{"id":310024,"date":"2026-10-19T19:04:09","date_gmt":"2026-10-19T19:04:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/310024\/"},"modified":"2026-10-19T19:04:09","modified_gmt":"2026-10-19T19:04:09","slug":"procrastinators-guide-to-the-november-2026-election-in-philadelphia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/310024\/","title":{"rendered":"Procrastinator’s Guide to the November 2026 election in Philadelphia"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udc8c Love Philly? Sign up for the free Billy Penn newsletter<\/a> to get everything you need to know about Philadelphia, every day.<\/p>\n

Put it off long enough? We\u2019ve got you.<\/p>\n

The Billy Penn Procrastinator\u2019s Guide is here to help. Scroll through this article, then bookmark it for easy access when you complete your mail ballot or head to the polls on Nov. 3.<\/p>\n

Philadelphia voters will help choose Pennsylvania\u2019s governor, members of Congress and state lawmakers in the Nov. 3 general election. They will also answer two questions that could change the city\u2019s Home Rule Charter.<\/p>\n

At the top of the ballot, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro is seeking a second term against Republican state Treasurer Stacy Garrity and Libertarian Ken Krawchuk.<\/p>\n

Philadelphia also has a rare open congressional seat. Democratic state Rep. Chris Rabb and independent Dennis Mahoney are running to succeed longtime U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans<\/a> in the heavily Democratic 3rd Congressional District.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what you need to know about who and what is on the ballot \u2014 plus when, where and how to vote.<\/p>\n

First, the deadlines<\/p>\n

Oct. 19:\u00a0Last day to register to vote<\/p>\n

Oct. 27:\u00a0Last day to apply for a mail-in or civilian absentee ballot<\/p>\n

Nov. 3:\u00a0Election Day<\/p>\n

Nov. 3 at 8 p.m.:\u00a0Deadline for Philadelphia election officials to receive completed mail ballots<\/p>\n

The deadlines are listed in the Philadelphia City Commissioners\u2019 2026 election calendar<\/a>\u2060.<\/p>\n

Important wording: Pennsylvania requires mail ballots to be\u00a0received, not merely postmarked, by 8 p.m. on Election Day. The guide should recommend using a city drop box or election office if Election Day is approaching, without telling readers how to vote.<\/p>\n

Your polling place<\/p>\n

Polls will be open from\u00a07 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 3. Anyone in line by 8 p.m. may vote.<\/p>\n

Readers can:<\/p>\n

Check their registration status\u2060<\/p>\n

Find their polling place\u2060<\/p>\n

See Philadelphia\u2019s official candidate list and sample ballots\u2060<\/p>\n

Use the Committee of Seventy\u2019s nonpartisan guide\u2060 to generate a personalized ballot<\/p>\n

Unless voting for the first time at a polling location, Pennsylvania voters generally do not need to show identification.<\/p>\n

Have questions that aren\u2019t answered here? Let us know at tips@billypenn.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Voting by mail<\/p>\n

You don\u2019t need a reason or excuse to vote by mail in the commonwealth.<\/p>\n

If you already have your mail ballot, you can drop it off at one of several secure ballot drop boxes around Philly<\/a>, or bring it to Room 140 of City Hall. <\/p>\n

Want to apply for one? Do that here<\/a> before Oct. 27.<\/p>\n

Applied but never received your mail ballot? To start, check the status with the Department of State\u2019s online tracker<\/a>. If the status is \u201cCanceled,\u201d that means the U.S Postal Service ran into issues and canceled your delivery, so you\u2019ll want to request a replacement.<\/p>\n

The fastest way to secure a replacement is to request one in person at the Board of Elections office in City Hall, Room 140, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Afterward, you have the option of completing and submitting your ballot right then and there.<\/p>\n

Satellite Election Offices across Philadelphia are also open<\/a>, providing voter registration and in-person mail ballot services. These offices operate from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 4:00 P.M. on Saturday and Sunday. <\/p>\n

You can also request a replacement mail ballot by filling out a form on the City Commissioner\u2019s website<\/a> or calling 215-686-3469.<\/p>\n

