District: 1 Name: HARKINS, PATRICK J Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 2 Name: BRENEMAN, JAY A Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/13/2018 Link 1: https://www.fairdistrictspa.com/uploads/resolutions/Erie-County.pdf Link 2: https://twitter.com/JayBreneman/status/894926014538764288 Link 3: Comments from candidate: I successfully lead the effort for Erie County government to join other counties from across Pennsylvania in adopting a resolution in support of a citizens Commission for Legislative Redistricting and Congressional Reapportionment in 2016, and attempted on multiple occasions in getting it adopted as part of the CCAP platform. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes. While on County Council I was successful in moving Erie forward in joining a coalition of other counties statewide who support an independent, bipartisan redistricting commission. See Resolution Number 39, 2016. |
District: 2 Name: FILIPPI, RICHARD E Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Absolutely. Politics will never be completely removed from the process, but as a legislator I believe I have an obligation under our democracy to ensure that every vote counts and that all parties are playing on a level playing field. On the federal level, the previous redistricting invalidated by our state Supreme Court, had cut Erie County into two different districts thereby emaciating our representation on the federal level. The next challenge is to bring fairness to the state legislative redistricting structure to ensure that the majority of Pennsylvania's voters voices, statewide, and locally, are heard. I firmly believe that these goals can only be accomplished with an independent citizens' commission. |
District: 2 Name: KUZMA, TIMOTHY P Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 2 Name: MARSH, LABAN A Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 2 Name: MERSKI, ROBERT E Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes. The gerrymandering has gotten out of hand as partisanship has increased. Therefore, we need to take this out of the hands of politicians and put it in a nonpartisan independent citizen's redistricting commission. |
District: 3 Name: BIZZARRO, RYAN A Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 4 Name: SONNEY, CURTIS G Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 5 Name: JOZWIAK, BARRY J Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 6 Name: ROAE, BRADLEY T Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 7 Name: LONGIETTI, MARK ALFRED Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 8 Name: BOEVING-LEARNED, LISA K Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/26/2018 Link 1: https://www.lisaboeving-learned4pa.com/my-priorities Link 2: http://onyourballot.vote411.org/race-detail.do?id=16934177&party=Dem Link 3: Comments from candidate: In order to achieve any of my priorities, we must end the practice of gerrymandering. The process undercuts democracy and subverts the legislative process, blocking meaningful progress on issues important to our citizens. The disfunction in our state and federal government frustrates voters; and their dissatisfaction fuels cynicism that often leads people to give up on our democracy. This is a tragic outcome that we cannot allow to continue. I fully support an Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission, as proposed by the League of Women Voters and Fair Districts PA. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I believe we must end the practice of gerrymandering. The process undercuts democracy and is the reason for the inability of our legislative process to make any meaningful progress on issues important to our citizens. The disfunction in our state and federal government frustrates voters, and their dissatisfaction fuels cynicism that often leads to apathy or a choice to no longer participate in our democracy by voting. This is a tragic outcome that we cannot allow to continue. I fully support an Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission, as proposed by the League of Women Voters and Fair Districts PA. I would vote for HB722 and work to bring it to a full house vote as soon as possible. |
District: 8 Name: NESBIT, TEDD Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 9 Name: SAINATO, CHRISTOPHER Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 10 Name: BERNSTINE, AARON JOSEPH Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 11 Name: ELLIS, BRIAN L Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 12 Name: METCALFE, DARYL D Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 12 Name: ROCKAR, HONORA MARY Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes, I support reforming our congressional and legislative redistricting process to implement an independent citizen's redistricting commission. I feel that taking redistricting out of the hands of politicians would be the best. I feel that an AI software system should be created to establish the pattern, combining a grid system (longitude and latitude) with certain elements of community layout and population would be the best method. |
District: 13 Name: LAWRENCE, JOHN ADDA Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I support moving to a citizen's commission for legislative redistricting. I recently hosted a series of eight town hall meetings where I addressed the issues surrounding gerrymandering in detail. Many have said that it is a conflict of interest for legislators to draw legislative districts, and I agree. In a similar vein, I have introduced legislation that would put all decisions regarding legislator's compensation in the hands of a citizen's commission. Everyday citizens are increasingly skeptical of government in general and legislators in particular. Instituting these reforms would go a long way to restoring public confidence in the legislative process. |
District: 14 Name: FAZIO, AMY Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/22/2018 Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I support a constitutional amendment to establish an independent citizen's redistricting commission. We must ensure a fair redistricting process that best represents the people's shared geography and unique needs. Counties and school districts need to be kept in tact for effective governance. |
District: 14 Name: MARSHALL, JAMES E Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 15 Name: ANDRES, ALEXANDER D. Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 15 Name: KAIL, JOSHUA DANIEL Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 16 Name: MATZIE, ROBERT F Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 17 Name: WENTLING, PARKE H Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 18 Name: DIGIROLAMO, GENE Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes, I am a co-sponsor of House Bill 722. |
District: 18 Name: LAMB III, JAMES JOHN Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: It is important that an independent redistricting commission is instituted because we should not have people with vested interest in districts with a particular party swing. This will make it more difficult to gerrymander. |
District: 19 Name: ABNEY, AERION ANDREW Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes I support reevaluating the current process by which district maps are drawn and by whom they are drawn. We should not allow a biased process that allows legislators to determine who will vote for them by creating a district that serves their own agenda. |
District: 19 Name: TAYLOR, EBONY Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I support reforming congressional and legislative redistricting because I believe each voter should be represented and should have their vote count. Additionally, I believe that no matter who has political power districting should remain non-partisan. All districting should be done by independent citizen�s redistricting commission to assure fairness and transparency in determining who our leaders will be. |
District: 19 Name: WHEATLEY, JAKE Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 20 Name: DEVINE, MICHAEL U Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes. It ensures fair elections and proper representation of the people |
District: 20 Name: RAVENSTAHL, ADAM J Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: 4/26/2018 Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: I was a co-sponsor of the original HB 722 before it was amended and signed every discharge resolution to try to bring this issue up for a vote. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I support an independent citizen's redistricting commission. I am a co-sponsor of House Bill 722 (Fair Districts) which would establish an Independent Redistricting Commission to provide a nonpartisan process for redistricting. |
District: 21 Name: COSTA, DOMINIC JAMES Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: 4/16/2018 Link 1: https://theincline.com/2017/03/23/where-allegheny-countys-harrisburg-delegation-stands-on-redistricting-reform/ Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: With Pennsylvania ranking third worst in the nation for the fairness of its electoral boundaries, I understand the frustrations of voters who see their rights being infringed upon by backroom political maneuvering. I was proud to Co-Sponsor HB 722 because accountable and transparent government is a fundamental right, not a privilege. Voters should choose their representatives, not the other way around. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: As an elected official, I firmly believe in placing people above politics. Grandstanding for the sake of political expediency is unbecoming of anyone seeking a career in public service. I wholeheartedly support fair districts and the necessary measures to implement them because people deserve to know that their votes actually count for something. Fair districts hold elected officials accountable, promote governmental transparency, and take the needless political maneuvering out of the process. True public servants should embrace districts free of gerrymandering because it will force candidates to run on their record, vision, and character. |
District: 21 Name: INNAMORATO, SARA G Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/24/2018 Link 1: https://www.facebook.com/SaraForPA/posts/358811184607889 Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: You can learn more about our platform at https://www.saraforpa.com/priorities Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes. For too long legislators have used voting rights and our democracy as a bargaining chip to serve their own interests. We experienced that last time both Republican and Democratic legislators voted in favor of a 2011 Congressional map which is arguable one of the most unfair maps drawn in modern day history, which Representative D. Costa voted in favor of*. I support an independent council, which would attempt to remove politics from drawing a fair district map. We must ensure that it is comprised of members who are representative of the state of Pennsylvania and remain free from political influence. Source: House Votes for SB 1249 (12/20/2011) |
District: 22 Name: SCHWEYER, PETER GEORGE Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 23 Name: FRANKEL, DAN B. Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I have co-sponsored legislation supporting a citizen's redistricting commission for Pennsylvania. I am delighted by the energy around voting reform, and would like to see a broader community dialogue addressing questions of what Pennsylvanians believe would constitute "fair" districts, a word absent from our constitution but very present in the minds of reformers. |
District: 24 Name: ANDERSON, WILLIAM Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Definitely. As co chair of Reaolutions committee for Fair Districts Pa Pittsburgh I am on the front lines.I fight for this because I believe that all our districts on every level should be drawn by independent commissions remove from party Partisanship which allows both parties to select the people who elect them rather than the people choosing who best represents them.History has proven that this tainted system has fatally failed the people and is a stain on our Democracy .I believe that the people truly want districts that are drawn fairly to give them proper representation.Thats why I continue to fight with our partners to pass Sb22 and House bill 722 which will appoint an independent commissions to draw our districts.Unfortunatly because Democrats feel its their turn to Draw the lines many are not pushing this issue although the majority of the Constituents support this issue. I support the issue of fair and equitable redestricting done by an independent commission.NOW!! |
District: 24 Name: GAINEY, EDWARD C Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 24 Name: KOGER, TODD ELLIOTT Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 25 Name: MARKOSEK, BRANDON J Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 25 Name: SCHLAUCH, STEPHEN DAVID Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 26 Name: HACKER, PAMELA A Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I would love to see Legislative district lines drawn that do not represent a partisan advantage. I believe we need to have primaries that are open to ALL voters. There should be no restrictions on a voters choice. I am facing this with my own family and friends. Although they are registered Republicans, they support me, but unfortunately cannot vote for me in the primary. Along with redrawing fair maps, we must also look at our antiquated system for the voters. If elected, my priority is to put my constituents priorities above political party. When our Legislature cannot work together, they put Pennsylvania at a huge disadvantage. I do feel that the voters are now seeing the importance of their voice in the political process. |
District: 26 Name: HENNESSEY, TIMOTHY F Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 27 Name: DEASY, DANIEL J Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 28 Name: SKOPOV, EMILY S Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/14/2018 Link 1: http://www.facebook.com/ElectEmily4PA Link 2: http://www.electemily4pa.com Link 3: http://www.twitter.com/eskopov16 Comments from candidate: The very first thing I did, when I recognized I needed to become far more active in our political process, even before I decided to run for office, is to attend a Fair Districts meeting, where Carol Kuniholm spoke. Understanding gerrymandering, and the ways in which our districts are drawn, was when I started to get a sense of just how much work there is to be done to ensure that our democracy functions as it's intended. I truly believe that without a fair, non-partisan districting process, we can never have a true democracy. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I support reforming our redistricting process by creating a non-partisan, independent commission to guarantee that legislative and congressional districts are drawn in a fair, non-partisan manner. It is clear the process is broken, which is why the Pennsylvania Supreme Court nullified the badly gerrymandered congressional districts we previously had. It is vital to our democracy that citizens get to choose their elected representatives, rather than have politicians in back rooms choose their voters to gain a partisan advantage. |
District: 28 Name: TURZAI, MICHAEL C Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 29 Name: DIXON, ANDREW FRANKLIN Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/14/2018 Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: A fair redistricting process is fundamental to faith in the system, which is in its turn essential for democracy to work. Notes from FDPA team: 4/27 Andrew Dixon called the 800 number and asked for his comment to be adjusted as it had been garbled by autocorrect when submitted. Email from campaign was received at comms@ and confirmed. record updated. Vote411 response: I would support any method that does not involve legislators picking their voters, rather than voters picking their legislators. This particular idea certainly seems promising; whether I could support it or not would depend on the particulars. Any method that involves politicians making appointments to a commission is bound to become political, no matter what type of person gets appointed. I would ideally like to see the members of the commission randomized, or districting to be computer-aided in a way that guarantees the simplest possible borders of districts while complying with federal regulations regarding minority representation and considering communities of interest. The most important thing is to work as hard as possible to achieve FAIR districts. |
District: 29 Name: O'NEILL, BERNARD T Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 30 Name: ENGLISH, HAROLD A Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: 4/13/2018 Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 30 Name: KANDIL, KAREEM Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/25/2018 Link 1: http://www.kareemforpa.com/issues Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes. As it stands, gerrymandering ensures Republican control of the state and national legislatures even when Democrats win a substantial majority of the votes. But the solutions is not a partisan Democratic alternative. For the health of our democracy, we must ensure that the voting populace has meaningful choices and a chance to allow their voices to be heard at every election opportunity - and the only way to ensure that in the long term is through an accountable, transparent, and citizen controlled redistricting process that prioritizes amplifying the power of democracy over the continued dominance of one party over another. |
District: 30 Name: MONROE, ELIZABETH Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/25/2018 Link 1: https://www.betsymonroe.com/platform/ Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes. When politicians don't have to listen to their voters, we get what we have today: gridlock, hyperpartisanship, and an ineffective legislature. It's frustrating that representatives in Harrisburg listen more to the wants of Harrisburg lobbyists than to the needs of working families like mine. Gerrymandering removes political accountability, and it's time for that to change because elected representatives should work for their communities, not their donors. I strongly support Fair Districts PA's legislation to end political gerrymandering once and for all, and an independent citizen's redistricting commission is necessary to stop both Republicans and Democrats from enacting partisan gerrymanders. An independent commission that draws our legislative and congressional districts through a nonpartisan, transparent process will make sure that every vote counts, not just those of megadonors and party leaders. |
District: 30 Name: PAVLECIC, JACOB ROBERT Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/13/2018 Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: My response is at vote411 Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Absolutely. Specifically, I would look to Arizona as the prime model for how to setup such a system. Even among states with independent commissions, Arizona is fairly unique. Not only does Arizona require the commission to make districts that are compact and compliant with the voting rights act, it also requires the commission, when possible, to make as many competitive districts as possible. This is in contrast to California's system which expressly prohibits considering any partisan data. However, I believe creating competitive districts should be a goal for a commission. The three swing districts that Arizona's latest commission drew all have representatives that are among the most moderate in their party. Also, competitive districts force the representatives to stay close to his/her community; to work hard to maintain their support. This helps move politicians away from being a party member and towards being a true representative for his/her district. |
District: 31 Name: GALLAGHER, RYAN W Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: While there are certainly reforms that can be made to the redistricting process to ensure a more transparent process and better outcome, we must be wary of making changes for the wrong reasons. Far too often, those complaining about redistricting are special interests (from both sides) who did not get what they want. Providing additional independent oversight, expanded citizen input, and more can achieve many of the goals we all share without turning away from a process simply to answer the complaints of special interests. |
District: 31 Name: WARREN JR, PERRY S Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes. I am a cosponsor of House Bill 722, which would create an independent redistricting commission and would represent a significant step toward reducing partisan gerrymandering. Voters should choose their representatives, rather than politicians choose their voters. Congressional and state representative and senate districts should be drawn in a logical geographic and community-based manner, reflective of the communities, and should not be designed to maximizing the representation of a political party. |
District: 32 Name: DELUCA, ANTHONY M Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: 4/20/2018 Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Vote 411 Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes, I support an independent citizen�s redistricting commission here in the Commonwealth. Having an independent redistricting commission would eliminate both Republican and Democratic gerrymandering of both congressional and legislative districts. Elimination of gerrymandering would ensure each citizen�s vote counts equally. |
District: 32 Name: VECCHIO, ERIN Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 33 Name: DERMODY, FRANCIS J Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Our congressional and legislative redistricting processes must be fair and transparent and when voters go to the polls our democracy works best if they have meaningful choices among candidates on the ballot. |
