Mark Pinsley declared victory over Bradley Merkl Gump in the race for the Democratic nomination in Pennsylvania’s 16th State Senate District.
“Thank you PA-16! I am thrilled and proud to be your Democratic nominee for the General Election! I’ve just received a call from Bradley wishing me luck on the next leg of the election, and I commended him and his team on a well-fought race,” Pinsley said in a Facebook post.
“But first, some thank yous: Thank you to my family for all the support you’ve given me throughout this and every election. Thank you to my campaign staff for fueling this winning operation. Thank you to my volunteers who gave their blood, sweat, and tears to this campaign. And thank you to each and every voter who came out today, both those who voted for and against me. I will work to represent all of you.
“Now, the fight is still ahead of us. This November, we’re going to need a Democratic trifecta in the State Senate, State House, and Governor’s Mansion to Get Shit Done for every Pennsylvania family that’s struggling right now. Let’s flip this seat for the people!”
In a Facebook post, Merkl Gump conceded the race, offering Pinsley his support.
“We didn’t win tonight, but our ideas are going to win in November. I ran to talk about the cost of living and access to excellent public education, and Mark Pinsley and I share those ideals,” Merkl Gump said in the post.
“This race was about finding the best candidate to defeat Jarrett Coleman and giving the voters of Lehigh and Bucks counties the representation they deserve in the legislature. Mark Pinsley has my unequivocal, unwavering support as he works to finish the job.
“Thank you to everyone who supported my campaign. I was honored and humbled by every dollar you sent, every door you knocked, every voter you called. We’ll need all of that energy and more in November and I won’t be on the sidelines – neither should you.”
Pinsley still has to face incumbent Republican Jarrett Coleman, who is running unopposed for the Republican nomination for the 16th District State House seat, in the fall general election.
The 16th District in Pennsylvania covers portions of Bucks and Lehigh counties.
Pinsley is a longtime public official who currently serves as Lehigh County Controller, a position he has held for seven years and will continue to hold through 2027. After initially running for Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District, he ended that campaign and withdrew from the race, stating that an evaluation of his campaign finances led him to shift his plans.
Instead, he shifted his focus to seeking the Democratic nomination for the 16th State Senate District.
“While I may not have the means to raise the stratospheric amounts of cash required just to compete in a congressional primary, I do have the network, support, and experience to win the nomination for State Senate in the 16th District,” Pinsley said in his announcement.
His professional background includes teaching economics, serving in the Army Reserve, and building his own business as the founder and president of Dunbarton Business Software.
Pinsley received endorsements from Lehigh County Executive Josh Siegel and California Congressman Ro Khanna.
Pinsley was facing off against Merkl Gump on the ballot. Gump is an 8th‑grade history and civics teacher in the Perkiomen Valley School District and has spent 15 years teaching in Pennsylvania. A lifelong resident of the district, he lives in Perkasie with his wife and two sons.
He was elected to the Pennridge School Board in 2023 and currently serves as a board director and curriculum chair.
His campaign received endorsements from SEIU PA State Council, PSEA, Allentown Mayor Matthew Tuerk, and members of Pennsylvania Senate Democratic leadership. His stated priorities include job creation, wage growth, support for public schools, reproductive rights, expanded healthcare access, and community well‑being.
“Families in our district need jobs that pay a living wage, and they need affordable housing. Our public schools need full support. Pennsylvania’s seniors deserve dignity and financial security. I’ll bring a teacher’s perspective, a neighbor’s mindset, and a deep commitment to this community to the State Senate. Together, we can create a better future in District 16,” said Merkl-Gump.