What if you never got your replacement and it\u2019s suddenly Election Day? Don\u2019t worry, there\u2019s a plan for that: Head to your polling place to ask for a provisional ballot, which will get counted after local election officials verify you didn\u2019t vote by mail.<\/p>\n

All mail ballots must be delivered to a drop box or received by election officials by the time the polls close: 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3.<\/p>\n

Have a mail ballot but want to switch to in person? You can bring it to the polls \u2014 envelopes and all \u2014 and surrender it to election workers, then head into the booth and cast your vote.<\/p>\n

Pa. Governor<\/p>\n

\"\"Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and state Treasurer Stacy Garrity are facing each other in November for the governor\u2019s office.<\/p>\n

Josh Shapiro, Democrat incumbent<\/p>\n

Josh Shapiro is seeking reelection on a platform of targeted tax relief, expanded housing and economic development.<\/a> His first-term record includes expanding property-tax and rent rebates and child care tax credits, and creating a tax credit for working Pennsylvanians.<\/p>\n

Shapiro supports a $15 minimum wage. His housing proposals include building and preserving homes, expanding repair assistance and strengthening renter protections. His energy plan encourages natural gas, nuclear and renewable power while tightening clean-energy requirements.<\/p>\n

On health care, Shapiro opposes federal Medicaid changes that impose new work-reporting and eligibility requirements. He has joined litigation challenging their implementation and directed his administration to help recipients navigate the requirements.<\/p>\n

He supports abortion rights, promises to veto additional restrictions and wants those rights written into state law. He also supported the court decision striking down Pennsylvania\u2019s ban on Medicaid funding for most abortions.<\/p>\n

Shapiro opposes restrictions on gender-affirming care and bans on transgender students\u2019 participation in sports. He supports explicitly adding sexual orientation and gender identity to Pennsylvania\u2019s civil rights law.<\/p>\n

\u2192 Campaign site is here<\/a><\/p>\n

Stacy Garrity, Republican<\/p>\n

Stacy Garrity is challenging Gov. Josh Shapiro with proposals to lower taxes, reduce business regulations and expand natural gas production.<\/p>\n

She supports cutting Pennsylvania\u2019s personal income tax, eliminating the inheritance tax and reducing or eliminating a utility tax. Her housing plan promises property-tax rebates and mortgage-interest assistance for first-time buyers, but eligibility and costs remain unspecified.<\/p>\n

Garrity opposes raising the minimum wage. She proposes faster energy permitting and reconsidering renewable-energy mandates. Her campaign has not released analysis supporting its projected job growth and utility savings.<\/p>\n

On health care, Garrity supports the federal Medicaid changes, arguing they will curb fraud and protect coverage for eligible recipients. She proposes stronger provider screening, data analysis and independent performance audits.<\/p>\n

Garrity opposes abortion and praised the overturning of Roe v. Wade. However, she says she would respect Pennsylvania\u2019s current law and would not pursue a ban. She opposes taxpayer-funded abortion.<\/p>\n

She supports barring transgender girls from girls\u2019 school sports. Her platform does not specify whether she would restrict gender-affirming medical care for minors.<\/p>\n

\u2192 Campaign site is here<\/a><\/p>\n

Ken Krawchuk, Libertarian<\/p>\n

Ken Krawchuk, a Philadelphia native and IT consultant who lives in Abington, is making his fourth run for Pennsylvania governor after campaigns in 1998, 2002 and 2018. He is the only third-party candidate for governor on November\u2019s ballot.<\/p>\n

He has a bachelor\u2019s degree in physics from Saint Joseph University and holds three U.S. patents, according to his campaign.<\/p>\n

Krawchuk has been a registered Libertarian since 1993 and has previously served as chairman of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania. His electoral experience extends to several campaigns for the Pennsylvania state House, U.S. House and Abington Township commissioner.<\/p>\n

Krawchuk advocates shrinking state government. His proposals include privatizing public schools, eliminating school property taxes and phasing out Pennsylvania\u2019s personal income tax. He also supports decriminalizing drugs, ending no-excuse mail voting and expanding voter identification requirements. His running mate is educator John Thomas.<\/p>\n