District: 33 Name: NULPH, JOSHUA RICHARD Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 34 Name: LEE, SUMMER L Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I do. Gerrymandering has effectively disenfranchised millions of people across this country, whose votes have been thoroughly neutered through "creative" districting. While the lawsuit that resulted in the new Congressional districts is certainly progress, we have not solved the fundamental issue. The next redistricting, if it proceeds along the same lines as the old, will create the same problems. On top of this, the lawsuit has not fixed our legislative districts. My district, for example, is conspicuously drawn to exclude black voters in Hazelwood - who are lumped in with residents of the Hill District, the North Side, and the Hilltop. Gerrymandering is not simply a partisan issue. It disenfranchises voters in primary and general elections alike, all for the same purpose: incumbency protection. I am not interested in helping incumbents avoid competitive elections, and I fully support redistricting reform |
District: 35 Name: DAVIS, AUSTIN Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes. |
District: 36 Name: READSHAW III, HARRY A Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 37 Name: DELAHUNT, SUZANNE M Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes. The present districts unfairly favor one group of citizens over another. The redistricting process needs to be more transparent, streamlined and non-partisan to avoid recurring problems and requirement to constantly overhaul. |
District: 37 Name: FEE, MELINDA S Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 38 Name: KORTZ II, WILLIAM C Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 39 Name: KIRSCH, THOMAS ALAN Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 39 Name: PUSKARIC, MICHAEL J Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I am opposed to changing to a citizen�s redistricting commission. Currently, the pa house is structured to have small districts that are intended to reflect the makeup of our commonwealth electorate. The responsibility should fall on those we elect, pursuant to the laws in place. |
District: 39 Name: RHODERICK JR, ROBERT E Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/16/2018 Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Accountable leadership elevates people above partisan politics. Sadly, the legislature has fallen woefully short of this expected standard. The grandstanding, juvenile behavior, and profligate spending that accompany the defense of partisan gerrymandering are beyond sinister. Pennsylvanians have the right to choose their representatives, not the other way around. The implementation of an independent redistricting commission will hold elected officials accountable, forcing them to be evaluated on their accomplishments, rather than how well they can manipulate lines on a map. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: The United States boasts a proud tradition of combating injustice and defending the central tenets of democratic ideals. I doubt the framers envisioned a system in which politicians and their special interest allies so openly flouted basic rights in favor of partisan gerrymandering. Elections are to be free and fair, without concerted efforts to model districts after constellations. I support implementing the independent commission and will challenge any elected official who doesn�t. |
District: 39 Name: SHAH, BARBARA J Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 40 Name: DIXON, PAUL J Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: In terms of the redistricting process for Congressional and legislative districts, I support the current process where the duly elected PA General Assembly approves the districts as set forth by the PA Constitution. I do not believe the State Supreme Court has the authority to draw Congressional maps as it recently did. Additionally, an independent citizen's commission would most assuredly be populated by people appointed by the political body, some by the majority party and some by the minority party. I believe this proposed commission would then be as partisan as the political body which appoints them. In the current system, the majority party does the redistricting. They receive their mandate from the voters, which is as it should be. I would not usurp that mandate by replacing it with unelected bureaucrats, unanswerable to the voters. |
District: 40 Name: EICHENLAUB, EDWARD H Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/18/2018 Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Partisan gerrymandering not only flouts the spirit of fair and free elections, but also fundamental constitutional rights. Diluting votes through insidious cartography violates a voter’s right to have their voice weighted equally relative to other voters. Contravening both equal protection and free speech rights is all the more insulting when the party in power espouses unbridled constitutional reverence. The legislature has failed miserably in defending our democracy. It is imperative to immediately implement a nonpartisan independent redistricting commission to rectify the failures of Mike Turzai and his sycophants. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Leadership in Harrisburg has proven itself beyond ineffectual when it comes to providing voters with equitable districts. If those tasked with crafting nonpartisan maps cannot deliver, it is essential to implement an independent commission to reaffirm confidence in our democracy. I will work with groups such as Fair Districts PA to help guarantee that the redistricting process is both transparent and adheres to Constitutional requirements. |
District: 40 Name: GUIDI, SHARON M. Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes, I favor an independent citizen�s redistricting commission in Pennsylvania for both congressional and legislative districts. It�s time to take partisan politics out of the redistricting process and restore the principle of one person, one vote. When sitting legislators draw district maps, it�s the politicians who benefit, not the voters. Legislators choose their voters instead of voters choosing representatives, which is wrong, regardless of the party in power. Elections cease to be competitive. Poor representation leaves people feeling their voices aren�t heard and sows voter apathy and government gridlock. Several other states have established non-partisan citizen commissions and seen positive results: greater transparency in the redistricting process, more voter trust, and increased public acceptance of district maps. 80% of Pennsylvanians across the political spectrum support redistricting reform. A citizen�s redistricting commission would be fairer than our current system. |
District: 40 Name: MIHALEK STUCK, NATALIE NICOLE Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Redistricting isn�t just a local problem or even a state problem, but an issue that is receiving national attention�for too long and on both sides of the aisle there has been irresponsible redistricting. While I�m not certain that a citizen commission wouldn�t eventually be corrupted by the same partisan motivation, I�m for a fair and equitable process, working with other elected officials (irrespective of party affiliation) and for keeping this vital responsibility in the hands of legislature and out of the hands of activist judges. |
District: 40 Name: ROMAN, JAMES Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: With the upcoming Census, especially since PA will probably continue to lose representative in Congress, it is extremely important to have a non-political solution to redistricting every 10 years. Therefore, I fully support a non-partisan approach to redistricting. |
District: 41 Name: MILLER, BRETT R Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 41 Name: WHERLEY, MICHELE D Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/13/2018 Link 1: https://Vote411.com Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I do support the implementation of an independent citizen�s redistricting commission. The practice of gerrymandering is detrimental to our democracy as it allows elected officials to choose their voters rather than voters choosing their elected officials. Gerrymandering has also created an environment where elected officials �feel safe� which may lead them to be less responsive to all of their constituents and the issues they care about. Bipartisan bills proposing an independent, citizens commission have already been introduced in the PA House and Senate and I hope our current elected officials take the necessary steps to move these bills forward. |
District: 42 Name: MILLER, DANIEL L Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I support an independent redistricting commission. Pennsylvania has had its state maps and its federal maps invalidated in the past decade and I think the best way to reaffirm the public's faith in the system is to remove politicians from the table as much as possible. |
District: 43 Name: GREINER, KEITH JAMES Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 43 Name: PORTER, JENNIE ELAINE Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/26/2018 Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: A Citizen's Commission to draw district lines for both houses of the state legislature is a fair non-partisan method. Elections, not based on gerrymandered districts, are the basis of our democracy. Politicians of both parties are capable of drawing district lines to favor their parties. Keep politics out of redistricting efforts. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: An independent commission to draw state and federal legislative districts is the way to go. The old Congressional maps which were just re-drawn in PA allowed the Republican Party to have a 13-5 advantage in legislators, but the population did not reflect that proportion. If you look at Maryland, gerrymandering by the Democrats also recently produced a skewered result. The only way to draw districts is to remove the process from politics as much as possible. No current politicians should be part of the process. FairDistrictsPA has a workable plan. They want to appoint an impartial, independent citizens commission to draw legislative districts. They would need to amend the PA Constitution. Bills supporting this new commission would have to pass both the PA House and the PA Senate for two years in a row and then the vote would be put to a state-wide referendum. |
District: 44 Name: BACHMAN, DAVID LEONARD Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes, because the districts should be more geographically unified. |
District: 44 Name: DODDATO, ROBERT AUGUST Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: There are a lot of different plans that have been presented recently. I believe we need to sit down and re-examine the parameters for redistricting to ensure that we are not splitting school districts and municipalities essentially splitting communities. |
District: 44 Name: GAYDOS, VALERIE S Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Currently, the Pennsylvania Constitution gives the legislature the authority to draw the maps during redistricting. I would support a constitutional amendment to create an independent nonpartisan commission to handle redistricting every 10 years. Hopefully, the outcome would be a more independent process to ensure that all citizens of the Commonwealth are represented equally. |
District: 44 Name: KNOLL, MICHELE Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I would support an impartial citizen's redistricting commission. The method laid out by Fair Districts PA suggests 11 members would be chosen. 4 from each of the major parties and three members that are unaffiliated with the major parties would sit on the commission. These members must not have served in a political office or run for office or have a spouse who has served or run in the previous 5 years.. These members would work from a database that does not define party. The Secretary of State of the Commonwealth does background checks on commission applicants and makes sure that they are represented by diversity.This seems like a fair way to redistrict that removes politics from the process. |
District: 44 Name: LARUE, SCOTT E Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I believe the current process that exists works and has the appropriate checks and balances. Adding another layer of bureaucracy is not the answer. Elected officials are there to serve their constituents. When they put aside their own personal interests and don't let politics decide the outcome, we would not need a separate commission to decide legislative districts. |
District: 45 Name: FRANCIS, MALEK A Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 45 Name: KULIK, ANITA ASTORINO Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: An independent commission is an essential step towards restoring trust and transparency to our fundamental democratic processes. While humorous nicknames have accompanied the misshapen districts, there is nothing funny about seeking to effectively disenfranchise millions of voters. Tasking an independent body with redistricting efforts will remove politics from the process. |
District: 46 Name: BROCK, RUEBEN NATHANIEL Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/26/2018 Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: District drawing should be a non-partisan issue. We must remove politics from the creation of district lines. This issue is about fair and equal representation. A simple and fair map is what we need. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I support the formation of an independent redistricting commission, because the district drawing should not be influenced by the political system. An objective and impartial commission could minimize the impact of the political parties on the districting process. |
District: 46 Name: ORTITAY, JASON A Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I believe the process of redistricting can be improved. |
District: 46 Name: TIMMINS, BYRON FLAVIN Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/17/2018 Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: When aiming to highlight Harrisburg’s thriving dysfunction, look no further than the redistricting debacle. Politicians devote more energy to defending unconstitutional Congressional maps than they do to providing constituent services. Ordinary Pennsylvanians are rightfully outraged at the flippancy demonstrated by elected officials in rectifying this injustice. An independent commission is the solution most likely to yield a result that adheres to fundamental constitutional tenets. Not only will districts be equitable and reflect the actual interests of like communities, nonpartisan maps will hold Congressional Representatives accountable and force them to earn re-election through effective job performance. They work for us, not the other way around. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I fully support the implementation of an independent redistricting commission to help guarantee the protection of fundamental constitutional rights. Representatives, and their special interest allies, have chosen their voters for far too long. |
District: 47 Name: GILLESPIE, KEITH J Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 47 Name: WASCOVICH, MICHAEL J Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 48 Name: MITCHELL JR., CLARK ALEXANDER Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 48 Name: O'NEAL, TIMOTHY JON Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I believe that we need to ensure we have fair elections and I am sure that both parties have sought to use the redistricting process to their advantage. I will always be open to discussing reforms and looking to do what is in the best interest of the people I am elected to represent. As far as an independent commission, I would need more information about how the members of the commission are selected (who appoints them), what type of oversight there would be and what safeguards would be in place to ensure a truly fair process. |
District: 48 Name: ZUPANCIC, JOSEPH M Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/22/2018 Link 1: http://www.zupancic4staterep.com/issues/redistricting-reform Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: I would be a tireless advocate for the creation of an independent commission if elected. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes. Such reform is absolutely necessary in order to prevent partisan politics from undermining the electoral process. Only when the citizens are selecting their public officials and not the other way around will we have a government that accurately reflects the wishes of a people and a government based upon popular sovereignty. |
District: 49 Name: BARLI MR, RANDY J Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes, term limits on incumbent politicians need addressed! |
District: 49 Name: COOK, DONALD Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: There is a better way to accomplish this! |
District: 49 Name: TOPRANI, STEVEN MATTHEW Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 50 Name: ROHANNA MCCLURE, ELIZABETH L Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 50 Name: SNYDER, PAMELA Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: 4/13/2018 Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: I am a strong supporter of removing the politics from this process. It must be fair and independent. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Absolutely. I am a co-sponsor of bills to take this process out of the hands of politicians and establishing an independent commission to establish districts. |
District: 51 Name: DOWLING, MATTHEW DAVID Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 51 Name: MAHONEY, TIMOTHY S Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes I believe it should be a non-partisan commission doing the redisticting It should be fair for both parties |
District: 52 Name: KEEDY, ETHAN EARL Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I would be open to a discussion on implementing an independent citizens redistricting commission as long as we make sure that there is bipartisan support and we make sure that the process is fair on both sides. |
District: 52 Name: WARNER, RYAN JAMES Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 53 Name: ANGELICHIO, LEON Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I fully support the implementation of an independent citizen's commission to create a fair and unbiased redistricting commission. Drawing congressional and legislative districts must be free from the influence of elected officials. Only by allowing people to choose their officials, and not allowing legislators to choose their voters, can we have a truly fair and impartial system. Geographically contiguous and similarly populated districts are needed to insure that any single party has a built in advantage in the electoral process. |
District: 53 Name: MALAGARI, STEVEN RICHARD Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I support an independent, bipartisan commission to be in charge of redistricting. |
District: 53 Name: SZEKELY II, GEORGE ANDREW Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 54 Name: BERTHA, ROBERT ANDREW Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes I support an independent commission to draw our districts. Politics has become very polarized and to make sure that districts are fair and even they should be drawn by an independent commission. Look at the new Pennsylvania congressional districts, they are much more balanced than they were. The new districts were not drawn by the legislator and these new districts are fair to the citizens of the Commonwealth. |
District: 54 Name: BROOKS, ROBERT J Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 54 Name: KLINE, BRYAN LEE Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I believe that something needs to be done with redistricting, we should sit down and look at all the proposals that have been presented to this point. I do not know if their is a clear cut solution, it is obvious that we need to come together to find a new solution for how the districts are drawn. |
District: 54 Name: KORNS JR, MICHAEL T Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I believe the Legislature should be responsible for re-districting, not the courts. |
District: 54 Name: MCCABE, JONATHAN PAUL Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/23/2018 Link 1: https://www.mccabeforpa.com/fixgerrymandering Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: I believe Gerrymandering is one of the most important issues to solve for Pennsylvania if we want to have actual progress in our legislature. I support HB 722 and SB 722 fully because both bills would create a fair way to redistrict PA. Redistricting is inevitable, so it is imperative that when it does happen, we create an independent citizens commission to do the process. This ensures more fairness and transparency to the redistricting process. I have also had several discussions about gerrymandering with Bill Marx of Delmont City Council, who introduced me to Fair Districts PA. Since then, I have been a big fan of the organization, and I hand out Fair Districts literature when I register people to vote ! Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I support reforming the redistricting process by implementing an independent commission. My district is an obvious victim of gerrymandering, and the outcome of this is more partisan politics. Partisan politics leads into heavy division and thus no progress is made in the legislature. Neither side is willing to compromise or agree, and ultimately the American people pay the price. Compromise is said to be the essence of democracy, but unfortunately compromise is non-existent in our current political system. One of the reasons I am running is to bridge the divide between our heavily divided country. As a newcomer to politics, I hope to provide fresh perspective to the PA legislature. |
