[VT | May 1, 2026 | Philadelphia PA]
The 2026 Pennsylvania primary election will take place on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.
In this election, voters will select candidates from each political party for a range of federal and state offices. The winners of each primary race will advance to the general election on November 3, 2026.
This guide explains three key things:
- What this election is
- What offices are on the ballot
- What these offices do
What is a primary election
Elections in the United States typically take place in two stages:
Primary Election
Political parties select their candidates.
General Election
Candidates compete for office.
Pennsylvania has a closed primary system. This means:
- Only voters registered with a political party can vote in that party’s primary
- Independent and third-party voters generally cannot vote for party candidates in the primary
However, they may still vote on ballot questions, constitutional amendments, or special elections that appear on the same ballot.
What’s on the ballot in 2026
The 2026 primary election includes the following offices:
Federal level
U.S. House of Representatives
All of Pennsylvania’s congressional districts will hold elections. Members serve two-year terms and represent their respective districts.
State level
Governor / Lieutenant Governor
The governor serves a four-year term and leads the state’s executive branch. The governor proposes the state budget, manages state agencies, and signs or vetoes legislation.
Pennsylvania State Senate
The State Senate has 50 members. Senators serve four-year terms, with half of the seats up for election every two years. Some Senate seats will be on the ballot in 2026.
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
The State House has 203 members. All seats are up for election every two years.
Party positions
In some areas, ballots may also include internal party positions, such as committee members. These roles are part of party organization and local political activity.
What these offices do
Governor
The governor is the head of Pennsylvania’s executive branch.
Responsibilities include:
- Proposing the state budget
- Managing state agencies
- Signing or vetoing legislation
- Issuing executive orders
- Responding to emergencies
These decisions affect areas such as education, public health, transportation, public safety, and government services.
Lieutenant Governor
The lieutenant governor is a statewide elected official.
Responsibilities include:
- Presiding over the State Senate
- Casting tie-breaking votes in certain cases
- Chairing the Board of Pardons
- Serving as governor if the governor cannot complete the term
State Senator
State senators are members of the upper chamber of the legislature.
Responsibilities include:
- Passing state laws
- Reviewing and approving the state budget
- Confirming certain gubernatorial appointments
- Representing residents of their districts
State Representative
State representatives serve in the lower chamber of the legislature.
Responsibilities include:
- Introducing and voting on legislation
- Participating in the state budget process
- Representing local community interests
- Addressing issues such as housing, education, public safety, and economic policy
Because districts are smaller, representatives often work closely with local communities.
U.S. Representative
Members of the U.S. House of Representatives serve at the federal level.
Responsibilities include:
- Passing federal laws
- Approving the federal budget
- Overseeing federal agencies
- Representing their congressional district on national issues
These include taxation, healthcare, immigration, defense, and federal programs.
How these offices affect daily life
Different levels of government affect different areas of daily life.
State-level offices often influence:
- Public school funding
- Medicaid and public health programs
- State taxes
- Housing policies
- Public safety and criminal justice
- Business environment
- Transportation and infrastructure
Federal offices often influence:
- Federal taxes
- Immigration policy
- Medicare and federal benefits
- National budget
- Federal laws
Why you should review your ballot
Ballots are not the same for every voter.
What appears on your ballot depends on:
- Your county
- Your congressional district
- Your State Senate district
- Your State House district
- Your party registration
- Whether there are local ballot questions or special elections
Before voting, voters should review their sample ballot to understand what races and questions they will see.
Key dates
- May 4, 2026 — Voter registration deadline
- May 12, 2026 (5:00 p.m.) — Deadline to apply for a mail or absentee ballot
- May 19, 2026 — Primary Election Day ( FIND YOUR POLLING PLACE )
- November 3, 2026 — General Election Day
2026 Pennsylvania Primary — Candidate List
| Office | District | Party | Candidate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | Statewide | Democratic | Josh Shapiro |
| Governor | Statewide | Republican | Stacy Garrity |
| Lieutenant Governor | Statewide | Democratic | Austin Davis |
| Lieutenant Governor | Statewide | Republican | John Ventre |
| Lieutenant Governor | Statewide | Republican | Jason Richey |
U.S. House of Representatives
| Office | District | Party | Candidate |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Representative | District 2 | Democratic | Brendan F. Boyle |
| U.S. Representative | District 2 | Republican | Jessica Arriaga |
| U.S. Representative | District 3 | Democratic | Ala Stanford |
| U.S. Representative | District 3 | Democratic | Sharif Street |
| U.S. Representative | District 3 | Democratic | Chris Rabb |
| U.S. Representative | District 3 | Democratic | Shaun Griffith |
| U.S. Representative | District 3 | Republican | None |
| U.S. Representative | District 5 | Democratic | Mary Gay Scanlon |
| U.S. Representative | District 5 | Republican | Nick Manganaro |
Pennsylvania State Senate
| Office | District | Party | Candidate |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Senator | District 2 | Democratic | Christine M. Tartaglione |
| State Senator | District 2 | Republican | None |
| State Senator | District 4 | Democratic | Art Haywood |
| State Senator | District 4 | Democratic | Mike Cogbill |
| State Senator | District 4 | Republican | Todd Johnson |
| State Senator | District 8 | Democratic | Anthony Hardy Williams |
| State Senator | District 8 | Democratic | David Goldsmith Jr |
| State Senator | District 8 | Republican | None |
Pennsylvania State House (Philadelphia Districts)
⚠️ Note: The following list includes Philadelphia-area State House districts based on currently available data. It may not represent a complete list of all candidates.