\u2192 Campaign site is here<\/a><\/p>\n

Back to top <\/a>\u2934\ufe0f <\/p>\n

Pa. Lieutenant Governor<\/p>\n

Austin Davis, Democrat incumbent<\/p>\n

Davis became Pennsylvania\u2019s first Black lieutenant governor in 2023. Taking office at age 33, the Allegheny County resident made history as the nation\u2019s youngest lieutenant governor. Raised in McKeesport by a union bus driver and a hairdresser, Davis is a first-generation college graduate who earned a political science degree from the University of Pittsburgh. His career in public service began as a teenager when he founded a local youth advisory council following a neighborhood shooting. <\/p>\n

Davis served in Allegheny County government before winning a seat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He represented the 35th District from 2018 to 2022 and chaired the Allegheny County House Democratic Delegation. He resigned from his House seat in December 2022 after winning the statewide election on a joint ticket with Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro. <\/p>\n

In his role, Davis presides over the state Senate and chairs the Board of Pardons and the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). His administration has managed $85 million in Violence Intervention and Prevention grants, championed a fully online pardons application process, and launched the Building Opportunity Through Out-of-School Time (BOOST) program. In recent legislative efforts, Davis championed a $2.5 million bipartisan budget investment to establish the Violent Incident Clearance and Technological Investigative Methods (VICTIM) Program, designed to help local police departments solve violent crimes and cold cases. He also spearheaded the state\u2019s first-ever Gun Violence Prevention Symposium and toured the state to promote the \u201cMain Street Matters\u201d initiative, which secured a $20 million budget line to revitalize local business corridors. <\/p>\n

\u2192 Campaign site is here<\/a><\/p>\n

Jason Richey, Republican<\/p>\n

Jason Richey, an Allegheny County attorney with a legal career spanning three decades, Richey\u2019s corporate practice focuses on litigation within the construction, manufacturing, and energy sectors. His campaign platform centers on fiscal discipline, including property tax relief, alongside initiatives for public safety, government transparency, and expanding domestic energy production.<\/p>\n

Richey grew up in Aliquippa, Beaver County, a background his campaign highlights as foundational to his focus on the state\u2019s industrial and blue-collar communities. He graduated with honors from Allegheny College, where he was an NCAA Academic All-American wrestler. To help fund his legal education at The Ohio State University, Richey worked as a union steel mill employee before returning to Western Pennsylvania to practice law.<\/p>\n

In addition to his professional legal work, Richey is involved in local civic and athletic programs. He founded the Quaker Valley Wrestling Association, a nonprofit youth wrestling organization that provides athletic mentorship in his community.<\/p>\n

\u2192 Campaign site is here<\/a><\/p>\n

John Thomas, Libertarian<\/p>\n

John Thomas, a cyber school educator from Kittanning, is running on a joint minor-party ticket alongside veteran gubernatorial candidate Ken Krawchuk. His campaign focuses on criminal justice reform, individual rights, small business deregulation and government transparency.<\/p>\n

A native of Meyersdale, Pennsylvania, Thomas earned a bachelor\u2019s degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2000. Over a career spanning more than 20 years in education, he has taught economics, history, and government across public, private, and charter systems. He works as a professional development coordinator for the Agora Cyber Charter School. Thomas has lived in Kittanning Borough for the last 10 years, where he serves as the secretary for the Armstrong County Libertarian Party.<\/p>\n

Outside of his career in education and politics, Thomas is heavily involved in local civic organizations. He serves on the board of Habitat for Humanity of Armstrong County<\/a> and is an elder at Harvest Church of Kittanning, where he coordinates a local jail ministry team.<\/p>\n

Thomas said he plans to advocate for school choice, push for property tax relief and use the Board of Pardons to recommend clemency for individuals serving time for victimless offenses. He also supports sate-level \u201cDefend the Guard\u201d legislation that would prohibit state National Guard units from being deployed into active-duty combat overseas unless the U.S. Congress has formally declared war.<\/p>\n