District: 54 Name: NEWBORN, MARYALICE Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Pennsylvania congressional and legislative district lines are drawn by two different processes. Both have elected official committee representation. The legislative committee is comprised of House majority and minority leaders, Senate majority and minority leaders and an independent chair, who does not hold public office. The congressional redistricting is worked on by State Government Committees in both House and Senate, majority and minority representation. Both congressional and legislative redistricting have public hearings. The congressional lines are approved by the governor. The legislative lines are approved by the State Supreme Court. In spite of recent publicity over congressional redistricting, I see no reason to change the processes. |
District: 55 Name: PETRARCA, JOSEPH A Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 56 Name: DUNBAR, GEORGE S Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 56 Name: HUNT, DOUGLAS D Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes I would support legislation to develop an independent citizen's redistricting commission. With the recent events of gerrymandering, I feel that the district lines should be in the hands of the citizens, not the hands of the majority party. A bipartisan map is difficult to draw when its is done with opinionated views. Certain lines will always be drawn to favor the party in power. |
District: 57 Name: NELSON, ERIC R Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: YES- Unfortunately I feel it would be highly challenging to actually identify "independent citizens" to serve on such a panel while also having the intelligence and expertise to calculate the data and determine non-bias districts. Government advisers would then recommend consultants and the system will result in the same disjointed bias. Another option could be to require a 2/3 approval in the house & senate before reaching the Governors desk. Either way, Bi-partisan Legislature or Citizen Panel, Parameters and priorities for determining borders should published and transparent; panel members should serve a rotating term, citizens would need to be properly vetted and a checks and balance system still would need to be in place to challenge and appeal their work. |
District: 57 Name: WARREN, COLLIN Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/20/2018 Link 1: https://www.facebook.com/pg/warrenforstatehouse/posts/ Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: My political organization, Voice of Westmoreland, has hosted Fair Districts speakers as well as used our network to advocate for this issue. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: First, allow me to applaud the League for its victory over our gerrymandered Congressional map. It was victory not just for our people, but for democracy. I stand behind organizations like the Leauge, Fair Districts, and others in their cause for defending representative governments. Our ideas, politicians, and parties should fight for your vote on equal terms. It is the only way to ensure a healthy, representative democracy. If elected, I would place my name as a co-sponsor to any legislation to this end such as HB 722. |
District: 58 Name: POPOVICH, MARY E Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/13/2018 Link 1: https://vote4popovich.com Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: I took the pledge for no dark money, Gerry meandering reform and voter rights. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes I support this. The gerrymandering is not a fair practice and I do not believe it represents the people's choice as it was meant to be by our forefathers. This just happened in my Congressional District and now the person who won, will not represent the district he ran for; due tof this unfair practice. No particular party should have the advantage. Government was designed to be for the people and by the people, therefore it should be removed from those who have the Majority. |
District: 58 Name: WALSH, JUSTIN M. Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 59 Name: DOOLEY, CLARE HELEN Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 59 Name: REESE, MICHAEL P Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 60 Name: KUBLI, LAURIE J Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 60 Name: PYLE, JEFFREY PAUL Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 61 Name: HANBIDGE, LIZ Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/21/2018 Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes. To have an equitable democracy, citizens should be allowed to choose their representatives, rather than having representatives choose their constituents. |
District: 61 Name: HARPER, CATHERINE M. Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I am willing to discuss and debate better ways of doing Congressional redistricting, but I am not willing to support HB 722--a bill I think would make the process more secretive, less accountable and more partisan behind closed doors. The participants are selected by the Secretary of State--an unelected official. I also have the good fortune of representing thoughtful voters who regularly split their tickets and usually do not vote the "party line," either party line, so i don't buy the argument that anybody has been disenfranchised by the old maps--odd as they were. |
District: 62 Name: ANDERSON, JULIE Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 62 Name: BAKER, MIKE Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 62 Name: CAYLOR, SHANE D Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes, because we have more state reps than any other state and should expand the current districts. |
District: 62 Name: DELLAFIORA, LOGAN SHERIFF Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I do support redistricting reform. The citizens of Pennsylvania deserve fair representation, regardless of political affiliation. When politicians are entered into the redistricting process, political bias distorts the maps. Therefore, I believe that an independent citizen's redistricting commission can help to solve this issue. We need to fight to ensure that our maps are enacted to accurately represent our citizens, not the politicians who drew them. |
District: 62 Name: LEHMAN, AARON WINSOR Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/25/2018 Link 1: http://aaronlehmanfor62.com Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: I think elections should be fair and transparent. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I would support reform because then everything would be even and voters will be able to be represented in a better way. |
District: 62 Name: STRUZZI II, JAMES BRUNO Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 63 Name: OBERLANDER, DONNA R Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 64 Name: JAMES, R LEE Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 64 Name: KLUCK, JOHN Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 65 Name: RAPP, KATHY L Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 66 Name: DUSH, CRIS E Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 66 Name: TAYLOR, KERITH STRANO Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/21/2018 Link 1: https://m.facebook.com/KerithForPA66/ Link 2: http://www.kerithcares.com/protectourdemocracy Link 3: Comments from candidate: I was running for Congress in the old PA 5 when the new maps came out. Then Rep. Cris Dush proposed to impeach 4 of our Justices. I switched gears to run against him. His efforts to thwart the independent redistricing commission are relentless and uninformed. I am grateful for all that Fair Districts PA has done to bring this issue to the attention of the public. I am going to keep fighting to win this seat and be one more vote for Fair Districts in Pennsylvania. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I enthusiastically support an independent citizens redistricting commission to replace the current system of congressional and legislative redistricting. Citizens should be choosing their representatives; representatives should not be choosing their constituents. As a former Congressional candidate I ran for office in a 16 county district that stretched from Erie to Huntingdon County. Five of the counties were split and this allowed the sitting members to practically ignore the constituents and their needs. I am confident that an independent redistricting commission would result in fairer and less manipulated maps which would hopefully create more hard fought races. Hard fought races result in better representation of citizens and that should be our goal in the long run. |
District: 67 Name: CAUSER, MARTIN T Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 68 Name: HAMILTON, MARK L Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 68 Name: HEATH, CARRIE L Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/24/2018 Link 1: http://www.heathforpahouse.org Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Patti O’Neill is a good friend of mine. I am so proud of her work as a regional organizer for Fair Districts, and I support this initiative 100%! Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I support HB 722, the Fair Districts bill. We need to take the drawing of the state�s congressional districts out of the hands of politicians and put it into the citizens� hands. I support Fair Districts in their push to create an independent, bipartisan commission to redraw our districts. �Voters should select their representatives, not the other way around.� No political party should be able to change the rules or the map. If you cannot win in a fair fight, step out of the ring. |
District: 68 Name: OWLETT, CLINTON DENNIS Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 68 Name: WEAVER, DENNIS Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 69 Name: COLE, JEFF Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes. My rural county has 4 different Representives because it was gerrymandered. |
District: 69 Name: METZGAR, CARL WALKER Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 70 Name: BRADFORD, MATTHEW D Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 70 Name: MUNDIATH, CHRISTOPHER Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 71 Name: BARBIN, BRYAN E Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 71 Name: CAPOUELLEZ, JUSTIN F Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I support the Pennsylvania state constitution allocating the authority of drawing congressional maps to the state legislature. During today's political culture independent commissions seem to operate with a political agenda in mind. The map drawn by the PA Supreme Court splits Johnstown, PA in half compromising two congressional districts; possibly to penalize to my areas vote in the 2016 Presidential election. |
District: 71 Name: RIGBY, JAMES PATRICK Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes, an independent citizen's commission puts the power back into the hands of the people. |
District: 71 Name: SERNELL, JOSEPH MATTHEW Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I do not support changing the redistricting process away from the state legislature. The people vote for each candidate to represent them in that body and it is their responsibility to accomplish the tasks required of them by the United States and Pennsylvania Constitutions. I would consider entering the process to amend the PA Constitution to require a 2/3 majority vote of the legislature for district maps. |
District: 72 Name: BURNS, FRANK Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 72 Name: CARNICELLA, GERALD S Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 73 Name: SANKEY III, THOMAS R Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 74 Name: MAXWELL, JOSHUA Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/25/2018 Link 1: https://www.joshmaxwell.com/progressive_values Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Attendee and supporter of Fair Districts PA events and donor to the Committee of Seventy Draw the Lines PA. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes. I've been an active advocate for independent redistricting, including signing a petition in support of the effort. I believe public policy, in order to be effective, needs to be representative of the will of the people in our community which can only be happen if the elected officials in representative government are chosen fairly by their constituents. |
District: 74 Name: PRYOR, FRANK ALLEN Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: *Support for bills that would turn once-a-decade legislative redistricting functions over to an independent, bipartisan commission. |
District: 74 Name: TURNER, AMBER LITTLE Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: We need greater citizen participation in our redistricting process. That�s why I support efforts to reform our current process so voters have a voice in the process. |
District: 74 Name: WILLIAMS, DAN K Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes. Independent citizens should be part of the redistricting process to ensure fair and equal elections. Recent redistricting and successful court challenges here in Pennsylvania show that redistricting by elected officials leads to gerrymandering that is not fair to voters. An independent citizen's redistricting commission should be transparent, impartial and accountable - leading to fairer districts and better representation of constituents at all levels of government. |
District: 75 Name: GABLER, MATTHEW M Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 76 Name: BOROWICZ, STEPHANIE PAIGE Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 76 Name: HANNA JR, MICHAEL KELLY Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: 4/17/2018 Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: vote411. I filled out the league of women voters survey. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes, I would support SB22 and HB722 |
District: 77 Name: CONKLIN, H SCOTT Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes. I introduced a bill that would create a Congressional Redistricting Commission and provide guidelines for the congressional redistricting process. By amending the Pennsylvania Election Code, H.B. 2020, the Congressional Redistricting Commission would be established each year following a decennial census, as well as require the commission to adhere to redistricting principles created by state and federal law and court precedents. The intent of my bill is to put integrity back into the process of redistricting and to insure that congressional districts are drawn by considering the fair and equal representation of the citizens of Pennsylvania rather than the political parties currently drawing maps. I also applaud the Supreme Court�s decision regarding the 2011 Congressional redistricting plan. This decision underscores the need for Congressional redistricting reform. The political interests of incumbents should not come before the interests of the Pennsylvania electorate. |
District: 78 Name: TOPPER, JESSE WILLS Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 79 Name: BREAM, SHARON L Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 79 Name: SCHMITT JR, LOUIS C. Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes. We need to reduce the influence of professional politicians and partisanship in the drawing of voting districts, which has in the past led to gerrymandering and disenfranchisement of voters. |
District: 80 Name: BURKE, LAURA Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/23/2018 Link 1: http://www.twitter.com/electlauraburke Link 2: http://www.facebook.com/electlauraburke Link 3: Comments from candidate: I strongly support HB 722 and believe that what the Republicans in the State Government committee did to the bill is atrocious. The current Rep in my district, Judy Ward, sits on that committee and is complicit. If I were not running for office I would probably be more involved directly with Fair Districts. I am happy to say that a member of my Indivisible, Steve Elfelt, has become actively involved in publicizing and lobbying on behalf of Fair Districts here in Blair County. Gerrymandering has been a problem for decades in various forms and it is well past time to eliminate it. I will support any measure that ensures a non-partisan and fair way of drawing our districts. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I am a strong supporter of creating the independent citizen�s redistricting commission because I believe that gerrymandering weakens our democracy. With our current partisan system for redistricting our ability to hold our elected officials accountable is impaired. Fair districts ensure that the true will of the majority of voters is reflected in the person who is elected. |
District: 80 Name: CREEK, CHRISTOPHER E Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes. Gerrymandering by entrenched political powers has got to stop. The most promising proposal I�ve seen is the Fair Districts PA project, as described in SB 22 and HB 722. |
District: 80 Name: GREGORY, JAMES V Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: Undecided Response date: 4/25/2018 Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: I have read and researched this effort and support efforts to give all Pennsylvanians fair representation. I have spoken with the local representative from Fair District and have indicated a willingness to listen to learn how this effort will not include a political influence from outside forces. There are critics of this group and supporters and I look forward to a informative meeting to learn more. I'm in favor of working together with all stakeholders to come up with the most fair solution. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I am in favor of redistricting reform that eliminates political influence. I am wary that a proposal exists currently that can eliminate political influence completely. The courts should not be involved in redistricting. |
District: 81 Name: IRVIN, RICHARD S. Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I have signed on as a co-sponsor in the House of Representatives to the independent redistricting bill and support efforts to limit gerrymandering in our State. |
District: 82 Name: FULTZ, JOSHUA J Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: Non-supporter Response date: 4/24/2018 Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I would support an independent commission to draw the districts. This should eliminate politicization of our districts as well as prevent the judicial branch from being political activists by taking the job on themselves. |
District: 82 Name: HART, KIMBERLY M Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I'm not sure there is an easy answer to the redistricting process. However, I feel that a fair system must be implemented by using non partisan groups. We must remove politics from the dynamic to make fair districts in which all people feel they have a chance to be represented. |
District: 82 Name: HERSHEY, JOHNATHAN DEAN Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 82 Name: JUNKIN, JAMES S Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 82 Name: LAUGHLIN, BETH MARIE Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 82 Name: LEACH, JERALD L Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: Undecided Response date: 4/17/2018 Link 1: http://friendsofjerryleach.com/ Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: While I think Gerrymandering favors the political party's over the people, it is still the responsibility of the legislature, not the courts. I am opposed to what recently happened with the Pennsylvania redistricting map through the courts, but would support an Independent Citizens Commission if it were the result of a legislative action to establish it, and not something derived from the courts. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes, while I oppose what has just happened to Pennsylvania's legislative redistricting by the courts, I do believe gerrymandering has been used by both parties for decades to manipulate our voting districts with little if any thought given to the constituents who they represent. Perhaps putting this process into the hands of those very people who have been disenfranchised by it, would be a good solution. However I would have to see the details of that commission before I would sign off on it. |
District: 82 Name: POWELL MARKLE, TRACY L Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 82 Name: SHEPLER, TERRANCE M Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 82 Name: SHERLOCK-KING, NICOLE M Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 82 Name: UGHETTO II, JOSEPH EUGENE Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 83 Name: PAGE-DELAHAYE, AIRNEEZER J Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I am not sure of what the rules are when we talk about districts. Are we looking at the number of voters in a certain geographical area are we using voting data. I don't have enough information to answer this question. |
District: 83 Name: WHEELAND, JEFF C Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 84 Name: EVERETT, GARTH DAVID Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes. |
District: 84 Name: SOSNIAK, LINDA KAY Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes I support an independent Citizen's group to do the redistricting. This would ensure that a group comprised of nonpoliticians will work in an open and transparent manner to draw the new maps. It would eliminate voters� political affiliations and past election results in the development of the new maps. The extreme partisan gerrymandering has created has created deep political divisions in our state and the country. When whichever party is in power they draw the maps to their advantage which makes compromise hard to achieve. The elected officials will be more willing to reach across the aisle and work for the people if they know their position depends on it. |
