The City & State Guide to Pennsylvania’s 2026 Primary Elections: House Districts

Pennsylvania is always a focal point of the political universe, and this year’s 2026 midterm elections are no exception. The commonwealth’s races for seats in the General Assembly and Congress will have major consequences for the direction of both Harrisburg and Washington, D.C., as control of both legislative bodies will hinge on election results across the Keystone State. 

Ahead of the May 19 primary election, City & State examined competitive primary races across the commonwealth, focusing on contests featuring multiple candidates to offer a glimpse into how primary battles could shape the ballot this November. 

Below, we examine the competitive primary races for seats in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, where Democrats currently hold a narrow edge over Republicans. 

THE PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

12th House District 

Republican state Rep. Stephenie Scialabba announced in March 2026 that she would be resigning from the state House to spend more time with her family, setting up a special election to fill the remainder of her term. However, two Republicans are also vying for the GOP nomination in this year’s 12th House District race: Ethan Nicholas, a Cranberry Township resident and president of a business networking organization, and Scott Timko, an Air Force veteran and pilot. 

22nd House District

Just a few months into her career as a state lawmaker, Democratic state Rep. Ana Tiburcio will face a primary challenge from Allentown City Councilmember Ce-Ce Gerlach, who previously served for eight years on the Allentown School Board. Tiburcio was elected to the state House in a February special election to replace Josh Siegel, who took office as Lehigh County Executive earlier this year. Tiburcio was sworn in as a state representative on March 23 – but will have to defend her seat roughly two months after taking office. 

24th House District

Incumbent Democratic state Rep. La’Tasha Mayes will face a primary challenge in the 24th House District from William Anderson, an activist and owner of an auto body shop in Pittsburgh. Anderson has run for the 24th House District seat previously, and publicly backed President Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. Mayes was first elected to the General Assembly in 2022 and was reelected in 2024; she is the author of the CROWN Act, legislation signed into law by Gov. Josh Shapiro in 2025 that amended the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act to prohibit hair-based discrimination in the workplace. 

28th House District

Multiple Democrats are seeking to challenge Republican state Rep. Jeremy Shaffer in November, but only one candidate will make it to the general election. The race for the Democratic nomination is between Robert Bertha, a communications professional who works for the Northside North Shore Chamber of Commerce, and Jeremy Ferderber, who has worked as both president of sales at Frankferd Farms Foods and as director of the indoor air quality division at Calvin, Giordano & Associates. Ferderber was endorsed by the Allegheny County Democratic Committee in March. 

39th House District

The 39th House District seat has been held by Republican state Rep. Andrew Kuzma since 2023, and two Democrats are seeking their party’s nod to challenge Kuzma in the general election this year. Kellianne Frketic, an inventory control coordinator at the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, and Dylan Altemara, an education staffing specialist who has also served as president of the Pennsylvania Equality Project. Both Democrats ran for Allegheny County Council last year and have now set their sights on the 39th District seat. 

45th House District

In the 45th House District, there are two candidates in the running to replace Democratic state Rep. Anita Astorino Kulik, who announced last year that she’d be retiring from the state House at the end of her term. The Democratic primary race currently features Brittany Bloam, an attorney who is a partner at Meyer, Unkovic & Scott – she has been endorsed by Kulik – and Allegheny County Council President Patrick Catena. 

50th House District

Incumbent Republican state Rep. Donald “Bud” Cook, who has served in the state House since 2017, faces a primary challenge this year from Benjamin Humble, a flooring specialist who also serves as the president of Waynesburg Borough Council and is a volunteer firefighter. During his time in office, Cook created a local “Come Home, Go Big and Have a Ball” initiative and has sponsored legislation that would bar public officials from lobbying if they’re convicted of a crime. Humble, meanwhile, supports creating a state-level Department of Government Efficiency and establishing stricter voter ID measures.

