanna Bryn Smith is the Democratic candidate for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives seat in the 120th district. Smith works through the Luzerne County Office of Conflict Counsel as a representative for community members who are unable to afford an attorney.

Smith’s priorities progressive and centered on working families. She pledges to raising the minimum wage. She is a proponent of strong unions and promises to work for labor peace agreements, card check legislation and more opportunities for apprenticeship. She is in support of LGBTQ+ rights.

Smith is challenging incumbent Republican representative Aaron Kaufer. He’s been in office since 2015. Kaufer sponsored a bill that gives billions of dollars in tax breaks to manufacturers who rely on fracking. Kaufer also voted to allow employers engaged in a labor dispute to muzzle unions. In the middle of the pandemic, Kaufer joined Republicans in their near unanimous vote against providing protective gear, testing, hazard pay, family leave, and preserving disaster declarations put in place to protect Pennsylvanians.

Joanna Bryn Smith is the clear progressive choice in this race.

Manny Guzman is the Democratic candidate for the Pennsylvania State House seat in the 127th legislative district. Guzman is a former organizer with President Obama’s campaigns. Guzman continued his career in politics on the Reading School Board and as the Coalitions Director with the Pennsylvania Democratic Party.

Guzman’s policy positions are progressive and aimed at the most vulnerable groups in Pennsylvania. They include increasing the minimum wage and wage equality regardless of gender, defending communities of color, addressing mass incarceration, and combating homelessness. During the pandemic, Guzman has supported Democrats in the legislature voting to provide protective gear, testing, hazard pay, family leave, and preserve disaster declarations put in place to protect Pennsylvanians, even as Republicans almost unanimously voted against all of these measures.

Guzman is facing Republican opponent Vincent Gagliardo Jr. The seat is open after Republican incumbent Tom Caltagirone announced he would not seek reelection. Gagliardo doesn’t have clearly stated policy positions beyond calling for the removal of health regulations that are keeping Pennsylvanians safe during the pandemic.

Guzman is the clear progressive choice in this race.

HD131 has been identified as a key swing district. Democrats must win this seat to flip the State House and make progress for working families in Pennsylvania.

Democratic candidate Kevin Branco is running for the Pennsylvania State House in the 131st legislative district. Branco played football for Kutztown University before pursuing a degree in political science. He is a local gym owner and community organizer.

Branco’s platform is progressive. He says he’s running because Republican leadership has been bad for the local economy. His priorities are funding education, supporting unions, building a sustainable economy to keep graduates in Pennsylvania, conserving the environment; and protecting the rights of the LGBTQ+ community.

Republican incumbent Justin Simmons is not seeking reelection. Branco will face off against Republican Milou Mackenzie in the general election. Mackenzie’s platform is mostly vague claims about promoting education and health care. However, on social media she posts extremist views, calling to eliminate moderate Republicans from the PA legislature in favor of more extreme politicians. She’s been endorsed by anti-choice and anti-gun reform groups and she cheers attacks on immigrant communities. In the middle of a pandemic, Mackenzie cheered Republicans in their near unanimous vote against providing protective gear, testing, hazard pay, family leave, and preserving disaster declarations put in place to protect Pennsylvanians.

Kevin Branco is the clear progressive choice in this race.

Mike Schlossberg is the Democratic candidate for the Pennsylvania State House in the 132nd legislative district. Schlossberg’s background is in technology and public relations. Schlossberg was also the youngest person to be elected to the Allentown City Council. He eventually became vice president of that body as well as vice president of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce.

In 2015, Schlossberg decided to speak publicly about his struggles with depression and anxiety to increase mental health awareness. He worked with Congressperson Susan Wild to enact federal mental health legislation and sponsored a state bill to increase suicide prevention resources. In 2017, Schlossberg cosponsored a bill that expunges criminal records to reduce discrimination against formerly incarcerated citizens. More recently, Schlossberg has sponsored legislation to require background checks for potential police officers as part of the civil rights movement to fight racism and police violence. During the pandemic, Mike Schlossberg voted to provide protective gear, testing, hazard pay, family leave, and preserve disaster declarations put in place to protect Pennsylvanians, even as Republicans almost unanimously voted against all of these measures.

Mike Schlossberg is running unopposed.

Steve Samuelson is the Democratic candidate for the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives in the 135th district. Before his time in the State House, Samuelson was a legislative aide for the board of the Lehigh Valley Commissioners.

Samuelson has supported many progressive pieces of legislation. He’s sponsored or cosponsored minimum wage increases, anti-bullying laws and increased mental health resources for higher education. More recently, Samuelson has voted against Republican attempts to take away aid to disabled Pennsylvanians and put more guns in classrooms. This year, in response to historic civil rights protests against racism and police brutality, he voted for background checks for police officers.