District: 85 Name: KELLER, FREDERICK B Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Redistricting is the drawing of political boundaries making it inherently political. Creating an �independent commission� comprised of voters belonging to political parties won't make the process less political. Much like has happened with the Supreme Court's process, the party making the appointments to the commission will control the bias of the commission. One could actually argue that since this commission wouldn�t be answerable to the voters it becomes a political bureaucracy with even less accountability to the will of the people. The 2011Congressional Map created by Senate Bill 1249 of 2011 and overturned by the PA Supreme Court, even with a Republican majority, needed bipartisan support in the State House to become law, an important fact ignored by special interest groups funding the initiative to change the process. Any discussion of change must include great caution in an effort to keep from making the process worse than some already consider it to be. |
District: 85 Name: RAGER-KAY, JENNIFER RENEE Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/14/2018 Link 1: https://drjennforpa85.com/ Link 2: https://www.facebook.com/drjennforpa85 Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: The redistricting process is flawed - a process driven by partisan politics, mapping technology, big data, and outside money. The result is gerrymandering: the practice of manipulating voting districts to benefit parties, not people. Gerrymandered districts give voters less voice and less choice, and we get polarization instead of problem-solving in Harrisburg and Washington. I support an independent citizen's redistricting commission because it would ensure a capable and demographically representative commission, provide multiple safeguards for a fairer process, and reduce the major political parties� ability to manipulate district lines. |
District: 86 Name: ANDERSON, KAREN ANN Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I absolutely support reforming our congressional and legislative redistricting process. An independent citizen's redistricting commission seems to be the best option at this time. Every vote must count equally. Manipulating District lines to ensure a certain outcome always disadvantages certain voters.This degrades our democratic society by dissuading people from voting since they begin to feel their vote just doesn't count. Politics must be removed from the redistricting process as much as possible. |
District: 86 Name: KELLER, MARK K Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 87 Name: QUINLAN, SEAN PATRICK Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes, the time is long overdue. I'm not an incumbent. If elected, I would gladly vote to eliminate and consolidate districts, including my own, if it meant introducing fairness into Pennsylvania's elections in the mode of California's redistricting commission initiative. I feel the California model is to be emulated. I also support same day voter registration and open primaries. |
District: 87 Name: ROTHMAN, WILLIAM GREGORY Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 88 Name: DELOZIER, SHERYL M Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 88 Name: FOSCHI, JEAN MARIE VARGAS Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/25/2018 Link 1: https://www.facebook.com/jeanfoschi88th/ Link 2: https://twitter.com/Jean88th Link 3: Comments from candidate: My Facebook and Twitter feeds show my participation in the Fair Districts rally that took place in Harrisburg. My Facebook feed links to articles written on the subject of Fair Districts and gerrymandering. I fully support HB 722. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I absolutely support reforming our congressional and legislative redistricting process to implement an independent citizens redistricting commission. An independent commission would help to create an open and transparent government. It would also encourage bipartisan solutions in legislation. Well-drawn districts would level the playing field among candidates and encourage the best and the brightest to run for office. An independent commission is critical to having a government by and for the people. |
District: 89 Name: KAUFFMAN, ROBERT W Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 90 Name: SCHEMEL, PAUL THOMAS Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 91 Name: HOLLAND, KURT A Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I promote that everybody should bed able tp partipate in thevelectorial process...so, yes, I do. |
District: 91 Name: MOUL, DANIEL P Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 92 Name: DANIELSON, SHANNA LEIGH Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/15/2018 Link 1: https://www.shannaforpa92.com/functional-government/ Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: I have been very impressed with the work of groups like Fair Districts PA who are drawing attention to our outdated, unfair map-drawing procedures. I look forward to co-sponsoring legislation to implement a nonpartisan citizens commission for redistricting. I think we can all agree that the tone in Washington is permeating our state legislature, as well. Where are the town halls? Why are bills being held in committee for months on end, especially when there is a large public consensus on the issue? If I'm elected, I want to be held accountable to my constituents and the people of Pennsylvania. I want to have town halls. I want people to schedule meetings with me, especially if they are on the opposite side of an issue. We should not be afraid of discourse, we should embrace it. I believe we can solve the major issues we are facing as a state without compromising our values. Do you? Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes- I support a non-partisan citizens redistricting commission. Our government should be representative of the people. |
District: 92 Name: HERSHEY, JOSHUA BAIRD Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 92 Name: KEEFER, DAWN WETZEL Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 92 Name: WERNER, CURTIS A Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 93 Name: JANSEN, MATTHEW ROBERT Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 93 Name: JONES, PAUL MICHAEL Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 93 Name: O'ROURKE, MEGGAN Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Undecided. |
District: 94 Name: SAYLOR, STANLEY E Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 94 Name: SNELL, STEPHEN RICHARD Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/16/2018 Link 1: http://ow.ly/8Pvm30iPw28 Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: letter published in newspaper but not currently on line. It follows: I am astonished but not surprised to hear Congressman Scott Perry and State Representative Stan Saylor decry the newly redrawn congressional district maps. Sure, up until now York County has been fortunate to be in one congressional district and that change will require some adjustment. Other counties in Pennsylvania have been divided for many decades so we can do it too. Instead, the focus should be on the previous maps which permitted Pennsylvania Republican leaders to design lines favoring them rather than making them more competitive. Isn't true political competition what our democracy is all about? We should support efforts to enhance the healthy exchange of ideas rather than stacking the deck to favor one party or the other. Politicians should vie for the average moderate voter like you and me. That might force them to come out of their ideological corners and meet in the middle where compromise and progress can be made. We need to take this decision one step further by permanently instituting the change needed to completely remove district design from politicians of either party. As a member of the state house, Saylor should push bipartisan legislation like HB 722 to set up an independent commission so that we won't have to go through this again after the 2020 census. Steve Snell Windsor Township Candidate for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 94th district Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Absolutely! I strongly support HB 722 and SB 22. I have done so publicly through website and newspaper op-eds. I've attended the recent Senate hearings on the proposed independent commission. |
District: 95 Name: HILL-EVANS, CAROL DELORES Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I support independent citizen's commission because such a commission could help reduce or eliminate any one party from creating a one-sided uneven unfair map that gives advantage to one party over another. |
District: 96 Name: STURLA, PETER MICHAEL Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: 4/25/2018 Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: YES. I am a co-sponsor of House Bill 722 to remove politics (as much as possible) from the process. |
District: 97 Name: GULICK, DANA HAMP Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Absolutely. The Commonwealth cannot allow political ambition to distort or supersede the results of our citizens' votes. We need a clear, open process to determine districts and protect voting. |
District: 97 Name: MENTZER, STEVEN CURTIS Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 98 Name: AUKER-ENDRES, MARY Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/17/2018 Link 1: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=942820655896051&id=718771031634349 Link 2: https://twitter.com/maryforpa/status/979013218742960130?s=21 Link 3: https://www.facebook.com/MaryForPA/?ref=page_internal&mt_nav=1&feed_ufi=comments Comments from candidate: I have been a vocal supporter of the original HB 722 and of an independent citizen’s commission to draw our boundaries for fair elections and responsive government. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I very strongly support an independent citizen's commission in Pennsylvania. A commission made up of citizens neutralizes the partisanship we see in our current system and gives residents of the Commonwealth a legislature that is more responsive to their needs instead of to political power struggles. When Republicans draw the maps, the maps favor Republicans; when Democrats draw the maps, the maps favor Democrats; when citizens draw the maps, the maps favor the citizens. This is definitely a problem we can solve if we have the will to do so. |
District: 98 Name: HICKERNELL, DAVID S Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 99 Name: MALARKEY, ELIZABETH E Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 99 Name: ZIMMERMAN, DAVID H Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: In the constitution it clearly states that congressional and legislative district lines are to be drawn by the legislators. Every ten years a censuses is conducted followed by drawing new lines based on population shifts. The committee of legislators that is established to draw new lines is made up of both Republicans and Democrats. The current system is bipartisan and balanced. The way the system works now brings together conservative and liberal views into realigning. An independent citizens group may or may not be made up of both Republicans and Democrats. Those that believe the system has been gerrymandered have seen the lines going from legislator gerrymandering to judge gerrymandering. Is independent citizen gerrymandering next? |
District: 100 Name: CUTLER, BRYAN D Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 101 Name: LIRIANO, CESAR F Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/23/2018 Link 1: http://www.cesarlirianoforthe101.com/ Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: I will always support Fair Districts in PA Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes, This broken system must be fixed.Gerrymandering has broken our democracy, it is important to preserving our democracy and making our government accountable to the people. |
District: 102 Name: DIAMOND, RUSS Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 104 Name: HELM, SUSAN C Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I do support redistricting reforms to ensure that both Legislative and Congressional districts are as compact as possible and split as few counties and municipalities as possible. Municipalities are better off when they have strong advocates in the State House and in Congress. And multiple representatives tends to dilute that relationship. I will work for the adoption of laws and internal House rules to reduce those splits and ensure compactness of districts. However, I do not support initiatives to create commissions to redraw districts. I support a system whereby Congressional reapportionment is accomplished in the same way that state laws are passed -- by the elected state Legislature in conjunction with the governor. This is a power that the state should reform, but not abdicate. (For those who feel that ourside commissions are more independent, I would point to California, where reports indicate the majority party was able to manipulate the process to pass its preferred pla |
District: 105 Name: EPSTEIN, ERIC J Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/14/2018 Link 1: https://www.commonwealthfoundation.org/issues/detail/memo-to-senate-state-government-committee Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: My campaign is new, and I have no recent statements to share on redistricting reform, but I've spent a lifetime railing against the legislature calling on them to reform. I was outraged over the House State Government's actions this past week when they amended HB722, effectively gutting the bill and trying to stop the passion of our collective efforts. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes - Congressional and legislative districts should be drawn by the people and free from political influence. We must choose our districts, rather than the current way of politicians choosing their districts. |
District: 105 Name: KLEIN, ADAM G Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I do not. While a citizen's commission might be good idea for giving input, it is still the General Assembly's duty to redistrict after every census. It would be a dereliction of the Legislature's Constitutional duty to pass the buck to an unelected commission. Indeed, how "independent" would this commission be? How would the citizens be selected? Who would do the selecting? There are too many questions regarding this for me to support it. It appears that any commission would be just as political as the process we have now. |
District: 105 Name: LEWIS, ANDREW Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I would be in favor for an independent citizen's redistricting commission. As we have seen with the recent gerrymandered redistricting in our state, this process only works for the one group/party in power. I would be in favor for exploring alternative reforms to ensure that districts are not drawn-up with political bias. |
District: 106 Name: LINTA, JILL Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/18/2018 Link 1: https://www.facebook.com/jill.linta/posts/10155730544371715 Link 2: https://www.facebook.com/pg/WomenWinning106/issues/?tab=Government%2BReform Link 3: https://www.facebook.com/WomenWinning106/posts/791599124367218 Comments from candidate: Supports Senate Bill 22 and House Bill 722 to end gerrymandering. Has been following the issue closely and has attended several hearings on these bills at the Capitol. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes. Having attended Tuesday's (March 27) hearing on redistricting legislation at the Capitol, I have full confidence that an independent citizen's commission would create fair electoral maps that would best serve the people of Pennsylvania. |
District: 106 Name: MEHAFFIE III, THOMAS L Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I am a co-sponsor of HB 722, a Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, further providing for the Legislative Reapportionment Commission for the purpose of reapportioning and redistricting the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. I support reforms to make it fair for the voters. |
District: 107 Name: DONNELLY, SARAH Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/14/2018 Link 1: https://donnellyforpa107.com/home/blog/ Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I was very active last summer with Fair Districts PA. I did many hours of tabling for the cause at local fairs including Pineknotters Festival in Northumberland, Sunbury Riverfest and Ralpho All Home Days. The need for a non-partisan redistricting process is obvious, every vote matters and politicians should not have the power to draw their own districts. I was very pleased to see the PA. Supreme Court order the redistricting for the congressional seats for the November 2018 election. We WILL have a fair system of redistricting in place by the time the results of the 2020 census are ready for redistricting purposes! |
District: 107 Name: MASSER, KURT A Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 108 Name: SCHLEGEL CULVER, LYNDA J Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 109 Name: MILLARD, DAVID R Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 109 Name: SANDERS III, EDWARD THOMAS Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/13/2018 Link 1: http://www.sandersforpa109.com Link 2: https://m.facebook.com/sandersforpa109/ Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I absolutely support reforming our congressional and legislative redistricing process to implement an independent citizen's redistricting commision. I believe this approach is the most fair when it comes to the redistricting process and leaves the decisions to citizens throughout our Commonwealth rather than elected officials. |
District: 110 Name: IANNONE, DONNA Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes, I believe that districts should be determined by a group of nonpartisan individuals that use a combination of scientific and commonsense methods to determine equitable districts. Returning the balance of power back to the voters versus any particular party. |
District: 110 Name: PICKETT, TINA Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 111 Name: FRITZ, JONATHAN A. Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 111 Name: KINNEY, REBECCA L Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/14/2018 Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: I support SB 22 and HB 722 as I feel they represent the best ideas to stop the problem of gerrymandering of districts in Pa, and will truly help to fairly represent the PEOPLE of Pa. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes, we need districts that represent the people who live in them, not the party they belong to. Politicians drawing the district lines is like hiring the weasel to guard the hen house. The people of Pennsylvania all deserve to be represented no matter their political affiliation. |
District: 112 Name: CARLUCCI, THOMAS CARL Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/13/2018 Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: I attended an information session on fair redistricting here in lackawanna county and continue to share post on Facebook to help spread the educational awareness on this issue. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes. By implementing an "independent citizens redistricting commission" we are putting transparency at the forefront of this important process. A process that should reflect the power of the people not the power of a particular party. |
District: 112 Name: CASTELLANI, RANDY Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes it has completely dismantled our boroughs and municipalities. Gerrymandering, manipulating the boundaries to favor one party, should not be tolerated. It happens way too often which creates instability. The more stability you have within the district boundaries the better your constituents will be served. |
District: 112 Name: CASTELLANI, ROBERT G Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/25/2018 Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Senate bill 22 and 722 are absolutely needed in our state . Harrisburg is corrupt with senators and legislators that are easily influenced by outside interest . This would take the decision making out their hands and into independent citizens that can make fair and rational decision. It’s a step in letting the citizen in our Commonwealth have their proper say in government. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: When redistricting is done to provide benefits to our constituents and make the district function on a positive measures then it can be considered. However, when it is done for the soul purpose of gaining power, to a party which is called gerrymandering, than absolutely not! |
District: 112 Name: LEMONCELLI, ERNEST DOMINIC Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 112 Name: MCHALE, FRANCIS PAUL Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes. The U.S Supreme Court will rule on this matter before their recess in June. They will set guidelines going foward and I support legislation in Pennsylvania to establish a Comission to establish boundaries for state and federal legislative seats after the 2020 Census. |
District: 112 Name: MULLINS, KYLE J Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/23/2018 Link 1: http://www.VoteMullins.com Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: One of my first assignments as State Sen. John Blake's legislative director was to draft legislation creating an independent commission to redraw legislative and congressional districts. As a staffer, and now a candidate, I firmly believe voters should be picking their politicians -- not the other way around. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I support an independent citizen's redistricting commission that would end the practice of politicians hand-picking their voters. Our founders never intended for such partisan abuse of the redistricting process or for such entrenched majorities. As Sen. Blake's legislative director, it was a privilege to work on his and other proposals to end gerrymandering. If the extreme inequity of Pennsylvania's current reapportionment plan was not enough to produce change, the recent court ruling throwing out those unfair maps should be. |
