[VT | November 4, 2026 | Philadelphia PA]
Pennsylvania voters went to the polls on November 3 for the 2026 midterm election. Gov. Josh Shapiro and Lt. Gov. Austin Davis won a second term with roughly 60 percent of the vote, leading Republican nominees State Treasurer Stacy Garrity and Jason Richey by more than 21 percentage points. In Philadelphia, Shapiro carried close to 90 percent.
The most closely watched race in Greater Philadelphia was in the 1st Congressional District, where Bucks County Commissioner Bob Harvie defeated incumbent U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick. In the state legislature, several suburban incumbents lost their seats, and a handful of districts remain too close to call.
U.S. House
- 1st District: Bob Harvie wins; incumbent Brian Fitzpatrick defeated
- 2nd District: Brendan Boyle re-elected
- 3rd District: Chris Rabb elected
- 4th District: Madeleine Dean re-elected
- 5th District: Mary Gay Scanlon re-elected
- 6th District: Chrissy Houlahan re-elected
State Senate
In Bucks County’s 6th District, Eileen Hartnett Albillar defeated incumbent Sen. Frank Farry. In the 16th District, which spans northern Bucks County and part of Lehigh County, Mark Pinsley defeated incumbent Sen. Jarrett Coleman. In the 24th District, which spans parts of Montgomery and Berks counties, Chris Thomas defeated incumbent Sen. Tracy Pennycuick.
Re-elected: Christine Tartaglione (2nd), Art Haywood (4th), Anthony Hardy Williams (8th), Steve Santarsiero (10th), Maria Collett (12th), Tim Kearney (26th) and Katie Muth (44th).
State House: Four Incumbents Defeated, Three Districts Still Undecided
- 13th District: Madelyn Alvarino defeats incumbent John Lawrence
- 18th District: Bryan Allen defeats incumbent KC Tomlinson
- 142nd District: Kristin Egan defeats incumbent Joe Hogan
- 160th District: Elizabeth Moro defeats incumbent Craig Williams
In Bucks County’s 143rd District, incumbent Rep. Shelby Labs leads challenger Tim Hayes by just 33 votes. In Montgomery County’s 147th District, Margaret Burke leads incumbent Rep. Donna Scheuren by 90 votes. In the 131st District, which spans Lehigh, Montgomery and Northampton counties, Meriam Sabih leads incumbent Rep. Milou Mackenzie in early returns. All three races await final counts.
In Northeast Philadelphia’s 170th District, incumbent Rep. Martina White defeated challenger Rob Gurtcheff.
Other winners in the four suburban counties: Paul Friel (26th), Tim Brennan (29th), Perry Warren (31st), Steve Malagari (53rd), Greg Scott (54th), Liz Hanbidge (61st), Matt Bradford (70th), Dan Williams (74th), Jim Prokopiak (140th), Tina Davis (141st), Brian Munroe (144th), Craig Staats (145th), Joe Ciresi (146th), Megan Griffin-Shelley (148th), Tim Briggs (149th), Joe Webster (150th), Melissa Cerrato (151st), Nancy Guenst (152nd), Ben Sanchez (153rd), Napoleon Nelson (154th), Danielle Friel Otten (155th), Chris Pielli (156th), Melissa Shusterman (157th), Christina Sappey (158th), Carol Kazeem (159th), Leanne Krueger (161st), Dave Delloso (162nd), Heather Boyd (163rd), Gina Curry (164th), Jennifer O’Mara (165th), Judy Trombetta (166th), Kristine Howard (167th), Lisa Borowski (168th) and Kristin Marcell (178th).
Other winners in Philadelphia: Amen Brown (10th), Sean M. Dougherty (172nd), Pat Gallagher (173rd), Ed Neilson (174th), MaryLouise Isaacson (175th), Joe Hohenstein (177th), Jason T. Dawkins (179th), Jose A. Giral (180th), Malcolm Kenyatta (181st), Ben Waxman (182nd), Elizabeth Fiedler (184th), Regina Young (185th), Jordan A. Harris (186th), Rick Krajewski (188th), Roni Green (190th), House Speaker Joanna E. McClinton (191st), Morgan Cephas (192nd), Tarik Khan (194th), Sierra McNeil (195th), Danilo Burgos (197th), Darisha K. Parker (198th), Chris Johnson (200th), Andre D. Carroll (201st), Jared Solomon (202nd) and Anthony Bellmon (203rd).
Philadelphia Charter Amendments: Small-Business Contracting Preferences and a Permanent Creative Philadelphia
Philadelphia’s Home Rule Charter sets the framework for how city government operates. Both charter amendments on the ballot passed.
Question 1: Contracting preferences for small and local businesses
Under the previous charter, construction, repair and general service contracts were generally awarded to the lowest responsible bidder. The amendment allows City Council to enact ordinances creating bid preferences for small businesses and Philadelphia-based businesses on contracts between $75,000 and $500,000, even when they are not the lowest bidder. The thresholds adjust annually with the Philadelphia-area consumer price index.
Since the 1980s, Philadelphia has set contracting goals for minority-, women- and disabled-owned businesses. In October 2025, the city settled a lawsuit over race and gender quotas in project labor agreements, and the related diversity goals became non-mandatory. The city then shifted toward procurement policies focused on small and local businesses. Mayor Cherelle Parker set that direction through an executive order in November, and this amendment writes it into the charter.
Question 2: Creative Philadelphia becomes a permanent office
Creative Philadelphia, the city office that supports arts, culture and the creative economy, previously existed by executive order, leaving its future to each sitting mayor. The amendment establishes it in the charter as a permanent department. Its head, the Chief Cultural Officer, joins the mayor’s cabinet, and the city’s Public Art and Mural Arts programs come under the office’s oversight.