Samuelson is facing Republican challenger Scott Hough. In the middle of a pandemic, Hough cheered Republicans in their near unanimous vote against providing protective gear, testing, hazard pay, family leave, and preserving disaster declarations put in place to protect Pennsylvanians. He does not have any other clear policy positions.

Steve Samuelson is the clear progressive choice in this race.

Robert Freeman is the Democratic candidate for the Pennsylvania State House in the 136th legislative district. Freeman was first elected to the State House in 1982 while finishing his graduate degree. He took a hiatus from 1994 to 1997 to work as executive director of the Democratic Policy Committee.

Freeman has supported a lot of progressive legislation over the years. He cosponsored a bill establishing a special juvenile victim compensation fund. He’s sponsored legislation to provide more mental health resources to colleges and universities. Recently, Freeman cosponsored legislation to require background checks for police officers in response to the historic civil rights protests against racism and police brutality. During the pandemic, Freeman voted to provide protective gear, testing, hazard pay, family leave, and preserve disaster declarations put in place to protect Pennsylvanians, even as Republicans almost unanimously voted against all of these measures.

Robert Freeman is running unopposed.

HD138 has been identified as a key swing district. Democrats must win this seat to flip the State House and make progress for working families in Pennsylvania.

Tara Zrinkski is the Democratic candidate for the Pennsylvania State House seat in the 138th legislative district. Zrinski is a political newcomer; her professional background includes consulting on solar energy and teaching philosophy at local community colleges.

Zrinski’s priorities revolve around fair school funding and environmental conservation. She believes in providing property tax relief while adequately and equitably funding schools. This includes providing more funding for technical training and higher education. She also is an advocate for expanding green jobs and holding corporate polluters accountable. More recently, Zrinski has spoken out in support of the historic civil rights protests against racism and police brutality.

Democratic candidate Tara Zrinkski is running against Republican Ann Flood. The seat was left open by Republican representative Marcia Hahn, who declined to run for reelection. Flood doesn’t have any detailed policy positions beyond cutting taxes and restricting legal reproductive rights. In the middle of a pandemic, Ann Flood cheered Republicans in their near unanimous vote against providing protective gear, testing, hazard pay, family leave, and preserving disaster declarations put in place to protect Pennsylvanians.

Tara Zrinski is the clear progressive choice in this race.

Marian Keegan is the Democratic candidate for the Pennsylvania State House seat in the 139th legislative district. Growing up in rural Pennsylvania, Keegan became interested in preserving the environment at an early age. She went into forestry as a career and has worked with numerous businesses and public agencies to utilize and conserve Pennsylvania’s natural resources.

Marian Keegan’s prioritizes environmental conservation and supporting science based policy measures. She has spoken out about raising the minimum wage. Recently, she has pledged support to the historic civil rights protests against racism and police brutality. Keegan also writes about protecting the LGBTQ+ community and providing mental health resources to veterans.

Keegan is running against Republican incumbent Michael Peifer, who has held the seat since 2007. In 2015, incumbent Piefer cosponsored a bill to try to take away the rights of union members to organize. In 2017, he sponsored a bill allowing individuals to sue towns if they passed laws requiring background checks and other gun safety measures. In 2018 and 2019 Peifer sponsored bills attempting to take away legal reproductive health rights. In the middle of a pandemic, Michael Peifer joined Republicans in their near unanimous vote against providing protective gear, testing, hazard pay, family leave, and preserving disaster declarations put in place to protect Pennsylvanians.

Marian Keegan is the clear progressive choice in this race.

HD143 has been identified as a key swing district. Democrats must keep this seat to flip the State House and make progress for working families in Pennsylvania.

Wendy Ullman is the Democratic candidate for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives seat in the 143rd district. She’s held the seat since 2019. Ullman was an educator at Bucks County Community College and Montgomery County Community College for 30 years.

Wendy Ullman’s voting record is progressive. During her first term, Ullman voted to stop defunding poorer school districts in favor of wealthier districts and charter schools. She also voted multiple times to protect Pennsylvanians’ reproductive autonomy. Ullman voted to preserve General Assistance, the largest anti-poverty program in the state. She rejected tax breaks for manufacturers who rely on fossil fuels. During the pandemic, Ullman voted to provide protective gear, testing, hazard pay, family leave, and preserve disaster declarations put in place to protect Pennsylvanians, even as Republicans almost unanimously voted against all of these measures.

Ullman is facing Republican challenger Shelby Labs. There is no information publicly available about Labs’s campaign or issue stances.