District: 113 Name: FLYNN, MARTIN B Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 114 Name: KAVULICH, MICHAEL G Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 115 Name: MADDEN, MAUREEN E Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes, politicians should not be drawing district lines. An independent commission should draw lines to ensure that districts reflect the people who live there. |
District: 116 Name: TOOHIL, TARAH C. Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Currently, the legislature is a body elected by the people and one of the responsibilities of the legislature, every ten years, is to carry out redistricting. While I support an open, transparent and fair process, I do have concerns about taking the redistricting process out of the hands out elected officials, who are accountable to voters on election day, and putting it in the hands of an appointed commission that is completely unaccountable to the people of Pennsylvania. If the commission is not as non-partisan and unbiased as we hoped how will we deal with this problem? Gerrymandering is a problem that we have been wrangling with since 1812 and became a very big issue in the case filed by the League of Women Voter's in 2017 against the 2011 redistricting process. |
District: 117 Name: BOBACK, KAREN Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 118 Name: CARROLL, MICHAEL B Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 119 Name: BEHRENS, JUSTIN V Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I support strong reforms, but in politics everyone has an agenda. I will fight to make sure areas like Luzerne County, which are losing population, receive the fair representation it deserves. |
District: 119 Name: MULLERY, GERALD J Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I am a proud co-sponsor of HB 722 and support SB 22. I have spoken at Fair Districts PA forums in support of both pieces of legislation. |
District: 120 Name: KAUFER, AARON D. Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 121 Name: PASHINSKI, EDWIN A Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 121 Name: WOLOVICH JR, GREGORY STEPHEN Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: When the constituents have spoken, it is our job as legislators to act upon the will of the people I feel that a large portion of the populace are in favor of redrawing the districts in Pennsylvania. That being said, we need a non partisan, fair system of drawing new legislative maps. An independent commission without the influence of state legislators should have maps drawn and voted upon by the people of the Commonwealth. |
District: 122 Name: HEFFLEY, DOYLE M Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 123 Name: GOODMAN, NEAL P Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 124 Name: KNOWLES, JEROME P Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 125 Name: TOBASH, MICHAEL G Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 126 Name: ROZZI, MARK LUCIO Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 127 Name: CALTAGIRONE, THOMAS R Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: 4/26/2018 Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: My record is clear. I have fought to have the voters of Pennsylvania properly represented in fair and equal districts my entire career. I have sponsored legislation and spoke out against the gerrymandering of districts. My efforts to change this process includes me personally filing a lawsuit after the horrible splintering of my district during the last redistricing process. I took a stand AGAINST the redistricting of my district that saw historically aligned neighborhoods split apart. I stand by my support of the legislation to take the process out of the hands of politicians, firmly and permanently giving the power and the determination to the people. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 127 Name: GAGLIARDO JR, VINCENT D Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 127 Name: GUZMAN JR, MANUEL M Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes, I am in support of implementing an independent commission that will be responsible for drawing congressional and legislative lines. When left to their own devices, it has been proven that politicians will rig the system to their favor. We the people must take back our government. |
District: 127 Name: SCOTT, MALLORY BURTON Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 128 Name: GILLEN, MARK M Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: 4/13/2018 Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Vote411. Link to League of Womens Voters Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: On December 20, 2011 I cast a no vote on a badly gerrymandered map that not only divided Berks County but was nationally ridiculed for it's lack of compactness. I made the decision to act independently and vote against a flawed map that I was strongly encouraged to vote for. The entire gerrymandering episode is a lesson on the need to act based on principle without regard for party alliance. I have been fighting for redistricting reform when it was not fashionable to do so and in fact cost you something to defy convention. The current redistricting system needs an overhaul that empowers citizens to construct compact districts without regard to political alignment. |
District: 128 Name: METCALFE, DOUGLAS B Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/20/2018 Link 1: https://www.metcalfe4pa.com Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: I am very aware of HB722. I fully support legislation that will once and for all end gerrymandering. This is a complete campaign statement regarding the state of our democracy.... American Democracy is deteriorating. I strongly believe that every American has not only a right to vote but a responsibility to vote and to be engaged in our Democracy. We should be making it easier for individuals to vote, and be engaged constituents, not more difficult. There are many factors that have created this decay in our American Democracy – the two-party system, the significant influence of special interests, the lack of campaign finance regulations, gerrymandering and voter restrictions. There are many suggestions I would purpose at the state level to improve and strengthen our Democracy: 1. We should be making it easier for citizens to vote through proposals such as automatic voter registration, same-day registration, improving the absentee ballot system, extending voting from one day to multiple days and ensure the State’s voting machines are upgraded to include an electronic voting machine with a verifiable paper backup. 2. Pennsylvania needs to end gerrymandering once and for all. We cannot rely on our courts to correct the failed and unfair mapmaking of the Pennsylvania Legislature. Pennsylvania needs to create an independent citizens commission in charge of both legislative and congressional redistricting. 3. Pennsylvania needs meaningful and real Campaign Financing Reform! Pennsylvania has virtually no campaign donation limits. A good starting place would be to at least implement the federal guidelines. For too long special interests and wealthy donors have had an outsized influence on our elections. It is time for Pennsylvania to put democracy back in the hands of the people! It is time to Put People Before Politics! Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes. Pennsylvania needs to end gerrymandering once and for all. We cannot rely on our courts to correct the failed and unfair mapmaking of the Pennsylvania Legislature. Pennsylvania needs to create an independent citizens commission in charge of both legislative and congressional redistricting. |
District: 129 Name: COX JR, JAMES A Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 129 Name: WERTZ, TRICIA L Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I would support anything that ensures fair redistricting and monitoring of that fairness and no gerrymandering. |
District: 130 Name: MALONEY SR, DAVID M Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 131 Name: LEE, ANDREW SCOTT Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes. The PA redistricting process is a key example of how Harrisburg fails Pennsylvanians. It is important, regardless of party affiliation, for voters to be choosing their representatives, and not the other way around. In the absence of competitive districts, legislators are no longer accountable to Pennsylvanians. Whether its the State House, the State Senate, or U.S. Congress, our representatives should never take their reelection for granted. Instead, we must ensure that our representatives work hard every cycle to earn the support of the voters in their district, and prove that they go to Harrisburg or D.C. to fight for the interest of their constituents. Every single one of their voters are held responsible for the quality of their work at their jobs every day, and our legislators should face the same pressure. |
District: 131 Name: LIGHTCAP, VICKI J Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 131 Name: PLOSA-BOWSER, BEVERLY Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: When I take the oath of office I�ll swear to defend the Pennsylvania Constitution. It vests the authority for drawing maps in the legislature, with the courts serving as check and balance. I believe that elected officials are accountable to the voters and I am sure that Pennsylvania�s voters would find such a group of non-elected bureaucrats lacking voter accountability. I don't support adding another piece of bureaucracy to accomplish what is already spelled out in the state Constitution. |
District: 131 Name: SIMMONS, JUSTIN J Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: 4/15/2018 Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: I support redistricting reform creating an independent commission to draw the district lines. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I am a co-sponsor of legislation to create an independent redistricting commission to help remove politics from this process. |
District: 132 Name: SCHLOSSBERG, MICHAEL H Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: YES. Altering the process by which these districts are creating will result in fair districts that serve a as more accurate representation of the will of the people. This, in turn, will lead to better legislators with a stronger connection to the people they represent. Additionally, extremely gerrymandered districts lead to electoral incentives to appeal only to the extremes of both parties, leading towards less incentive for compromise. I believe that a fairer redistricting process will create more political incentives towards compromise, a goal that I think both parties can agree on. |
District: 133 Name: MCNEILL, JEANNE Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes. The very first piece of legislation I co-sponsored was HB 722, which will establish an Independent Redistricting Commission to provide a nonpartisan process for redistricting in the state for State Senate, State House and Congressional districts which will ensure that State Legislative and Congressional districts are drawn in a fair and impartial manner. |
District: 134 Name: APPLEBACH, THOMAS LEE Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/22/2018 Link 1: http://www.applebachpa134.com Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: We must pass this common sense legislation as soon as possible. For certain incumbents want to be re-elected. But that is done by effectively serving their constituents and the citizens of our Commonwealth. Not by carving out safe seats that do nothing to ensure that everyone has a voice in who serves them. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I fully support reforming the redistricting process. Too many of our citizens are cut out of the election process either directly through gerrymandering or 'voluntarily' check themselves out of the process in frustration. The legislative process demands that all citizens have the right to engage in selecting who represents them without prior restraint. |
District: 134 Name: BEITLER, RONALD W. Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 134 Name: MACKENZIE, RYAN E Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 135 Name: SAMUELSON, STEPHEN P Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Prime sponsor of original HB722 Vote411 response: |
District: 136 Name: FREEMAN, ROBERT Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 137 Name: COZZE, AMY Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/25/2018 Link 1: https://m.facebook.com/amycozzeforstaterep/ Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes. Bipartisan redistricting is the only fair way to give voters a voice. |
District: 137 Name: EMRICK, JOSEPH T Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 138 Name: DONAHER, DEAN Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/25/2018 Link 1: http://www.deandonaher.com Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: It is time we return the power of democracy back to the citizens of Pennsylvania. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I support the efforts to reform our congressional and legislative redistricting process and to implement an independent citizen's redistricting commission. It is time we give the authority and the power to determine our representatives back to the people. Let's get back to the voters selecting their elected officials and away from elected officials selecting their voters. This process should not be ruled by any party. |
District: 138 Name: HAHN, MARCIA M Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 139 Name: MARRERO, ORLANDO D Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 139 Name: PEIFER, MICHAEL T Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 140 Name: GALLOWAY, JOHN T Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 141 Name: DAVIS, TINA Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I am a strong advocate for electoral and redistricting reform Voters should choose their representatives -- representatives should not be choosing their voters. We need a fair and reasonable process where the potential for partisan abuse is minimized. Across America, voters have been dismayed by hyper-partisan legislatures implementing unfair redistricting plans. I believe these kinds of political games compromise the integrity of our political system. I support an independent citizen's redistricting commission to fairly and honestly redraw Pennsylvania's legislative districts. We need an open and transparent redistricting commission that reflects the will of the people, not the self-interests of legislators. |
District: 141 Name: SPOSATO, ANTHONY Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes.Personally I would like to see everyone register independent, with one vote in the primary to pick the best candidate. They could vote Republican or Democrat in the primary but make only vote once. If that was possible there would be no way to predict what they would do. I believe there would be less pandering. Yes I would, I would like to see members of every political party represented on that commission. The idea to me of which gang do you belong to is keeping us from doing the work of the people. |
District: 142 Name: FARRY III, FRANK ANTHONY Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I do and I am a co-sponsor of the bill to do just that. I think that it is imperative that we get the partisanship out of redistricting. For too long politicians have had too much influence in the drawing of their districts. The end result has been a government run by people elected by the extremes of each party. The incentive is to make your side happy, not to work in a constructive way to solve the problems facing Pennsylvania. We need people elected to office who want to solve problems and work together, not partisan bulldogs looking to do nothing more than score political points. I am a problem solver that has worked across the aisle to attract jobs, protect working families, and to put the needs of our community first. I believe non-partisan redistricting could help Harrisburg work again. |
District: 142 Name: LAREAU, MALINDA LAUREN Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/25/2018 Link 1: https://www.facebook.com/pg/VoteLaurenLareau/issues/?tab=Government%2BReform Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: I fully support the creation of a nonpartisan and independent commission to draw ALL political maps in Pennsylvania. It's the only way to ensure that each person's vote will count equally! We deserve a fair democracy, and an independent commission will make democracy fair in Pennsylvania again. No more one-sided maps on either side! Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Absolutely. I support an independent commission to redraw the electoral map. It's the only fair way to ensure the democratic process. When districts have been gerrymandered, they discount the voices of some, and unfairly weight the voices of others. I was elated that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled in favor of the League of Women Voters', and agreed that the congressional districts had been gerrymandered for political gain. I'd like to see the state assembly districts given the same attention. How poetic, that almost 100 years after women fought for democracy through the right to vote, women are still fighting for democracy through fairly drawn districts. I will support legislation that allows an independent commission to draw the electoral map. One person should be entitled to one vote in a democracy, and an independent commission will ensure that each person's voice counts the same. |
District: 143 Name: BRENNAN, TIMOTHY PATRICK Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/16/2018 Link 1: http://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/wjpl13&div=3&id=&page= Link 2: http://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/news/20180309/democratic-candidates-emerge-in-race-for-143rd-district-seat Link 3: https://www.facebook.com/friendsoftimbrennan/ Comments from candidate: To paraphrase President Obama, in a democracy, the most important role or office is always that of a “citizen.” For the past 15 years I have worked for redistricting reform and to put our citizens back in charge of our elections. In 2003, as a law student, I drafted a proposed amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution to end partisan gerrymandering. I lobbied it to members of our legislature asking them to fix this process. I was told by many that my proposal was too fair and would never pass. We need to provide a clear standard for our courts and get partisan politics out of redistricting. I tell my nine-year-old son, “I don’t care what you do, it’s how you do it.” Our legislators have lost touch with this simple message. They will sell out any value and exploit any opportunity for short-term political gain yet fail to see that no policy goal is worth harming our democracy. We deserve better, we should demand better, and our children will be watching and inheriting our work. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: To paraphrase President Obama, in a democracy, the most important role or office is always that of a �citizen.� For the past 15 years I have worked for redistricting reform and to put our citizens back in charge of our elections. In 2003, as a law student, I drafted a proposed amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution to end partisan gerrymandering. I lobbied it to members of our legislature asking them to fix this process. I was told by many that my proposal was too fair and would never pass. We need to provide a clear standard for our courts and get partisan politics out of redistricting. I tell my nine-year-old son, �I don�t care what you do, it�s how you do it.� Our legislators have lost touch with this simple message. They will sell out any value and exploit any opportunity for short-term political gain yet fail to see that no policy goal is worth harming our democracy. We deserve better, we should demand better, and our children will be watching and inheriting our work. |
District: 143 Name: FLOOD, JOSEPH PATRICK Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/20/2018 Link 1: http://www.vote411.org/home#.WtpLfi-ZNEI Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I would support an independent redistricting process provided we can ensure that an independent commission remains truly independent of partisan or special interest influence. |
District: 143 Name: ULLMAN, WENDY Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes. Reform is long overdue and independent citizen involvement is essential to prevent further partisan inequities. |
District: 144 Name: BUCK, MEREDITH JEAN Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/20/2018 Link 1: https://www.votemeredithbuck.com/ Link 2: https://www.facebook.com/VoteMeredithBuck/ Link 3: Comments from candidate: Yes, I support reforming our congressional and legislative redistricting process to implement an independent citizen’s redistricting commission. It will help to remove the potential for political influence over the process. We should insure that the citizens are impartial like we do for jurors. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes, I support reforming our congressional and legislative redistricting process to implement an independent citizen�s redistricting commission. It will help to remove the potential for political influence over the process. We should insure that the citizens are impartial like we do for court judges and jurors. |
District: 144 Name: POLINCHOCK, F TODD Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 145 Name: KLINE, BRIAN Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/16/2018 Link 1: https://www.facebook.com/BK4UB-Kline-for-State-Legislator-264389357066834/ Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I support House Bill 722 which creates an independent non-partisan redistricting commission. It's important to note that the recent state Supreme Court ruling which ordered congressional districts to be redrawn is not permanent, and it does not address state legislative districts. The Constitution mandates that political districts be redrawn every ten years to reflect population shifts. Political districts could once again be gerrymandered for the 2020 election. It's make no sense allowing the party that controls the General Assembly to draw political districts to their advantage. I support fair districts, and we can accomplish that objective with an independent non-partisan redistricting commission. |