59th House District

Two Democrats will face off in May for the opportunity to challenge Republican state Rep. Leslie Rossi – the owner of Pennsylvania’s well-known Trump House – in this fall’s general election. Lisa Gephardt, a member of the Westmoreland County Democratic Committee and the Pennsylvania State Democratic Committee, will take on Jordan Omlor, a 16-year member of the U.S. Army Reserve and Pennsylvania National Guard in the May primary. Gephardt’s campaign website says she supports raising the minimum wage, establishing paid sick leave and lowering health care costs, while Omlor’s site says he hopes to expand property tax relief, reduce health care costs and establish term limits for elected officials.

88th House District

Two Republicans are in the running to replace state GOP Rep. Sheryl Delozier, one of the leading lawmakers behind Pennsylvania’s Clean Slate Act. Jeff Clark, a veteran and retired law enforcement officer, and Savannah Martin, a government affairs professional who formerly worked as an associate with Triad Strategies and government affairs director for the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors. According to his campaign Facebook page, Clark supports curbing state spending, cutting taxes and eliminating property taxes, while Martin supports reducing taxes for working families and seniors, cutting wasteful spending and promoting more affordable childcare options.

91st House District

Plenty of candidates have their eye on the 91st House District seat currently held by Republican state Rep. Dan Moul, who is the GOP chair on the House Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee. On the GOP side of the ticket, Moul is facing challenges from Lindsay Krug, a member of the Conewago Valley School District School Board, and Nickolas Lovell, president of the Littlestown Area School District Board. Meanwhile, three candidates are seeking the Democratic nomination in the district: Kathleen Pratt, a member of the Gettysburg Area School District school board, Darian Sundberg, an art teacher at a school for at-risk youth, and Tony Nunez-Guzman.

98th House District

Two Republicans are vying for the GOP nomination in the 98th House District – a seat currently held by state Rep. Tom Jones, who is instead running for the Republican nomination in the 36th Senate District. The GOP contest will feature Nicky Woods, the current Lancaster County Clerk of Courts, and Danielle Lindemuth, a member of the Elizabethtown Area School Board. Woods was endorsed by the Republican Committee of Lancaster County in February. 

100th House District

With former Pennsylvania House Speaker Bryan Cutler opting not to run for reelection to his 100th House District seat after two decades in the General Assembly, two Republicans are looking to replace him in this GOP primary. One is Dave Nissley, an owner and operator of landscaping and hospitality businesses, and the other is Kelly Osborne, a former Pennsylvania State Trooper who has Cutler's endorsement in the Republican primary race.

104th House District

Democratic state Rep. Dave Madsen is facing a primary challenge in the 104th House District from Shane Steele, the current vice president of the Swatara Township Board of Commissioners. Madsen, who was elected state representative in 2022, is seeking his third term in office and has the backing of the Central PA Building & Construction Trades Council and Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates, while Steele is running with the endorsement of the Dauphin County Democratic Committee. 

106th House District

In the 106th House District, two Democrats – Ryan Hazel and Dr. Anju Singh – are seeking their party’s nomination with the hope of challenging Republican state Rep. Tom Mehaffie in the fall. Hazel, a musician, a community organizer and Dauphin County Democratic Committee member, hopes to improve regional transit in Central Pennsylvania, fairly fund public education and protect civil and voting rights. Singh, an ophthalmologist, small business owner and immigrant, has advocated for affordable housing, bringing down the cost of living and rent regulations for small businesses. 

114th House District

In May, two Republican hopefuls are hoping to secure their party’s nomination – and a chance to take on Democratic state Rep. Bridget Malloy Kosierowski – in this year’s May 19 primary. GOP candidates David Burgerhoff and Logan Lombardo will both be on the ballot in the GOP primary. Whether they can defeat Kosierowski, who has served in the General Assembly since 2019, remains to be seen. 