Wendy Ullman is the clear progressive candidate in this race.

HD144 has been identified as a key swing district. Democrats must win this seat to flip the State House and make progress for working families in Pennsylvania.

Gary Spillane is the Democratic candidate for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives seat in the 144th legislative district. Spillane owns and runs his own building products company. Spillane watched as the opioid crisis ripped communities apart and says he felt called to public service after he lost two nephews to addiction.

Spillane’s platform is progressive. He is in favor of preserving the Affordable Care Act and mandating coverage of preexisting conditions. He will fight for the preservation and expansion of green spaces, including farms, and for the enforcement of environmental protections against polluters. Spillane supports free tuition for qualifying students at state colleges and universities and for more programs to make tuition affordable for families.

Gary Spillane is challenging incumbent Republican representative Todd Polinchock. Polinchock has been in office since 2019. He voted to repeal assistance for struggling Pennsylvanians and gave major tax breaks to manufacturers who rely on fracked natural gas to operate. Polinchock voted to defund poorer school districts in favor of wealthier districts and charter schools. In the middle of a pandemic, Polinchock joined Republicans in their near unanimous vote against providing protective gear, testing, hazard pay, family leave, and preserving disaster declarations put in place to protect Pennsylvanians.

Gary Spillane is the clear progressive choice in this race.

HD147 has been identified as a key swing district. Democrats must win this seat to flip the State House and make progress for working families in Pennsylvania.

Jill Dennin is the Democratic candidate for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives seat in the 147th district. Dennin formerly worked in state and federal relations and then in fundraising for the Virginia Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Dennin has been an active volunteer with various mission-based organizations over the past 25 years.

Dennin’s platform is progressive. She is focused particularly on education. She is running for property tax relief and increased accountability for charter schools. Dennin is also committed to stopping the defunding of public education. She is also an advocate for fixing Pennsylvania’s crumbling infrastructure.

Dennin is facing off against Republican Tracy Pennycuick. Republican Marcy Toepel, who held the office for a decade, is retiring at the end of the term. Pennycuick has issued vague statements about supporting education and reducing health care costs, but offers no specific details on his policy proposals. In the middle of a pandemic, Pennycuick cheered Republicans in their near unanimous vote against providing protective gear, testing, hazard pay, family leave, and preserving disaster declarations put in place to protect Pennsylvanians.

Jill Dennin is the clear progressive choice in this race.

Mary Jo Daley is the Democratic candidate for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives seat in the 148th district. Prior to taking office, Daley served as a member of the Narberth Borough Council for 20 years which included 10 years as council president.

During her time as representative, Daley has repeatedly voted to defend her constituents’ rights and health. She voted against tax cuts for big corporations and millionaires. Daley also voted against billions of dollars in tax subsidies for manufacturers that rely on fracked natural gas to operate. Daley has voted against legislation that made it more difficult to qualify for workers’ compensation. She has also voted against reinstating mandatory minimum sentences. During the pandemic, Mary Jo Daley voted to provide protective gear, testing, hazard pay, family leave, and preserve disaster declarations put in place to protect Pennsylvanians, even as Republicans almost unanimously voted against all of these measures.

Daley is facing Republican challenger Allen Anderson in the general election. Anderson’s campaign has no publicly available policy stances or value statements.

Mary Jo Daley is the clear progressive choice in this race.

Tim Briggs is the Democratic candidate in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives seat in the 149th district. Prior to taking office, he was an advisor to then-Congressperson Joe Hoeffel and Senator Connie Williams. Briggs also served as political director of a national progressive nonprofit called the Bonner Group.

During his first term in office, Briggs led the legislature in passing a law that keeps siblings together when placed in foster homes. He also cosponsored legislation that provides fairer funding for special education. Briggs was the prime sponsor of one of the state’s “Zero Waste PA” bills, which alleviates environmental problems created by disposables and single-use plastics. Briggs also voted against major tax subsidies for manufacturers that rely on fracked natural gas to operate. During the pandemic, Tim Briggs voted to provide protective gear, testing, hazard pay, family leave, and preserve disaster declarations put in place to protect Pennsylvanians, even as Republicans almost unanimously voted against all of these measures.

Tim Briggs is running unopposed.

Joe Webster is the Democratic candidate for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives seat in the 150th district. Prior to taking office, Webster worked at the Pentagon for 20 years on special projects as a member of the Air Force. He has also taught as a professor of National Security Strategy at the Air University in Montgomery, Ala.

Webster’s record is progressive. He voted against giving billions of dollars in tax subsidies to manufacturers that rely on fracked natural gas to operate. He also cosponsored legislation to provide more job training and opportunities to people that were previously incarcerated. Webster voted against legislation that would defund poorer school districts in favor of wealthier districts and charter schools.