District: 145 Name: STAATS, CRAIG T Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I support reforming our redistricting process. It is clear that citizens are losing confidence in our current process. I think it is important to find a way to ensure that our voters have a seat at the table and an independent process is undertaken to ensure balanced and fair maps. I would be open to an independent citizens commission to oversee the process, and it is vital that we establish it in a way that truly is independent of politics. Free and fair elections are the backbone of our democracy and republic and that starts with an open and trusted process for drawing legislative maps. We must do everything in our power to remove partisanship from the process and make sure our voters are not disenfranchised. |
District: 146 Name: CIRESI, JOSEPH P Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes, I fully support putting an independent citizen�s redistricting commission in charge of both congressional and legislative redistricting. In 2016, I pledged to support redistricting reform, and I still firmly stand by that. We cannot have consistent fairness in our elections if the same politicians who are running for office are also responsible for drawing the districts they�d be running it: it poses an unresolvable conflict of interests. While the recent Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling striking down the congressional gerrymandering was good progress, we need a permanent fix to prevent gerrymandering in the future, and to apply that to legislative redistricting as well. It�s absolutely disgraceful that the Borough of Pottstown was carved between two State House districts, intentionally diluting and weakening its voice in Harrisburg. It�s well past time to take politics out of redistricting, reunite our municipalities and communities, and bring fairness to Pennsylvania. |
District: 146 Name: QUIGLEY, THOMAS J Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 147 Name: CAMSON, JOSHUA HARRIS Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/27/2018 Link 1: https://joshcamson.com/positions/fair-elections/ Link 2: https://www.facebook.com/joshforpa/videos/156685628325744/ Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 147 Name: TOEPEL, MARCY L Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 148 Name: DALEY, MARY JOSEPHINE Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: 4/26/2018 Link 1: http://www.maryjodaley.com/daley-lauds-bipartisan-support-for-redistricting-reform-rep-mary-jo-daley/ Link 2: https://youtu.be/tR37A2usTl0 Link 3: Comments from candidate: I sponsored a Town Hall in my district in March 2016 along with Fair Districts. I was the co-prime sponsor of the House bill advocated by Fair Districts during the 2015/16 session. I was a co-sponsor to the 2017/18 HB722 until it was amended in the House State Government Committee. The amendment was a “gut and replace” amendment that removed all of the original language and replaced it with language that would have only members of the General Assembly on the commission to redistrict/reapportion congressional and legislative districts. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 149 Name: BRIGGS, TIMOTHY PATRICK Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: 4/13/2018 Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: I was a cosponsor of the original HB 722 as originally introduced. As currently amended by the Republican members of the state government committee I would oppose. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 150 Name: CORR, MICHAEL N Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 150 Name: WEBSTER PHD, JOSEPH G. Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/19/2018 Link 1: https://joewebsterpa.com/ Link 2: https://twitter.com/joewebsterpa/ Link 3: https://www.facebook.com/JoeWebsterPA/ Comments from candidate: I support Fair Districts and the absolute need to have an independent council set district boundaries. I also support efforts to expand voting rights across the board, including automatic registration, same day registration, early voting, modernized absentee ballots, modernized balloting machines... Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes. Voting rights, across the board, are fundamental to our democracy and to re-establishing our values as a country. |
District: 151 Name: JOHNSON ROTHMAN, SARA JOANNE Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes, I support reforming Pennsylvania's redistricting process including House Bill 722. Having a fair and unbiased redistricting process is a non-partisan issue and one that strikes at the heart of democracy. Politicians should not be allowed to skew the districts to entrench themselves in power while suppressing the will of their constituents. |
District: 151 Name: STEPHENS, WILLIAM TODD Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 152 Name: BOLING, DARYL KIRK Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/16/2018 Link 1: https://www.darylboling.org/10th-pin-voters-rights Link 2: https://www.facebook.com/BolingforStateRep/ Link 3: Comments from candidate: I wholeheartedly support reforming Pennsylvania’s redistricting process and implementing an independent redistricting commission to create districts which will truly reflect the makeup of the electorate, rather than the wishes of power-hungry Harrisburg politicians. Allowing the majority party in the state legislature to draw the district maps is a case of letting the fox run the henhouse, with unscrupulous incumbents being given free rein to put their own best interests above those of the people whom they are supposed to represent. If elected, I will do everything that I can to make a redistricting system for Pennsylvania which ensures that the maps are written in a fair and honest matter, devoid of political influence or ambition. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Pennsylvania has become a national example of how not to draw the boundaries of its legislative and congressional districts. We have seen our local communities, such as Upper Dublin and Upper Moreland, divided by totally arbitrary lines unrelated to the interests of local residents. We need an independent process, such as proposed by Fair Districts PA. It is time that we put the interest of citizens ahead of the interests of incumbent politicians in securing lifetime health benefits for them and their families after ten years of service. |
District: 152 Name: MURT, THOMAS PAUL Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: 4/22/2018 Link 1: http://www.repmurt.com/NewsItem.aspx?NewsID=266819 Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Pennsylvania ranks third worst in the nation for the fairness of its electoral boundaries. This is a result of the Gerrymandering of our legislative boundaries. I support implementation of an independent citizen�s redistricting commission to address the need to reform the congressional and legislative redistricting process. I am an original sponsor of House Bill 722 which is a bipartisan bill that amends the Pennsylvania Constitution be establishing an Independent Redistricting Commission. Such a commission would provide a nonpartisan process for redistricting in the Commonwealth for State Senate, State House, and Congressional districts. The Independent Redistricting Commission would be tasked to draw boundary lines and would be beholden to politicians, political leaders, nor political parties. This proposal ensures that State Legislature and Congressional districts are drawn in an equitable, fair, and impartial manner and would address Gerrymandering in a meaningful manner. |
District: 153 Name: BEAVER JR, DOUGLAS M Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: Undecided Response date: 4/21/2018 Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: My support is wholly dependent upon the citizen selection process. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I do not think that an additional redistricting process would have the desired impact that is intended for Pennsylvania. The idea of an "independent" redistricting commission is a wonderful idea, but it invents a false narrative that the commission would be entirely unaffected by personal biases and party goals. It is better to allow any redistricting commission to commence without putting on a fa�ade of impartiality, and rather let all parties come to a mutually beneficial agreement on how to do what's best for all the various voices of different people in our state. I am more dedicated to being honest with the voters of Pennsylvania than I am about trying to play "fair" when it is inevitable that not everyone will be completely satisfied with the final outcome. |
District: 153 Name: DEAN CUNNANE, MADELEINE Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 154 Name: BOWERS, KATHLEEN E Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 154 Name: MCCARTER, STEPHEN C Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 155 Name: CORBIN, REBECCA P Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 155 Name: GRAHAM, RONALD M Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/26/2018 Link 1: https://ronaldgraham155.com/issues/ Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes, because everyone's vote should count; not just the party in power. |
District: 155 Name: OTTEN, DANIELLE FRIEL Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/21/2018 Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes. I believe that voters should choose their elected officials. Elected officials should not be able to choose their voters. I believe that a citizen's commission would promote equality, improve representation, and build an electorate that is more engaged and trusting in the process of government. |
District: 156 Name: COMITTA, CAROLYN Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes, I am an avid supporter/advocate for Fair Districts PA. Gerrymandering disenfranchises and silences voter's voices. Gerrymandering contributes significantly to the selection of candidates who represent the fringe views of their constituents and not the majority. I fully support redistricting reform that removes elected officials from the process and institutes an independent citizens' commission to draw the maps. During my tenure as mayor of West Chester, the PA Reapportionment Commission proposed dividing our Borough in half, putting half of our County Seat in a predominantly Delaware County House District! This gerrymandering would have disenfranchised half of the voters in our Borough, including a large portion of our minority voters and students. Together with two other residents, I testified and fought against this egregious gerrymandering. We prevailed in our appeal to the PA Supreme Court. I will continue to fight so that every vote counts. LWV: Your Vote is Your Voice! |
District: 156 Name: DEMINSKI, NICHOLAS Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/26/2018 Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: It is imperative that our voters have a voice in redistricting. Our current system has flaws and a truly independent citizens commission is needed to fix the system. Our democracy and republic must ensure free and fair elections and that starts with the drawing of legislative districts. |
District: 157 Name: KAMPF, WARREN E Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: 4/15/2018 Link 1: http://www.repkampf.com/NewsItem.aspx?NewsID=269830 Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I do support these reforms, and am a co-sponsor of the legislation to create an independent redistricting commission to help remove politics from this process. I made this decision after it became clear that too many in Harrisburg were unable or unwilling to come together, build consensus, and stop the political posturing over this issue. |
District: 157 Name: SHUSTERMAN, MELISSA Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/25/2018 Link 1: https://www.melissashusterman.com/issues/ Link 2: https://patch.com/pennsylvania/te/tredyffrin-area-state-rep-candidate-end-gerrymandering-now Link 3: Comments from candidate: Jamie Lorgus, Campaign Fellow. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes. Gerrymandering is a bipartisan issue that has hurt democracy and disproportionately targeted minorities. Political laziness and expediency has prevented the issue of gerrymandering from being solved. When a political party has the power to draw the lines that decide their own fate there is no longer a true democracy. These borders are tactically drawn in order to make state house races less competitive. In order to make as many districts safe or easy for a party to win, legislatures often pack as many voters from the opposing party into as few districts as possible. This limits the opposing party�s power throughout the government. In the end, this can lead to a one-party dominated legislature that does not reflect the will of the people. |
District: 158 Name: SAPPEY, CHRISTINA D Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/14/2018 Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: I do not currently have any link to share, but in my previous role as Chief of Staff I supported HB 722 efforts on behalf of Rep Carolyn Comitta. I am very disappointed by the House Republican amendment to the bill that eliminates an independent commission. This undermines the intent of the bill entirely in my view and indicates an unwillingness to truly end gerrymandering. I will continue to speak out on this issue and in support of an independent commission. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes. Our current process and the gerrymandering of districts has exacerbated partisan politics and contributed to the creation of a government that protects itself instead of serving the interests and priorities of the voters. |
District: 158 Name: WESTBROOK JR, WILLIAM DONALD Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 159 Name: KIRKLAND, BRIAN J Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 159 Name: MOTON, RUTH Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes, the way that I understand the constitution is, "Government For the People and By The People". I would want to ensure that the commission is 100% independent of Government and Party influence. |
District: 160 Name: BARRAR, STEPHEN E. Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: yes I do support reforming our redistricting process but I believe a system requires the legislature and a independent citizen commission to work together to draft legislative and congressional district but with the legislature voting for approval of the changes as required by both the state and national constitution can work. |
District: 160 Name: SPAHR, CATHERINE ELIZABETH Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/19/2018 Link 1: http://spahrforthepeople.com/positions-fairdistricts.html Link 2: https://chaddsfordlive.com/2018/04/14/letter-barrar-silences-the-people/ Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes, I do support an independent citizen's redistricting reform. I believe that the power of creating the maps should not come from those who represent the districts. It creates inequality and silences the votes of individuals. We need to pass legislation to take the redistricting process out of the hands of the legislatures. |
District: 161 Name: KRUEGER-BRANEKY, LEANNE T Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes, I am a co-sponsor on HB722, the Fair Districts bill, and support reforming our congressional and legislative redistricting process to implement an independent citizen's redistricting commission. The People should choose their elected representatives, not the other way around. Gerrymandering has led to virtual gridlock in Washington, DC and state capitals across the nation, including Harrisburg, and in order to make progress on any number of important issues, we must have fair districts. |
District: 161 Name: RODGERS MORRISETTE, PATTI Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes, I would support redistricting reforms that remove partisanship from the process, ensures that statistics used during the process are fair and accurate, and that districts are not drawn in a way that unfairly favors one party over another. |
District: 162 Name: DELLOSO, DAVID M Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: We use our votes to determine our leadership. Our leadership in turn must address these issues of redistricting in a manner that represents the voters will. I think the most recent events in Pennsylvania although long in coming proves once again our system works, that is the system of checks and balances. I'm not convinced that an Independent Citizens Commission would derive a different result and at any point in the process the elected Legislature will surely interject the,selves into the process. |
District: 162 Name: MICCARELLI, NICHOLAS A. Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 163 Name: SANTORA, JAMES Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 163 Name: ZABEL, MICHAEL PATRICK Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/13/2018 Link 1: https://www.votezabel.com/issues Link 2: https://twitter.com/MikeZabel/status/972851927313801216 Link 3: https://www.facebook.com/votezabel/photos/a.183021532258667.1073741828.179623349265152/183561292204691/ Comments from candidate: My opponent was one of only two representatives in Delaware County who did not support HB 722. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes. I am a strong supporter of the efforts of Fair Districts, and have worked with them on specific initiatives. The legislative maps drawn in 2011 showed us the real danger in allowing politicians to determine the contours of their own voting districts: far too often, they act in their own interest, and not in the interests of the people of Pennsylvania. This is true of both Republicans *and* Democrats. I support the establishment of an independent redistricting commission. Recently, I listened to testimony from members of California's citizens redistricting commission regarding their experiences with the redistricting reform. I was heartened to hear that each member, whether Democrat, Republican, or independent, found the process to be positive and worth the effort. If the redistricting reform bill has not passed by the time I take office, I will co-sponsor the bill. Voting districts should reflect communities, not calculated political advantages for incumbents. |
District: 164 Name: BAINS, INDERJIT Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 164 Name: FOOTMAN, LAUREN Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 165 Name: CHARLTON, ALEXANDER T Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes. I am a cosponsor of HB 722, a bill proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania which provides for the creation of the Legislative Reapportionment Commission for the purpose of reapportioning and redistricting the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. |
District: 165 Name: OMARA, JENNIFER M Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/16/2018 Link 1: https://www.voteomara.com Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes because the creation of congressional and legislative lines should not be done for political gain by either party. |
District: 165 Name: SCHEERER, REGINA M Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I do support an independent citizens' redistricting commission as long as districting takes into account citizen population, regardless of political affiliation, and includes, as much as possible, complete contiguous townships. The courts do not have the authority to set districts. |
District: 166 Name: RUBIO, BALTAZAR EDSON Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 166 Name: VITALI, GREGORY S Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: 4/22/2018 Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 167 Name: HOWARD, KRISTINE C Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/22/2018 Link 1: https://www.facebook.com/Kristine-Howard-for-PA-State-Rep Link 2: http://kristinehoward.com Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I support an independent citizen's redistricting commission. The extreme gerrymandering of Pennsylvania causes voters to mistrust the political system. Engagement at this level will restore trust. |
District: 167 Name: MCFALL, JEFFREY RYAN Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/19/2018 Link 1: https://www.jeffmcfallforpa.com/ Link 2: https://www.facebook.com/jeffmcfallforPA/ Link 3: Comments from candidate: I believe that voters should choose their elected officials, not the other way around. Partisan gerrymandering disenfranchises voters at a time when we should be making it as fair and simple to vote as possible. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes - Constituents should choose their representatives, not the other way around. |
District: 167 Name: MILNE, DUANE D Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 168 Name: BLOCK, PHILIP A Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes I do. Such reform is critical to insuring that everyone's voice is heard and that each citizen's vote counts. Gerrrymandering by either party hurts our democracy and subverts the will of the people. We should push for the adoption of a permanent solution to district assessment that is fair and equal, and not controlled by the party that is in power. |