\u2192 Campaign site is here<\/a><\/p>\n

Back to top <\/a>\u2934\ufe0f <\/p>\n

\"\"Credit: Martin Falbisoner \/ Wikimedia Commons<\/a><\/p>\n

U.S. House of Representatives<\/p>\n

Philadelphia is divided among three congressional districts.<\/p>\n

2nd Congressional District<\/p>\n

Brendan F. Boyle, Democrat incumbent<\/p>\n

Boyle<\/a> served in the Pennsylba House for six years and was elected to Congress in 2014. He\u2019s the ranking member of the House Budget Committee and a vocal critic of Trump administration cuts to violence prevention, housing, and healthcare programs. He recently voted to block further military action in Iran.<\/p>\n

He touts his work to secure federal transit funding for the Philadelphia region ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and introduced legislation to restore slavery-related displays at the President\u2019s House site at Independence Historical Park. He has criticized U.S. Sen. John Fetterman and is often mentioned as a possible Senate candidate in 2028.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2192 Campaign site is here<\/a> <\/p>\n

Jessica Arriaga, Republican<\/p>\n

Jessica Arriaga is the Republican candidate running for Pennsylvania\u2019s 2nd Congressional District in the 2026 US House election, challenging Democratic incumbent Brendan Boyle. Born and raised in North Philadelphia, Arriaga is a mother, entrepreneur, and healthcare professional who emphasizes her deep roots and grassroots connection to the community. Her professional background includes more than 20 years of experience as an Operating Room Technician across major surgical specialties, a career she later expanded into medical sales, health coordination, and community resource planning. Endorsed by the Pennsylvania Young Republicans, she has also served as a local Ward Leader, a radio host, and an assistant coordinator for nonprofits mentoring underprivileged girls.<\/p>\n

Arriaga\u2019s campaign platform centers heavily on community safety, public health, and law enforcement support. She advocates for fully funding, training, and equipping first responders while expanding community policing to rebuild neighborhood trust. To combat violent crime and illegal gun activity, her policy positions focus on targeting repeat offenders, strengthening penalties for gun trafficking, and improving coordination between local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. Additionally, her platform balances enforcement with preventative measures, proposing expanded after-school programs, youth mentorship, and enhanced community resources for mental health and addiction services.<\/p>\n

\u2192 Campaign site is here<\/a><\/p>\n

3rd Congressional District<\/p>\n

Chris Rabb, Democrat<\/p>\n

Rabb is a state representative from Northwest Philadelphia who won the Democratic primary to succeed Evans. <\/p>\n

State Rep. Chris Rabb is a progressive lawmaker, author and social justice advocate who has served five terms in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives<\/a> representing the 200th District since 2017. Before entering public office, Rabb built a career blending academia and technology as a digital activist and entrepreneur. He co-founded the technology-based product design firm Stono Technologies in the 1990s and gained national recognition by launching Afro-Netizen<\/a> in 1999, one of the earliest online communities dedicated to African American progressives. A graduate of Yale University and the University of Pennsylvania, he later worked as an adjunct professor at Temple University\u2019s Fox School of Business<\/a> and published his book, \u201cInvisible Capital,\u201d which explores equity and social capital in entrepreneurship. <\/p>\n

During his time in Harrisburg, Rabb used his tech and social enterprise background to advance consumer protection, transparency and progressive economic reform. He also pushed for ranked-choice voting and environmental protection. Striking a recent chord with technology-focused accountability, Rabb championed oversight in the 2026-27 Pennsylvania state budget by successfully integrating transparency mandates that force large-scale data centers to publicly report their energy and water usage.<\/p>\n

\u2192 Campaign site is here<\/a><\/p>\n

Dennis Mahoney, Independent<\/p>\n

Dennis Mahoney, a 34-year-old disaster relief coordinator from South Philadelphia, is running as an independent candidate for Pennsylvania\u2019s 3rd Congressional District in the November 2026 general election<\/p>\n