117th House District

Incumbent Republican state Rep. Jamie Walsh, who is in his first term as state representative, is facing a challenge in the GOP primary from Bill Jones, a nonprofit leader who has had stints as chief operating officer of Volunteers of America of PA and president and CEO of the United Way of Wyoming Valley. In his first term, Walsh has introduced legislation, a package of bills to address data center development in the state, as well as a proposed constitutional amendment that would reduce property tax burdens for first responders with disabilities. Jones, meanwhile, supports property tax reform, fairly funding schools and reducing regulations on small businesses, according to his campaign website. 

121st House District

Two Democrats are looking to replace state Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, the current chair of the House Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee, who is retiring at the end of his term. Seeking the Democratic nomination are Jessica McClay, the current chair of Wilkes-Barre City Council, and Michael Stadulis, a 30-year paramedic. On her campaign website, McClay lists making life more affordable, bringing investments back to the 121st House District and expanding high-paying job opportunities as some of her top priorities. Stadulis has stated that the high cost of living, healthcare and prescription costs, and addressing aging infrastructure would be three major priorities for him if he’s ultimately elected to the state House. 

126th House District

In the 126th House District, Democratic state Rep. Jacklyn Rusnock is facing a primary challenge from fellow Democrat Joshua Caltagirone, a code enforcement officer for the City of Reading. During her time in the legislature, Rusnock has introduced legislation to increase state financial assistance for flood damage, as well as a bill to fund the modernization of programming at career and technical centers and schools s. According to his campaign site, Caltagirone’s top issues are adequately funding public schools, lowering costs for families and securing property tax relief. 

128th House District

Republican state Rep. Mark Gillen faced a primary challenge from David Hughes, a businessman and corporate accountant who has worked at Raytheon, Advanced Micro Devices and Omnicell. Gillen, who has served in the state House since 2011, supports property tax relief measures and has introduced bills this session seeking to establish an independent redistricting commission and create sales tax exemptions for seeds and produce plants. Hughes, according to his campaign website, wants to eliminate property taxes, cap local tax increases and modernize local township codes.

130th House District

GOP state Rep. David Maloney is retiring from the General Assembly at the end of his current term, and two Republicans will face off in May for the chance to replace him. Melissa Brewer, a teacher, principal and school superintendent who is endorsed by Maloney and Gun Owners of America, will be running against Mitch Micale, an elementary school teacher and community advocate. Brewer, per her campaign website, opposes income tax increases, supports the creation of a commission dedicated to investigating waste, fraud and abuse, and hopes to cut and freeze property taxes for seniors. Micale, meanwhile, lists parental rights in education, voter ID, and protecting local municipalities from state mandates. 

148th House District

There’s a four-way Democratic primary in the 148th House District, where incumbent state Rep. Mary Jo Daley will not be running for reelection. The Democrats running for the nomination include Andrea Deutsch, the former mayor of Narberth; Jason Landau Goodman, an environmental attorney and LGBTQ rights advocate; Megan Griffin-Shelley, a legislative staffer and former teacher; and Leo Solga, a researcher at the University of Pennsylvania's Carey School of Law. According to their respective campaign websites, Deutsch’s top priorities include lowering costs, protecting reproductive rights and increasing transit funding; Landau Goodman hopes to lower costs advance renewable energy sources and equitably fund public education; Griffin-Shelley’s top goals if elected include lowering the costs of housing, childcare, prescription drugs and utilities, while also protecting access to reproductive care; and Solga seeks to support public transit funding, protect abortion access and reforming the state’s tax system.

159th House District

Democratic state Rep. Carol Kazeem, who was first elected to the 159th House District in 2022, is seeking another term in the state House, but will first have to fend off a challenge from Brian Kirkland, who represented the district from 2017 to 2022. Kazeem supports raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour, investing in drug rehabilitation and social services for people struggling with addiction and expanding affordable housing. Kirkland, meanwhile, has vowed to deliver funding to the district to fix Chester’s water lines, pave local roads and fully fund volunteer fire companies.