District: 168 Name: SEALE, KRISTIN Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/25/2018 Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: I support an independent citizen and subject matter expert led commission for redistricting, and will fight attempts to preserve or exacerbate the current gerrymandered state districts. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I support reforming our congressional and legislative redistricting process to implement a transparent, impartial and ethically bound independent citizen's redistricting commission. The best subject matter experts, available research and data demonstrate clearly that there is a formula as well as objective standards and criteria that can be applied to create fair and just boundaries that do not advantage one party, person or candidate over another. Our commitment to serve our district, when we are sworn in, means committing to serving *every* voter in the district, and to that end, we must create a just and fair system of government in order to distribute resources and provide services well to all of the constituents in our districts and the Commonwealth - free of interference from partisan, corporate or interest groups. The political will exists for this reform in Harrisburg. Strategic legislators will be able to get this work done if we elect experienced servant leaders with skill. |
District: 169 Name: HAMMOND, SARAH ELIZABETH Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 169 Name: KLUNK, KATE ANNE Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 170 Name: DOYLE JR, MICHAEL FRANCIS Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/18/2018 Link 1: http://www.mikedoyleforpa.com/issues Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: I have adopted the following as part of my campaign platform: I will officially adopt the following as a part of my campaign platform: *Support an independent redistricting committee to end gerrymandering for statewide districts *Support reducing the size of the State House. Even if that means the elimination of my own district if I were to get elected *Require receipts for "per diem" expenses *Refuse pay if budget deadlines are not met *Support campaign finance limits and end "political bribery". Ban gifts and limit campaign contributions Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes, I support these reforms. I believe we should have an independent commission that consists of a diverse group of citizens that will equally represent the interests of each district. Fairly and equitably. |
District: 170 Name: WHITE, MARTINA A Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 171 Name: BENNINGHOFF, KERRY ALBERT Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I will begin by reminding your members that I have a long record of independence and supporting government reform initiatives. For example, following the infamous pay raise vote, which I voted against, I was appointed to the Speaker's Reform Commission, which put forward many good government recommendations and resulted in the repeal of the pay raise and ended less-than-transparent legislative practices like late night voting. I agree with you that we have a need for redistricting reform in Pennsylvania. I support implementing a process that takes politics out of redistricting. However, despite having met with many groups and engaging in several local meetings with constituents on the topic, I have yet to learn of a plan that is without political input. I hope all groups can continue to work together to find a fair solution and am willing and ready to be part of those dialogues. |
District: 171 Name: MCCRACKEN, ERIN CONDO Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/25/2018 Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I fully support the implementation of an independent citizen's redistricting commission because it serves as an equalizer and representative voice in determining how districts are drawn to best empower all of Pennsylvania's citizens. |
District: 172 Name: BOYLE, KEVIN J Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 173 Name: DRISCOLL, MICHAEL J Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 174 Name: NEILSON, ED Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 175 Name: DERRICKS, DEBORAH LEE Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Absolutely. We should implement an independent citizen's commission to eliminate gerrymandering and uphold the integrity of our democratic process. |
District: 175 Name: O'BRIEN, MICHAEL H Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 176 Name: FRITZ, TIA-MARIE Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: It is my belief that if redistricting is handled by independent citizens commissions instead of partisan lawmakers we will see district lines that are drawn for the interests of voters. Six states already have citizen commissions in place and it appears that these independent commissions have created fair districts and Pennsylvania should follow suit. |
District: 176 Name: RADER JR, JACK B Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 176 Name: WILLIAMS, CLAUDETTE Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes, I would support independent citizens redistricting. It ensures the voices and concerns of the VOTERS are heard, Instead of politicians who only want redistricting to ensure they get reelected by setting their own lines. |
District: 177 Name: BORSKI, MARGARET RITA Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 177 Name: KILKENNY, SEAN MICHAEL Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes, we need to level the playing field when it comes to partisan gerrymandering. The current districts give an unfair advantage and limits our Democratic structure. |
District: 177 Name: KOZLOWSKI, PATTY PAT Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 177 Name: MARTINO, DANIEL J Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/24/2018 Link 1: https://www.facebook.com/martinoforstaterep/posts/1878823699074892 Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: My civic association (Olde Richmond Civic Association) hosted Fair Districts PA in the Spring of 2017. Also, the 177th is one of the most outrageously gerrymandered districts in the state. We need your help. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 177 Name: MCMONAGLE, SEAN K Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 177 Name: WAYLAND, SEAN PATRICK Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 178 Name: TAI, HELEN D Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/25/2018 Link 1: https://www.helentai.com/government-reform.php Link 2: http://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/news/20180420/video-democratic-candidate-helen-tai-speaks-with-editorial-board Link 3: Comments from candidate: In 2017, as Solebury Township Supervisor, I spearheaded a resolution urging our state senators to pass SB22 and our state rep to pass similar legislation when it was introduced (this was before HB722). As a citizen, I personally met with Senator McIlhinney asking him to support SB22. I recently submitted a letter to the editor to the Bucks County Courier Times on this topic and hope it will be published soon. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Gerrymandering of legislative and congressional districts is detrimental to our democracy by allowing politicians to choose their voters instead of voters choosing their representatives. It pushes politicians to be more and more extreme and reduces bi-partisan cooperation. I strongly support redistricting reform with an independent citizen's commission. As a Solebury Township Supervisor, I drove the passage of a resolution urging state lawmakers to pass SB22 and HB722, which calls for the creation of a truly independent citizens redistricting commission devoid of political motivation or partisanship. I also met with my state senator to urge him to cosponsor SB22. This is the only way to ensure a fair and accurate legislative and congressional redistricting process that respects political subdivisions and communities of interest and prohibits districts from being drawn to favor or discriminate against a political party or candidate. |
District: 178 Name: THOMAS, WENDI Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/20/2018 Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: My thought is that this should be put out to bid by a for-profit company to do. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I believe the recent fight over redistricting illustrates the need for change and, as Representative, I would support an independent redistricting commission that takes partisanship out of the process; we must ensure that how we establish this prevents special interests and partisan interests from influencing or corrupting the commission or process. |
District: 179 Name: DAWKINS, JASON T Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 179 Name: EDWARDS, ABU VINCENTE Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes, I support reforming our congressional and legislative redistricting process to implement an independent citizen's redistricting commission. We need an independent commission to oversee that redistricting is fair and prevents gerrymandering. |
District: 180 Name: CRUZ, ANGEL Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 181 Name: DEERING, JASON ALEXANDER Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/21/2018 Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 181 Name: GONZALEZ, GILBERTO Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I support the redistricting of congressional and legislative districts. The PA State District 181 is a good example of how it was gerrymandered to keep the former state rep in power for 30 years. All groups need to be represented. |
District: 181 Name: KENYATTA, MALCOLM Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 181 Name: NASH SR, LEWIS Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 181 Name: STREET, THOMAS M Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 181 Name: THOMAS III, LEWIS F Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I wholeheartedly support an independent citizen's redistricting commission to ensure balance, parity and fairness throughout the state redistricting process which should not be a political process. Districts throughout the Commonwealth have been gerrymandered for far too long and require comprehensive reform. |
District: 181 Name: WALKER JR, KENNETH T Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 182 Name: LANNI JR, LOUIS D Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 182 Name: MCCARRIE JR., JOSEPH T. Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 182 Name: SIMS, BRIAN K Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes absolutely. I am one of a handful of legislators who has introduced a Redistricting Bill and I am fully supportive of HB 722 and SB 22. |
District: 183 Name: MAKO, ZACHARY Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 183 Name: MILLER, CYNTHIA L Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 183 Name: RUFF, JASON Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/25/2018 Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: I have been a strong supporter of fair districts since starting my campaign! Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I'm committed to supporting fair districts that give voice to every vote and agree that we should pass legislation that establishes a third-party, independent and bi-partisan, citizen-led commission so we can stop the discriminatory gerrymandering in Pennsylvania. |
District: 184 Name: DIDONATO JR, NICHOLAS Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes I believe citizens involved in government is a positive thing for democracy. |
District: 184 Name: ROWAN, JONATHAN Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/16/2018 Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes. Voters should be picking their elected officials, and not the other way around. |
District: 184 Name: WYATT, THOMAS STANLEY Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 185 Name: DONATUCCI, MARIA P Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 185 Name: THOMPSON, EVETTE Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 186 Name: HARRIS, JORDAN A Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 187 Name: DAY, GARY W Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 187 Name: FOLLWEILER, ARCHIE L Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/16/2018 Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Do you support reforming our congressional and legislative redistricting process to implement an independent citizen's redistricting commission? Why or why not? Yes, absolutely. The confusion, complexity of Penna. Representative form of gov't is undeniable. The citizens are disenfranchised and dismayed. The 2 party system, winner take all excludes independents and people of compromise. Only Party Loyalists are rewarded with our current system. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes, absolutely. The confusion, complexity of Penna. Representative form of gov't is undeniable. The citizens are disenfranchised and dismayed. The 2 party system, winner take all excludes independents and people of compromise. Only Party Loyalists are rewarded with our current system. |
District: 188 Name: CURRY, JEFFREY PAUL Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/26/2018 Link 1: https://www.voteforjeffcurry.com/elections Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Elections should be based on the quality of the candidates and their ideas. If a party needs to cheat to win elections, it means their candidates and ideas are not very good. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes. Gerrymandering robs us of our right to fair and free elections and makes our votes meaningless. Government needs to work for the people again and ending gerrymandering is an important first step in forcing politicians to listen to us again. |
District: 188 Name: ROEBUCK, JAMES R Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 188 Name: SETTLES, DIANE Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 189 Name: BROWN, ROSEMARY Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 189 Name: CACERES, CHRISTA Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I am in full support of Fair District's work to change existing laws to allow for an impartial, independent citizen's commission to establish and maintain fair districting lines. Politicians-regardless of party-should never have the power to remain in office via gerrymandering. It is the people who vote elected officials in office, and the people should hold the power to create and encourage a fair playing field for all. Residents shouldn't have to cross two or three county lines just to be heard by their legislators. I applaud and support the bipartisan approach already taken with legislators co-sponsoring HB 722 and SB 22, and would like to see these bills passed. We must respect the electoral process and ensure fair and legitimate districts that properly represent the voting body. |
District: 189 Name: RODRIGUEZ, ADAM ANTHONY Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes, I definitely support an ammendment to the Commonwealth�s Constitution to create a Citizens Commission that would make the creation of our districts more fair. furthermore, I think that using a mathematical Algorithm in an effort to make Congressional, State, and State Senatorial districts more compact. |
District: 190 Name: BAILEY SR, RAYMOND Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 190 Name: BROWN, VANESSA L Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 190 Name: LOGAN, WANDA Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: The way that it has been set up is not supported the citizens. As we have been so slowly divided into the have and the have nots. With my neighborhood changing it may not make a big difference. |
District: 191 Name: MCCLINTON, JOANNA E Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 192 Name: CEPHAS, MORGAN Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 193 Name: COCKLEY, VINCENT BARRY Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Redistricting must be done in a transparent bilateral manner. It is the Constitutional duty of the legislature (the people's representatives) to draw the district lines. The process must be straight forward and allow ample time for input and challenges from all representatives. |
District: 193 Name: ECKER, TORREN C Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I support redistricting efforts to include more citizen participation. The current process is inherently political. Voters would see more transparency in the system with the addition of citizen participation to the redistricting process. |
District: 193 Name: MYERS, ANDREW DAVID Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/13/2018 Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes, because it is important that all parties and all people are fairly represented in government. |
District: 193 Name: NELSON, MATTHEW P Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/13/2018 Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: I will add this very important issue to my website. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes. Districts should be drawn by an independent commission. Politicians should not be able to choose their voters. |
District: 193 Name: WARDLE, JOHN W Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes I believe representation should be centralized. I believe citizens should draw the map. |
District: 194 Name: DELISSIO, PAMELA ANN Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: 4/15/2018 Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: vote411 Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes. In fact this is my top priority. Honored to be 2nd (behind the co-prime sponsors) on HB722 for an independent citizens commission for redistricting. The impact of gerrymandering is seen everyday. Ideological rigidity prevents true dialogue & therefore, rarely compromise. This topic is critical and integral to what and how policy is developed and passed in the state. I have covered this topic in each of my 71 town halls beginning in July of 2011. On my Facebook page, Rep DeLissio, I have created an album of pictures that demonstrates that gerrymandering happens across the commonwealth, effects both parties and is prevalent at the state and federal level. Gerrymandering disenfranchises voters and one could draw the conclusion that is indeed the goal. An opportunity to spend significant time with 3 of the inaugural commissioners from California's Independent Commission has reinforced for me the need to change this process in PA. The outcomes are amazing. #FairandSquare |
District: 194 Name: JOHNSON, JAKITA ROBYN PRICE Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 194 Name: STEVENS, SEAN PATRICK Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/13/2018 Link 1: Link 2: http://www.vote411.org/ Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: My position has changed over the years. I would fully support a truly independent redistricting commission. What has changed my position is the negative effects of gerrymandering on politics both locally and nationally. Gerrymandering has created an environment that is very friendly to extreme candidates from either party. This has hurt the ability to pass legitimate bi-partisan legislation. |
District: 195 Name: BULLOCK, DONNA Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes. Ensuring our elections are free and fair is of paramount personal importance. Without free elections and the capacity to truly choose our representatives, our democratic process loses its essential character. For too long, government has allowed entrenched partisan political power to perpetuate itself by hand-selecting sympathetic voters, silencing communities, and denying demographics a representative seat at the table. If re-elected, I will rededicate my work to end this pervasive problem and support SB 22 (2017), a joint resolution to establish an independent redistricting commission. |
District: 196 Name: GROVE, SETH MICHAEL Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 197 Name: BURGOS, DANILO R. Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 197 Name: RAMIREZ, FREDERICK Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 197 Name: VAZQUEZ, EMILIO A Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes, gerrymandering disenfranchises voters. I support fair districting. |
District: 198 Name: WILLIAMS, BERNARD A Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 4/25/2018 Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 198 Name: YOUNGBLOOD, ROSITA C Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 199 Name: GLEIM, BARBARA J Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 199 Name: KELSO, JASON EUGENE Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes. As seen with the recent politically motivated actions of all three branches of government with regards to the congressional districts, Pennsylvania must take the necessary steps to implement a fair and unbiased process to set all districts. An independent citizen's redistricting commission is a step in the right direction as long as necessary safeguards are implemented to avoid corruption among the commission. |
District: 199 Name: MCGINNIS JR, JOSEPH SHERWOOD Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes, I support reforming the redistricting process. In our democracy the greatest power each citizen has is the right to vote. This right should not be diminished by the party in power's efforts to construct districts which favor that party or individuals to ensure their election or re-election. There are ways - including an independent citizen's redistricting commission - that would help ensure a non-partisan level "playing field." One person, one vote is essential to maintain the confidence in our system of government. Our legislators should be prepared to represent each of their constituents, and stand ready to campaign in districts that are fairly drawn to reflect the views of everyone residing in the district. |
District: 200 Name: RABB, CHRISTOPHER Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: 4/22/2018 Link 1: http://youtu.be/vg1ePl62Ho0 Link 2: http://www.phillyvoice.com/you-could-soon-be-voting-shrink-pennsylvanias-legislature/amp/ Link 3: https://mobile.twitter.com/reprabb/status/907644465938096128 Comments from candidate: http://triblive.com/state/pennsylvania/13548627-74/philly-state-rep-says-he-feels-threatened-by-daryl-metcalfe Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes, and I am a co-sponsor of HB 722. I am also a strong supporter of fusion balloting and a plaintiff in a lawsuit against the Commonwealth. https://www.leagle.com/decision/inpaco20160930802 |