Mahoney, who has spent a decade managing humanitarian aid following hurricanes in the U.S. and Puerto Rico as well as economic crises in 18 countries, is the sole challenger on the ballot against Democratic nominee state Rep. Chris Rabb. Rabb, a progressive state representative, won a multi-candidate Democratic primary in May. Consult official election resources or candidate platforms for more detailed information regarding the seat\u2019s vacancy and candidates. Endorsed by the Forward Party<\/a>, Mahoney\u2019s campaign focuses on anti-poverty initiatives, cost-of-living affordability, and cross-sector community coordination in the heavily Democratic district. <\/p>\n

Campaign site is here<\/a><\/p>\n

5th Congressional District<\/p>\n

Only a small section of Southwest Philadelphia lies in this district.<\/p>\n

Mary Gay Scanlon, Democrat incumbent<\/p>\n

A public interest lawyer and education advocate, Scanlon has represented Pennsylvania\u2019s 5th Congressional District<\/a> since first winning a simultaneous special and general election in November 2018. Before heading to Washington, the Syracuse native and University of Pennsylvania Law School graduate spent decades doing pro bono legal work. She worked as a senior staff attorney for the Education Law Center, directed tens of thousands of hours of pro bono legal services for low-income individuals at Ballard Spahr LLP, and co-founded Philadelphia Legal Assistance. Locally, she also built a record in school governance, serving on the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District board from 2007 to 2015, including a stint as board president.<\/p>\n

In Congress, Scanlon sits on the high-profile House Judiciary and Rules committees. Her primary legislative focuses lean into voting rights, common-sense gun safety, expanding access to justice, regional economic growth, and ending hunger. She also chairs several youth and legal equity caucuses, including the Access to Legal Aid, Youth Mentoring and Foster Youth caucuses.<\/p>\n

\u2192 Campaign site is here<\/a><\/p>\n

Nick Manganaro, Republican<\/p>\n

An investor and retired financial professional, Nick Manganaro secured the Republican nomination unopposed to challenge Democratic incumbent Mary Gay Scanlon in the general election. Manganaro has a highly technical background, holding a bachelor\u2019s degree in mathematics from Reed College and a graduate degree in finance from the MIT Sloan School of Management. He spent decades working in quantitative analysis and risk assessment at major multi-national financial institutions like BlackRock, Merrill Lynch, and JPMorgan Chase before founding Property Square Solutions. He is backed by the Delaware County GOP<\/a> and the Pennsylvania Young Republicans.<\/p>\n

Campaigning as an \u201cAmerica First\u201d fiscal conservative, Manganaro is pitching voters on a data-driven approach to tackling inflation by capping federal overspending and rolling back regulations to drive up corporate investment. His platform heavily emphasizes localized domestic energy production, supporting Pennsylvania natural gas while championing next-generation modular nuclear plants. On social and federal policy, according to profiles on Ballotpedia<\/a> and iVoterGuide<\/a>, he advocates for stricter border security \u2014 explicitly opposing government benefits for undocumented immigrants\u2014and favors free-market healthcare alternatives over government-mandated systems.<\/p>\n

\u2192 Campaign site is here<\/a><\/p>\n

Back to top <\/a>\u2934\ufe0f <\/p>\n

\"\"Credit: Wikimedia Commons<\/a><\/p>\n

Pa. Senate<\/p>\n

2nd District<\/p>\n

Christine M. Tartaglione, Democrat \u2014 unopposed<\/p>\n

4th District<\/p>\n

Art Haywood, Democrat<\/p>\n

Haywood is a longtime Democratic lawmaker representing Northwest Philadelphia and parts of Eastern Montgomery County who continues to build his legislative legacy around a core platform of \u201cdignity for all.\u201d <\/p>\n

First elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate<\/a> in 2014 after serving as a Cheltenham commissioner, Haywood has leveraged his legal background to secure millions in state and federal funding for affordable housing, anti-eviction initiatives and mobile health clinics. <\/p>\n

In recent legislative sessions, he has frequently made headlines for his aggressive advocacy, which ranges from hosting weekly protest vigils against ICE to announcing new transparency and safety standards for artificial intelligence companies. <\/p>\n

\u2192 Campaign site is here<\/a><\/p>\n

Todd Johnson, Republican<\/p>\n

This is the only contested state Senate race affecting Philadelphia and should receive candidate profiles.<\/p>\n