Webster is facing Republican challenger Beth Ann Bittner Mazza in the general election. Bittner Mazza’s priorities include supporting education and seniors, but she does not offer specific plans to accomplish these goals. In the middle of a pandemic, Bittner Mazza cheered Republicans in their near unanimous vote against providing protective gear, testing, hazard pay, family leave, and preserving disaster declarations put in place to protect Pennsylvanians.

Joe Webster is the clear progressive choice in this race.

HD 151 has been identified as a key swing district. Democrats must win this seat to flip the State House and make progress for working families in Pennsylvania.

Jonathan Kassa is the Democratic candidate for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in the 151st district. Kassa is a former senior executive director of juvenile justice, social service and education at a multi-state nonprofit. Currently, he is director on the North Penn School District Board and has spent the last decade leading national initiatives to increase campus safety.

Kassa’s priority is funding schools and providing tax relief for seniors. Kassa has experience implementing similar policies at the local level. He is also in favor of expanding Medicaid, capping prescription drug costs, prohibiting hidden fees and protecting people with pre-existing conditions. Kassa advocates for reproductive autonomy, legal protections for LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians and for policing reforms that will help end systemic racism.

Kassa is challenging Republican incumbent Todd Stephens. Stephens has held the seat since 2011. Stephens has voted in favor of a number of pieces of legislation that defund poorer public school districts in favor of wealthier districts and charter schools. He has also voted to make it more difficult to qualify for Medicaid. Stephens has also repeatedly voted to obstruct the legal reproductive rights of Pennsylvanians. In the middle of a pandemic, Stephens joined Republicans in their near unanimous vote against providing protective gear, testing, hazard pay, family leave, and preserving disaster declarations put in place to protect Pennsylvanians.

Jonathan Kassa is the clear progressive choice in this race.

HD152 has been identified as a key swing district. Democrats must win this seat to flip the State House and make progress for working families in Pennsylvania.

Nancy Guenst is the Democratic candidate for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives seat in the 152nd district. Guenst is the mayor of Hatboro as well as a former council member. She is also a veteran and small business owner.

Guenst’s platform is progressive. She is focused on protecting the environment and disability advocacy. In office, she also plans to fight for a sustainable school funding model that provides equitable opportunities to all children across the state. Guenst also envisions a future where all Pennsylvanians have health insurance with the expansion of Medicaid and Medicare.

Guenst and Republican Karen Houck are facing off for this seat. The current representative is Republican Thomas Murt, who has held the seat since 2007 and will be retiring at the end of the term. Houck prioritizes increased funding for public schools. Her solution to the lack of affordable healthcare is to encourage more “flexibility” of choice between costly private plans. She offers very few policy proposals to actually help Pennsylvanians.

Nancy Guenst is the clear progressive choice in this race.

Ben Sanchez is the Democratic candidate for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives seat in the 153rd legislative district. Prior to taking office, Sanchez spent time as a public accountant, an attorney, an adjunct professor of law at Drexel University and an Abington Township Commissioner.

During his first term in office, Sanchez voted against legislation that would move resources from underfunded school districts into wealthier districts and charter schools. He also voted to preserve Pennsylvanians' right to reproductive autonomy. Sanchez voted against major tax subsidies for manufacturers that rely on fossil fuel to operate. During the pandemic, Ben Sanchez voted to provide protective gear, testing, hazard pay, family leave, and preserve disaster declarations put in place to protect Pennsylvanians, even as Republicans almost unanimously voted against all of these measures.

Ben Sanchez is running unopposed.

Napoleon Nelson is the Democratic candidate for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives seat in the 154th district. Nelson has held various elected offices in Cheltenham. He also has 16 years of experience as a finance professional and founded Market Literacy Project, which helps students develop financial literacy skills.

Nelson’s platform is progressive. His top priority is fully and equitably funding education and providing property tax relief for Pennsylvanians. Nelson also pledges to end tax breaks for large businesses and have out-of-state corporations pay local taxes. He supports the right to reproductive autonomy as well as the civil rights of LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians. During the pandemic, Napoleon Nelson voted to provide protective gear, testing, hazard pay, family leave, and preserve disaster declarations put in place to protect Pennsylvanians, even as Republicans almost unanimously voted against all of these measures.

Nelson is facing off against Republican Kathleen Bowers. The seat is open with Steve McCarter retiring at the end of the term. Bowers' only publicly available issue stance is on changing child support laws in Pennsylvania. Bowers ran in 2018, but still hasn’t offered details about how she would serve her community.

Napoleon Nelson is the clear progressive choice in this race.