District: 200 Name: SCOTT, MELISSA Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: No response yet Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 201 Name: KINSEY, STEPHEN Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 202 Name: SOLOMON, JARED G Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I absolutely support an independent citizen�s commission to lead the way on impartial, transparent, and accountable redistricting efforts. I was a co-sponsor on PA House Bill 722, which was designed to bring this vision into a reality: instead of allowing incumbents to choose their constituents, a reformed redistricting process using census data and transparent to the public enables fairer elections by ensuring power rests with all voters. While HB 722 has faced difficulties, I am optimistic that the Commonwealth will move on from its gerrymandered past and lead the country as a model of judicious enfranchisement. |
District: 203 Name: FITZGERALD, ISABELLA Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I do support reforming redistricting process to include an independent citizens redistricting committee to allow for a fair as no unbiased process void of political influence & maneuvering. |
District: 78 Name: BAUGHMAN, DEBORAH TURNER Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 2018-04-28 Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: I am a founding member of Fair Districts Bedford County. Gerrymandering is killing our democratic process. Take it out of politicians’ hands and place with a non-partisan commission. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes. I am a founding member of Fair Districts PA Bedford County and support non-partisan redistricting. Decisions should be made based on what is good for citizens, not politicians. Evidence of gerrymandering in the 78th District includes Franklin County being divided into four legislative districts. That diminishes the power of the county as a whole. Bedford County is divided between the 69th and 78th Districts. It is already difficult for citizens in rural counties to make their voices heard, and gerrymandering makes that harder. Let�s take political manipulation out of the process. If we return power to the voters, there will be higher turnout and better candidates. I support PA Senate Bill 22 and PA House Bill 722. |
District: 34 Name: COSTA, PAUL Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: 2018-04-28 Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: I have been a Co-sponsor if HB722 and also was one of only 25 House Members to sign onto the discharge resolution to force action on this legislation. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I do support reforming the legislative redistricting process, that is why I am not only a Co-Sponsor of HB 722 but I am one of the few that has signed onto the Discharge Resolution to force the Speaker to bring up the bill so the Full House of Representatives can vote on this issue. |
District: 12 Name: SMITH JR, DANIEL BURTON Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 2018-04-28 Link 1: http://www.facebook.com/DanielSmithJrHD12 Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: I am 100% for an independent citizens commission to reform this mess our current legislators have put us in! My District, in particular, has been impacted so much by this that Mr. Metcalfe has been able to do whatever he wants; due to his 13 Republican to 5 Democrat ratio! I have been a life long constituent here, and, the focus of this campaign (when I decided I was going to do this) was to work hard and bring people of all parties together, once and for all. I’m not a politician, but I’m proud to say I was raised with a good amount of common sense. The thought of putting this redistricting process back in the hands of the people that caused it in the first place, AND make it an even number bodied commission is lunacy! So, if he won’t let HB722 go through with what was supported by over 100 plus members of the legislature and countless citizens alike, then I have to take matters in my own hands, starting with this election. First and foremost, Yes I’m running on the Democratic ticket, but I’m not running as a part; I’m running as a constituent that has had enough. By staying true to that comment, I will be working hard to earning the votes of ALL voters of this District! I am working to bridge the divide that Metcalfe as continued to drive a wedge between and work with local leaders and bring back the necessary improvements our District has been needing - and have been constantly ignored by him and his federalized views. For HB722, I feel that by keeping the commission independent, it places the voice of voters ahead of the greedy want of a cushy seats for legislators like Metcalfe. He’s scared that he’s finally seeing an opponent that can stand up to him, an opponent that isn’t going to back down from his immature words and an opponent who is making it his priority to speak with every voter and explain how we can get our District’s voice back to Harrisburg; by not voting straight party! A vote for change isn’t by voting straight party, it is by voting for the best person! I have until November, and right now we have so many Republicans, Democrats and Independents on board, we can only continue to strengthen. It’s time for true leadership; do I think I’m The answer? I’d like to think so, but it’s my job until November to prove that to ALL the people of this District. As I said, as a life long constituent, I’m tired of sitting idly by and watching him do this election year after election year. I love my current job and really don’t need this job, but I feel I have to do this; not only for my passion of this District, but to echo that voice to him that we are sick and tired of his antics! I do know, a win for PA HD12 is a win for PA as a whole. We may still be in the minority, but at least the #1 obstructionist will be GONE! Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes. For far too long a majority in our legislature has had a ruling hand on redistricting, only to secure their place in the political arena. To assign this to an independent citizen�s commission, I feel, would provide a voice geared more FROM the people, rather being TOLD what to do from the PA House. In my District, House District 12, Daryl Metcalfe has held on to a 13 Republican to 5 Democract ratio since 2002. Before, it was 13 Republicans to 11 Democrats. This has to change! |
District: 184 Name: FIEDLER, ELIZABETH Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 2018-04-28 Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Gerrymandered district lines weaken the power of our votes and plenty of politicians are working behind closed doors to keep it that way. We are all paying the price as many incumbents work to draw lines that protect their seats — leaving them free to ignore our needs and voices because they feel comfortable in winning reelection given the boundaries. We’ve seen a disturbing cycle in Harrisburg and in Washington where incumbents are too comfortable, while the people they’re supposed to serve feel powerless and voter turnout decreases. I believe that citizens should be able to participate in the process and that clear standards for equality, fairness, and integrity should be guiding principles during the process. I support a citizen commissions for non-partisan redistricting to limit gerrymandering. I proudly support any policy that gets money out of politics, increases public participation and the accountability of public servants, and gets us closer to the definition of democracy: one person, one vote. I support constitutional amendments to overturn Citizens United and end corporate personhood. Knowing firsthand how hard it is for non-establishment politicians to run for office, I would like to see a public small-donor matching system for Pennsylvania. I also strongly support automatic voter registration, same day voter registration, early voting, making election day a public holiday or moving it to Saturday, and voting by mail. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes. I support an independent citizen's redistricting commission because elected officials shouldn't be choosing their voters. Voters should be choosing their elected officials. The current gerrymandering of our districts is undemocratic. |
District: 104 Name: SMITH, PATRICIA ANN Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 2018-04-29 Link 1: https://www.pattysmithforpa.com/index.php/issues Link 2: https://www.facebook.com/PattySmithForPA/ Link 3: Comments from candidate: Both sides of the aisle gerrymander which is why it is imperative that something as important as protecting the vote of every Pennsylvanian citizen with a fair and balanced map be put into the hands of an independent commission of citizens. We have seen how well the legislature has done drawing the maps (#sarcasm), now it is time to return this most important task to those who will do it fairly and without political intent. After all, if the politicians are so sure that they have the right message and the right direction for Pennsylvania, then why do they feel the need to rig the maps to ensure their party's victory? Run on your own merits and your own vision, let every vote count and let the best candidate for each district win, regardless of party. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes I do. The only way to protect the integrity of the Pennsylvania election is to have the districts drawn by an independent commission that is not beholden to either party. Everyone's vote should matter and in a fairly drawn district, they will. |
District: 177 Name: HOHENSTEIN, JOSEPH C Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 2018-05-01 Link 1: http://www.votehohenstein.com/issues/ Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: I recognize that the 177th district where I am running has been heavily gerrymandered for many years to ensure that one state house district in overwhelmingly Democratic Philadelphia sends a Republican to Harrisburg. I advocate for taking the redistricting function out of the hands of incumbent politicians who have a self-interest in choosing their own voters, and placing it in the hands of a nonpartisan commission. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes, I support reforming our congressional and legislative redistricting process to implement an independent citizen's redistricting commission. The district that I am running in, house district 177, is one of the worst examples of gerrymandering in our state. It was carved out in 2012 by the Republican incumbent to preserve his seat in an increasingly Democratic area of Philadelphia. As a result, many sections of the district are no more than 5 city blocks wide making it difficult to effectively represent constituents and build community. Having a truly non-partisan commission draw maps would create cohesive districts that benefit constituents and keep politicians honest. |
District: 160 Name: ANDREW, ANTON Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 2018-05-01 Link 1: http://www.antonandrew.com/issues/gerrymandering Link 2: https://www.facebook.com/AntonAndrewForPA/posts/361237527723679 Link 3: Comments from candidate: Quite simply, voters need to be choosing their legislators; legislators should not be choosing their voters. Democracy demands no less. The Congressional Districts Pennsylvania Legislators created in 2011 have been an embarrassment to the state. I support the efforts of Fair Districts PA to create an independent citizens' redistricting commission to handle the redistricting process. Quite simply, legislators cannot be trusted to create the districts. I will fight for and support amending the Pennsylvania State Constitution to have an independent citizens' commission in control of the redistricting process. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I do. While I applaud the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's decision--which removed 1,139 miles of unnecessary divisions between and within communities of Pennsylvania voters, divisions that Republican lawmakers put in place primarily to give themselves a political advantage over their Democratic opponents"--redrawing the 2011 congressional map is a temporary solution. Redistricting will happen again after the 2020 Census, and if it follows the same process as last time, the 2021 map is likely to be gerrymandered, too�regardless of which party is in power. |
District: 81 Name: ROGERS SR, RICHARD JAMES Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 2018-05-01 Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: I support an independent citizens commission in redistricting, taking it out of the hands of politicians. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: We must not let what happened in this decade be repeated when we redistrict in the next decade. The process must be reformed and the time to decide the specific reform is now. Taking the redistricting process out of the hands of legislators and giving it to an independent commission is an extreme measure. We expect our legislators to work hard and work in the best interests of the citizens. To that end, the citizens must hold every legislator accountable for his or her actions. And, instead of punishing all for the sins of a few, we should work to have a process with zero tolerance for rogue behavior. I do support reforms to the process, but I strongly believe as we elect people to work on redistricting fairly, we should continue to expect these people to fulfill their responsibilities in the best interests of all the citizens of Pennsylvania. It may be that we do involve more citizens in the process, but we should also not take away this responsibility from the legislature. |
District: 115 Name: PARKER, DAVID C Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 2018-05-02 Link 1: http://www.pahousegop.com/NewsItemPrint.aspx?NewsID=262990 Link 2: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mOL5YMzfdxc Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I strongly support establishing an independent commission to draw congressional and legislative district lines during the redistricting process. This will help keep communities of interest together, reduce county and municipality splits and result in better representation. I introduced HB1835 in 2016 to create a citizen�s commission and negotiated a hearing on the bill in the House State Government Committee. I was glad to see the Senate�s State Government Committee recently had a hearing on the latest Senate Bill. |
District: 91 Name: QUALLY, MARTY Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 2018-05-02 Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: I agree 100% with Fair Districts. I have attended Gettysburg area meetings and am in the process of getting my fellow Adams County Commissioners to endorse Fair District's draft resolution. Hopefully, in a few weeks we will join the growing list of Counties supporting these changes. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes. I receive regular updates from Fair Districts PA and agree that PA needs to remove partisan influences in the redistricting process. This will create more competitive districts and give the residents more say in the political process. |
District: 103 Name: HARRELL, ANTHONY THOMAS Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 2018-05-02 Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: My fellow Americans, it is time that the citizens of the republic pick their representatives and not the representatives pick and choose who they wish to serve. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I am in favor of a congressional redistricting that is chosen by an independent commission. Our republic can only be truly fair and just if the lines are drawn not in favor of one party or another but in favor of the citizens who live in them. |
District: 122 Name: SCOTT, KARA M Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 2018-05-08 Link 1: https://www.karaforcarbon.com/ Link 2: https://www.facebook.com/karaforcarbon/ Link 3: Comments from candidate: An independent commission is the first step to reinstating government to the hands of the people. Voting is a right, not a privilege, and gerrymandering limits the power of the people. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: Yes, I support the end of partisan gerrymandering, and an independent citizens redistricting is the way to do this. We need to end partisan manipulation of our votes and return the choice of our leadership back into the hands of our people. Many people don't vote because they believe their vote doesn't matter. We need to make sure it does. |
District: 103 Name: KIM, PATTY H Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: 2018-05-08 Link 1: http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/09/serious_problems_still_exist_w.html Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: This is one of the most important issues that will help government function properly. When the lines are drawn to help one party win, the people lose every time. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 164 Name: DAVIDSON, MARGO LOMAX Party: Democratic Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I absolutely support reform that will end gerrymandering, but it must come from a constitutional change or supreme judicial ruling establishing a fair means of determining and preventing gerrymandering. It must be changed in this way to ensure that no party can take power and immediately dissolve such an independent commission. We are founded on a principal of one person one vote, that is our right, and it is one that we must achieve. |
District: 168 Name: QUINN, CHRISTOPHER B Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I believe we need a better system than what we have in place now here in Pennsylvania, which is why I am a cosponsor of H.B. 722, legislation that would create an impartial, independent citizens commission to direct the process of redistricting. I would only note that I want to make sure the appointments are made in such a way as to ensure that the citizens� commission can be truly independent of partisan bias or influence. We need to ensure that the proper steps are taken to ensure the commission does not become just another body influenced by political parties, while at the same time not being directly accountable to the voters. |
District: 101 Name: RYAN, FRANCIS X Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Not a co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I do. My reform bill includes giving independent voters equal access and increases transparency. The bill includes reforms of ballot access, elimination of disenfranchisement of independent voters and streamlines processes to eliminate and prosecute fraud. |
District: 106 Name: MYERS III, ROBERT ELWOOD Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 2018-04-25 Link 1: https://m.facebook.com/VoteRobMyers/issues/?ref=page_internal&mt_nav=1 Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: While I was the President of Hershey Indivisible Team, we were adamant supporters of redistributing and I still stand firm on my support of ending of partisan gerrymandering. Notes from FDPA team: Hershey Indivisible disputes Myers' statement. Vote411 response: Yes, gerrymandering negatively impacts our entire Democracy. We should remove this process from the hands of politician and put it in control of the people. |
District: 158 Name: ROE, ERIC MARK Party: Republican Incumbent: Yes Position: Co-sponsor of original HB722 Response date: 2018-05-11 Link 1: https://youtu.be/3P8wJWMaRAc Link 2: http://www.unionvilletimes.com/?p=39408 Link 3: http://www.chestercounty.com/2018/04/17/171393/roe-denounces-amendment-to-redistricting-bill Comments from candidate: I am the prime Republican sponsor of HB 722. Rep. Steve Samuelson (D-Northampton) and I jointly introduced this bill, and we've championed it ever since. Our bill gained more co-sponsors than any other bill introduced this session, and I am very proud to have led the charge for an independent redistricting commission. The fight for free and fair elections is always worth the effort, and I'll continue to push for an independent redistricting commission. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 10 Name: MCGURK, JOSEPH T Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 2018-05-12 Link 1: http://www.mcgurkforstatehouse.com/home?full=1 Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Gerrymandering is a threat to fair elections and involvement by elected politicians is a conflict of interest that needs to be eliminated. An independent panel is the surest way to fair elections with unbiased maps. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |
District: 13 Name: WALKER, SUSANNAH L Party: Democratic Incumbent: No Position: Supporter Response date: 2018-05-12 Link 1: http://suewalkerpa13.com/issues/ Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: Our country was founded on the principle of representative democracy. It is critical that elected officials accurately and fairly depict the geographic area that they are from in Pennsylvania. This is a nonpartisan issue that everyone should pay attention to and should work to resolve. I firmly believe that an independent, citizen led commission is the solution to end gerrymandering to ensure fair representation in Harrisburg. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: I support an independent citizen�s redistricting commission in order to reform our congressional and legislative districts. Creating an opportunity for public hearings and written submissions will lend to the transparent process that is currently lacking. This process should increase the trust of voters and yield greater participation in our fairly held elections. |
District: 9 Name: MICHALEK, GREGORY E Party: Republican Incumbent: No Position: Undecided Response date: 2018-05-16 Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: Comments from candidate: No court should have the authority to alter election districts. Notes from FDPA team: Vote411 response: |