Johnson, a Republican candidate for the Pennsylvania State Senate<\/a>, is challenging incumbent Democrat Art Haywood to represent 4th District, which covers Northwest Philadelphia and parts of southeastern Montgomery County. <\/p>\n

A lifelong Philadelphia resident, Johnson is a graduate of Frankford High School and Geneva College. Outside of his political campaign, he serves the community as the pastor of First Immanuel Baptist Church, the Republican leader of the city\u2019s 17th Ward, and a neighborhood block captain. His legislative platform emphasizes community unity, expanding school choice, lowering taxes and increasing funding for local law enforcement.<\/p>\n

\u2192 Campaign site is here<\/a><\/p>\n

8th District<\/p>\n

Anthony Hardy Williams, Democrat \u2014 unopposed<\/p>\n

Back to top <\/a>\u2934\ufe0f <\/p>\n

Pa. House of Representatives<\/p>\n

Contested<\/p>\n

170th District<\/p>\n

Rob Gurtcheff, Democrat<\/p>\n

Gurtcheff is a U.S. Army veteran and fraud investigator raised in Northeast Philadelphia. The Archbishop Ryan and Temple University graduate served deployments in both Iraq and Afghanistan before transitioning to a corporate career investigating healthcare fraud. <\/p>\n

A Democratic committeeman in the 66th Ward, Gurtcheff\u2019s campaign leans heavily on his deep roots in the community \u2014 where he serves as a youth sports coach and church lay leader \u2014 as well as his personal advocacy as a living kidney donor to a fellow veteran. <\/p>\n

Backed by Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and labor organizations, Gurtcheff\u2019s legislative platform focuses on raising the state minimum wage, increasing public education funding, and expanding line-of-duty PTSD benefits for first responders.<\/p>\n

\u2192 Campaign site is here<\/a><\/p>\n

Martina White, Republican<\/p>\n

White won a high-profile special election in March 2015. Upon taking office, she made history as the first new Republican elected in the city of Philadelphia in 25 years. <\/p>\n

Before transitioning to public service, White built a career in the financial services sector as a financial advisor after graduating from Elizabethtown College with a bachelor\u2019s degree in business administration. <\/p>\n

Recognized as a rising political figure within the Commonwealth, she currently serves as the House Republican Caucus Chairwoman and is a member of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) Board. Her legislative record focuses heavily on bolstering school choice options, securing education funding, expanding public safety enforcement for illegal firearm crimes and advocating for local municipal priorities through her appointment to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s Local Government Advisory Committee.<\/p>\n

\u2192 Campaign site is here<\/a><\/p>\n

173rd District<\/p>\n

Bill Griffin, Republican<\/p>\n

Griffin is a retired educator and principal with over 35 years of experience in special education and school administration. <\/p>\n

He is challenging Democratic incumbent Pat Gallagher in the general election, Griffin\u2019s platform centers heavily on community safety, public education reform, and targeted economic relief. Drawing from his long career in local public schools, he has been a vocal advocate for structural facility upgrades, air-conditioning in classrooms and expanded school choice options. <\/p>\n

On public safety, Griffin supports increased funding for law enforcement, a reorganization of the 15th Police District to improve response capabilities and stricter prosecution strategies to curb neighborhood crime. <\/p>\n

Beyond his educational background, Griffin is a licensed real estate agent and continues to serve as a substitute principal within the community.<\/p>\n

\u2192 Campaign site is here<\/a><\/p>\n

Pat Gallagher, Democrat<\/p>\n

Incumbent Democratic State Rep. Patrick Gallagher is leaning on nearly a decade of local legislative and small business experience as he campaigns for reelection to represent Pennsylvania\u2019s 173rd Legislative District. <\/p>\n

A native of Northeast Philadelphia, Gallagher graduated from Cardinal Dougherty High School in 1992 before earning a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science from Temple University in 1998. Prior to his election to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2022, he spent eight years as chief of staff to former State Rep. Mike Driscoll. Gallagher currently serves as Deputy Whip and sits on several prominent legislative panels, including the House Appropriations, Finance, and Consumer Protection, Technology & Utilities committees. <\/p>\n