| District | Party | Candidate |
|---|---|---|
| District 10 | Democratic | Amen Brown |
| District 10 | Republican | None |
| District 170 | Democratic | Rob Gurtcheff |
| District 170 | Republican | Martina White |
| District 172 | Democratic | Sean M. Dougherty |
| District 172 | Republican | None |
| District 173 | Democratic | Pat Gallagher |
| District 173 | Republican | Bill Griffin |
| District 174 | Democratic | Ed Neilson |
| District 174 | Republican | None |
| District 175 | Democratic | MaryLouise Isaacson |
| District 175 | Republican | None |
| District 177 | Democratic | Joe Hohenstein |
| District 177 | Republican | Robyn Bird |
| District 179 | Democratic | Jason T. Dawkins |
| District 179 | Republican | None |
| District 180 | Democratic | Jose A. Giral |
| District 180 | Republican | None |
| District 181 | Democratic | Malcolm Kenyatta |
| District 181 | Republican | None |
| District 182 | Democratic | Ben Waxman |
| District 182 | Republican | None |
| District 184 | Democratic | Elizabeth Fiedler |
| District 184 | Republican | None |
| District 185 | Democratic | Regina Young |
| District 185 | Democratic | Joe Sackor |
| District 185 | Republican | None |
| District 186 | Democratic | Jordan A. Harris |
| District 186 | Republican | None |
| District 188 | Democratic | Rick Krajewski |
| District 188 | Republican | None |
| District 190 | Democratic | Roni Green |
| District 190 | Republican | None |
| District 191 | Democratic | Joanna E. McClinton |
| District 191 | Republican | None |
| District 192 | Democratic | Morgan Cephas |
| District 192 | Democratic | D’Angelo Virgo |
| District 192 | Republican | Tiffany Vann Brown |
| District 194 | Democratic | Tarik Khan |
| District 194 | Republican | None |
| District 195 | Democratic | Kenneth T. Walker Jr |
| District 195 | Democratic | Keith Harris |
| District 195 | Democratic | Sierra McNeil |
| District 195 | Republican | None |
| District 197 | Democratic | Danilo Burgos |
| District 197 | Republican | None |
| District 198 | Democratic | Darisha K. Parker |
| District 198 | Republican | None |
| District 200 | Democratic | Deshawnda Williams |
| District 200 | Democratic | Chris Johnson |
| District 200 | Democratic | Qasim Rashad |
| District 200 | Republican | None |
| District 201 | Democratic | Andre D. Carroll |
| District 201 | Republican | None |
| District 202 | Democratic | Jared Solomon |
| District 202 | Republican | None |
| District 203 | Democratic | Anthony Bellmon |
| District 203 | Republican | None |
Candidate listings vary by district. Voters should check their sample ballot for the most accurate and complete information.
Question #1
Proposed Charter Change 1
Ballot Question:
Shall the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to create the Philadelphia Retirement Savings Board to oversee a defined contribution retirement program for eligible private-sector workers, and to authorize City Council to determine the composition, powers, and duties of the board?
What a YES vote means:
A “yes” vote supports creating an independent board within city government to oversee a retirement savings program for eligible workers whose employers do not offer retirement plans. The program would be funded by participating workers, and details would be set by City Council.
Question #2
Proposed Charter Change 2
Ballot Question:
Shall the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to create the Office of the Youth Ombudsperson to improve the safety and quality of services for youth in residential care, and to authorize City Council to determine its powers and duties?
What a YES vote means:
A “yes” vote supports making the Office of the Youth Ombudsperson a permanent part of the City Charter and allowing City Council to define its authority and responsibilities.
This page will continue to be updated through May 19, 2026.
