The May primary election will include four contested races in Berks County — three for state House seats and one for the Senate.
In 2026, all 203 state House seats and half of the state Senate seats in Pennsylvania are up for election. That includes eight House seats and three Senate seats on ballots in Berks.
There are no races on either the Republican or Democratic sides of the ballot for seven of those seats. There will be contested races on the Republican side for a Senate seat and two House seats, while the Democratic side will see one contested House race.
Three of the contested races will feature challenges to sitting state lawmakers.
In the 48th Senatorial District, Lebanon County horse farmer Clovis Crane is seeking to unseat incumbent Republican Chris Gebhard. The district includes northern and western Berks County as well as parts of northern Lancaster County and all of Lebanon County.
In the 126th Legislative District, Laureldale resident and Reading codes enforcement officer Joshua Caltagirone is challenging incumbent Democrat Jacklyn Rusnock. The district includes parts of Reading and Exeter Township as well as Laureldale, Mount Penn and St. Lawrence, and Lower Alsace and Muhlenberg townships.
In the 128th Legislative District, former Exeter Township Supervisor David Hughes is running against incumbent Republican Mark Gillen. The district includes Birdsboro and New Morgan as well as Amity, Caernarvon, Cumru, Douglass, Exeter, Robeson and Union townships.
One race will see two newcomers vying to replace a longtime House member who has decided not to run for reelection.
In the 130th Legislative District, Republican newcomers Mitch Micale and Melissa Brewer will compete to replace David Maloney. The district includes Bally, Bechtelsville, Boyertown, Fleetwood, Lyons and Topton; and Alsace, Colebrookdale, District, Earl, Hereford, Longswamp, Maidencreek, Oley, Pike, Richmond, Rockland, Ruscombmanor and Washington townships.
Here’s a complete list of who’s running in each of the legislative and senatorial districts that include communities of Berks.
Incumbents are denoted by an asterisk.
The Pennsylvania House districts in Berks County.
5th Legislative District
Democrat
Andres R.F. Santiago
Republican
*Eric Weaknecht
99th Legislative District
Democrat
Ethan Gabrick
Republican
*David Zimmerman
124th Legislative District
Democrat
Tina Burns
Republican
*Jamie Barton
126th Legislative District
Democrats
*Jacklyn Rusnock
Joshua Caltagirone
Republican
Miguel Vasquez
127th Legislative District
Democrat
*Manny Guzman
128th Legislative District
Republicans
*Mark Gillen
David Hughes
Democrat
Andy Wagner
129th Legislative District
Democrat
*Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz
130th Legislative District
Democrat
Erik Bonnett
Republicans
Mitch Micale
Melissa Brewer
The Pennsylvania Senate districts in Berks County.
24th Senatorial District
Democrat
Chris Thomas
Republican
*Tracy Pennycuick
44th Senatorial District
Democrat
*Katie Muth
Republican
Melissa Dicranian
48th Senatorial District
Republicans
*Chris Gebhard
Clovis Crane