Gallagher\u2019s reelection platform centers heavily on community advocacy, public safety, and working-class economic relief. His legislative priorities include expanding quality healthcare access, raising the minimum wage, securing dignified retirements for seniors, and advocating for safe conditions for organized labor. Recently, he has focused on directing state funding back to Northeast Philadelphia, securing over $1 million in local share grants to enhance community facilities like Glen Foerd and the Tacony Boat Launch.<\/p>\n

\u2192 Campaign site is here<\/a><\/p>\n

177th District<\/p>\n

Joe Hohenstein, Democrat<\/p>\n

State Rep. Joe Hohenstein represents the 177th Legislative District, which encompasses several Philadelphia neighborhoods, including Bridesburg, Tacony, Port Richmond, Northwood and Wissinoming. <\/p>\n

First elected Nov. 6, 2018, Hohenstein flipped a River Wards seat that had been held by Republicans for nearly 30 years. A lifelong resident of Frankford, he grew up in a union household and later earned degrees from Earlham College and the University of Minnesota Law School. Before entering state politics, he spent 25 years as a prominent immigration rights attorney. Notably, Hohenstein was part of the legal team that successfully challenged the Trump administration\u2019s 2017 travel ban to reunite a separated Syrian Christian family. <\/p>\n

During the 2025\u20132026 legislative session, Hohenstein focused heavily on environmental, transit and community advocacy. He holds leadership roles as the secretary for both the Environmental & Natural Resource Protection and the Game & Fisheries committees. He also serves as chair of the subcommittees on Courts and Ports. His recent legislative record includes prime-sponsoring HB 847, introducing a bill to allow community contributions for the deaf and hard of hearing on the PennDOT website, and offering House Resolution 646 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Frankford Yellow Jackets\u2019 NFL championship. <\/p>\n

\u2192 Campaign site is here<\/a> <\/p>\n

Robyn Bird, Republican<\/p>\n

Bird, a lifelong resident of Philadelphia\u2019s River Wards, traces her family roots back four generations in the same Port Richmond rowhouse. She has centered her public life on local service and grassroots organizing. After gaining key campaign engineering experience as a political coordinator during the 2024 presidential campaign cycle, she stepped into her current professional role as the Public Relations and Governmental Affairs Director for the Philadelphia Firefighters & Paramedics\u2019 Union-IAFF Local 22.<\/p>\n

In her bid for the state legislature ahead of this election, Bird is challenging the Democratic incumbent on a platform focused on public safety and economic relief. Backed by an official endorsement from her colleagues at IAFF Local 22, she has heavily prioritized expanding vital resources, staffing and support for first responders. Her campaign aggressively addresses neighborhood-level quality of life concerns, aiming to lower crushing local property taxes, protect manufacturing jobs, and crack down on regional crime across Northwood, Port Richmond, Wissinoming, Tacony and Bridesburg.<\/p>\n

\u2192 Campaign site is here<\/a><\/p>\n

192nd District<\/p>\n

Morgan Cephas, Democrat<\/p>\n

State Rep. Morgan Cephas, first elected in November 2016, serves as the majority chairwoman of the House Government Oversight Committee and previously chaired the Philadelphia House Delegation. Throughout her decade-long tenure, her legislative platform has focused on healthcare equity, safety and community infrastructure. As co-founder of the PA Black Maternal Health Caucus, Cephas championed budget allocations expanding postpartum Medicaid coverage to a full year and recently advanced legislation to broaden healthcare protections for menopause. Her office has also secured more than $21 million in state grants to revitalize local schools, parks and small businesses in neighborhoods such as Overbrook and Wynnefield.<\/p>\n

A lifelong West Philadelphia resident, Cephas is a graduate of Central High School and the University of Virginia, where she ran track and earned a degree in political science. Before her election to the General Assembly, she worked as deputy chief of staff to Philadelphia City Councilmember Curtis Jones Jr. and as a director for the Philadelphia Youth Network.<\/p>\n