166th House District

Democratic state Rep. Greg Vitali, who has represented the 166th House District since 1993, will face a primary challenge this year from Judy Trombetta, president of the Haverford Township Board of Commissioners. Vitali is known for his focus on environmental policy and support for efforts to combat climate change; he has served on the House Environmental & Natural Resources Committee for 31 years. This session, Vitali has sponsored legislation to repeal the state’s Sales and Use Tax Exemption for data center equipment and increase setback requirements for unconventional oil and gas wells. Trombetta, per her campaign website, wants to fully fund and strengthen public education, protect the environment, and would support efforts to protect reproductive rights and establish paid family leave in Pennsylvania. 

185th House District

First elected to the state House in 2020, Democratic state Rep. Regina Young is seeking another term, though she faces a challenge in the Democratic primary from Joe Sackor, who previously challenged Young in 2024. In the most recent legislative session, House lawmakers have approved several bills sponsored by Young, including a bill that would mandate human trafficking awareness training for Pennsylvania workers in the hospitality industry, and another that would streamline energy efficiency plans. Sackor, per his campaign Facebook page, opposes the tactics of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and wants to cut bureaucratic red tape for small and minority-owned businesses.

187th House District

Two Democrats are seeking the nomination in the state’s 187th House District, which is currently held by Republican state Rep. Gary Day. Rachel Cuevas, who most recently worked as a recruiter for the Boston Beer Company, and Geoffrey Whitcomb, a music teacher and pastor, are both seeking the Democratic nod to take on Day. Whitcomb supports raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour, adequately funding emergency services, boosting education funding and providing free community college. Cuevas, per her campaign website, says she wants to lower costs for working families, strengthen the state’s schools and protect health care access.

192th House District

Democratic state Rep. Morgan Cephas has served in the state House since 2017, and she’s seeking another two-year term in 2026. However, Cephas will first face a primary challenge from D’Angelo Virgo, an author, certified arraignment court magistrate and former educator. Virgo supports reforming education by boosting teacher pay and improving classroom resources, as well as reforming the juvenile justice system. In the most recent legislative term, Cephas sponsored a bill to reduce mortgage interest rates, which Gov. Josh Shapiro ultimately signed into law; House lawmakers also passed another Cephas-sponsored bill to protect older homeowners from the risks of reverse mortgages.

195th House District

Democratic state Rep. Keith Harris is facing two challengers in this year’s May 19 primary: social worker Sierra McNeil and Kenneth Walker Jr., a former public school teacher and assistant program manager for the Philadelphia Mayor's Office of Public Safety. Harris has represented the 195th House District since 2024. During his time in office, Harris has sponsored legislation to increase penalties for littering and dumping, as well as a bill requiring school districts to notify parents and guardians when their child is involved in incidents on school property. McNeil, according to her campaign website, would fight for equitable education funding, job readiness and apprenticeship programs and accessible public transit. Walker’s site states that he will fund and strengthen public schools, create youth programs and work to improve neighborhood safety.

199th House District

In the 199th House District, two Democrats are seeking their party’s nomination with the hope of taking on incumbent Republican state Rep. Barbara Gleim in the fall: Rick Christie, a former teacher and coach with experience in logistics and sales, and TaWanda Stallworth, a church leader and program manager at Penn State Dickinson Law. Christie, who faced Gleim in an unsuccessful effort in 2024, is running on a platform that includes addressing the affordability crisis, raising the minimum wage, and making both housing and health care affordable. Stallworth, meanwhile, supports fully funding education, expanding access to workforce development programs and investing in infrastructure. 

200th House District

With Democratic state Rep. Chris Rabb opting not to run for another term in the state House, two Democrats – Christopher Johnson and Qasim Rashad – are looking to succeed Rabb as the 200th House District’s state representative. Johnson, who is endorsed by Rabb and Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker, is the director of state and federal government relations for the School District of Philadelphia and previously worked for former U.S. Sen. Bob Casey and Pennsylvania House Speaker Joanna McClinton. Rashad is the owner and president of Final Mile Technologies, an IT company. Rashad’s top priorities if elected are economic development, education and workforce development, while Johnson wants to invest in public schools, modernize bus and rail systems and lower costs.