\u2192 Campaign site is here<\/a><\/p>\n

Tiffany Vann Brown, Republican<\/p>\n

Brown is a West Philadelphia native who attended local public schools and Community College of Philadelphia. She is the leader of Philadelphia\u2019s 34th Ward and a Ward Executive Committee person for the 31st Division. Professional highlights from her background include founding a media production company and serving as a grassroots leader with Americans for Prosperity. Her campaign platform focuses heavily on community affordability, increasing investments to improve public schools, lowering local property taxes and enhancing public safety.<\/p>\n

\u2192 Campaign site is here<\/a><\/p>\n

Uncontested races<\/p>\n

10th District \u2014 Amen Brown (Democrat, incumbent)<\/p>\n

172nd District \u2014 Sean M. Dougherty (Democrat, incumbent)<\/p>\n

174th District \u2014 Ed Neilson (Democrat, incumbent)<\/p>\n

175th District \u2014 MaryLouise Isaacson (Democrat, incumbent)<\/p>\n

179th District \u2014 Jason Dawkins (Democrat, incumbent)<\/p>\n

180th District \u2014 Jose A. Giral (Democrat, incumbent)<\/p>\n

181st District \u2014 Malcolm Kenyatta (Democrat, incumbent)<\/p>\n

182nd District \u2014 Ben Waxman (Democrat, incumbent)<\/p>\n

184th District \u2014 Elizabeth Fiedler (Democrat, incumbent)<\/p>\n

185th District \u2014 Regina Young (Democrat, incumbent)<\/p>\n

186th District \u2014 Jordan Harris (Democrat, incumbent)<\/p>\n

188th District \u2014 Rick Krajewski (Democrat, incumbent)<\/p>\n

190th District \u2014 Roni Green (Democrat, incumbent)<\/p>\n

191st District \u2014 Joanna McClinton (Democrat, incumbent)<\/p>\n

194th District \u2014 Tarik Khan (Democrat, incumbent)<\/p>\n

195th District \u2014 Sierra McNeil (Democrat, incumbent)<\/p>\n

197th District \u2014 Danilo Burgos (Democrat, incumbent)<\/p>\n

198th District \u2014 Darisha Parker (Democrat, incumbent)<\/p>\n

200th District \u2014 Chris Johnson (Democrat, incumbent)<\/p>\n

201st District \u2014 Andre Carroll (Democrat, incumbent)<\/p>\n

202nd District\u2014 Jared Solomon (Democrat, incumbent)<\/p>\n

203rd District\u2014 Anthony Bellmon (Democrat, incumbent)<\/p>\n

Back to top <\/a>\u2934\ufe0f <\/p>\n

\"\"North Broad Street side of Philadelphia City Hall. (Emma Lee\/WHYY)<\/p>\n

Ballot questions<\/p>\n

Philadelphians have two ballot questions<\/a> that could change the city\u2019s Home Rule Charter.<\/p>\n

Question 1: City contracting<\/p>\n

The question asks whether the Home Rule Charter should be changed to:<\/p>\n

Allow bid preferences and set-asides for small businesses<\/p>\n

Revise the rules and financial threshold for contracts reserved for small and local businesses<\/p>\n

Give the Procurement Department and city solicitor discretion over bond requirements for certain construction projects<\/p>\n

A\u00a0yes\u00a0vote would amend the Charter. A\u00a0no\u00a0vote would leave the current language in place.<\/p>\n

Question 2: Creative Philadelphia<\/p>\n

The question asks whether Creative Philadelphia, led by the chief cultural officer, should become a formal part of city government under the Home Rule Charter.<\/p>\n

A\u00a0yes\u00a0vote would place the existing arts and culture office in the Charter. A\u00a0no\u00a0vote would leave it outside the Charter.<\/p>\n

Back to top <\/a>\u2934\ufe0f <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\ud83d\udc8c Love Philly? Sign up for the free Billy Penn newsletter to get everything you need to know…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":310025,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[902,564,69,71,70,50,1824],"class_list":["post-310024","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-philadelphia","tag-elections","tag-featured","tag-philadelphia","tag-philadelphia-headlines","tag-philadelphia-news","tag-politics","tag-voting"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/310024","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=310024"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/310024\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/310025"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=310024"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=310024"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=310024"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}