2026 Midterms State GuidePennsylvania
Hold on to your cheesesteaks and construction cones.
Polls are closed
Polls are closed in Pennsylvania, and results aren’t finalized yet.
Ballots are still being counted, close races can take days to call, and no result is official until it’s certified.
A prayer for Pennsylvania
O God of mountains, waterways, and forests, the Keystone State is Yours. We lift voters to You in their deep divisions; draw near as they enter the ballot box, and unite them in the things that matter most. Give them unconditional love for their neighbors. Help them prioritize the good of their communities, and teach them to seek Your glory above all. May they cast their votes with conviction and hold the outcome with open hands.
Read the whole prayerUpdated
Hi! It’s me, Shadrach. Apparently, I’m your civic guide today. If you’ve been complaining about how things are going (and I’ve heard you... the walls are thin), this guide will help you feel informed and able to vote in this year’s midterms. Now, hold on to your cheesesteaks and construction cones, and let’s get into it.
Pennsylvania at a glance
Pennsylvania votes on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, for governor and all 17 U.S. House seats.
- Election Day
- Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026
- Voter registration
- Oct. 19: Voter registration deadline
- Early voting
- Sept. 14: In-person absentee voting begins at county election offices
- Governor
- 3 candidates
- U.S. House
- 17 seats
- Statewide ballot measures
- None
What happens next
The counting continues
Election-night numbers are unofficial. Mail, provisional, and military ballots are still being counted, so close races can take days to call.
Officials double-check the count
Local election officials review the ballots and the tallies (the canvass). A very close race can go to a recount.
Pennsylvania certifies the results
Results become official once Pennsylvania certifies them, usually a few weeks after Election Day.
Winners take office
The new Congress takes office in early January. Governors and other state officials take office on dates set by state law, most of them in January too.
Important dates
- May 19Primary This date has passed.
- Sept. 14In-person absentee voting begins at county election offices This date has passed.
- Oct. 19Voter registration deadline This date has passed.
- Oct. 27Mail-in and absentee ballot request deadline This date has passed.
- Nov. 3General Election Day This date has passed.
What’s at stake
The commonwealth will be closely-watched this cycle. Though it doesn’t have a Senate race, its House race features three competitive districts that Democrats hope to flip in order to gain Lower Chamber control. On top of that, Keystone State voters aren’t feelin’ hot about the state of their wallets. According to a 2026 Franklin & Marshall College poll, Republicans and Democrats are united in saying the economy is the number one issue facing the state, with 21% of voters placing it up top. Voters ranked government and politicians second (12%), followed by taxes (11%), data centers/AI (6%), and unemployment/personal finances. 41% would say Pennsylvania is headed in the right direction, 45% say it isn’t, and 15% said 🤷.
Who’s on your ballot
Tap a race to see the candidates.
Pennsylvania is choosing a governor
See whose priorities line up with yours
Here are the top priorities each candidate lists, in their own words. Pick the 3 that matter most to you. Names stay hidden until you see your results.
0 of 3 picked
Josh ShapiroDemocratincumbent
Top priorities- Creating jobs and attracting new investment and economic development
- Funding public schools and expanding career and technical education
- Supporting police and first responders and investing in community violence prevention
- Top priorities
Stacy GarrityRepublican- Lifting the ban on new drilling sites and fast-tracking natural gas and power plant permits
- Cutting hidden taxes and charges on electric bills, including the utility gross receipts tax
- Cutting property taxes by one-third within two years through rebates funded by existing state money
- Top priorities
Ken KrawchukLibertarian- Giving every student an $11,500 education savings account to use at any school
- Vetoing tax increases and eliminating the state personal income tax over four years
- Ending mail-in voting, requiring voter ID and setting term limits
All U.S. House of Representatives seats are up for election every two years. Find your district here.
- Shadrach’s big picture
Pennsylvanians will elect 17 candidates to represent them in the U.S. House. Pennsylvania is a solidly purple state, with seven seats expected to be held by Democrats, seven seats expected to be held by Republicans, and three that could go either way (they’re currently held by Republicans). It’ll be among the most closely watched states to determine House control this election cycle.
- Open seats
One. Rep. Dwight Evans (D-3) is retiring from office.
- Competitive districts
Three Pennsylvania districts are considered competitive (the most of any state this cycle): PA-7, PA-8, and PA-10. PA-1 is considered likely Republican; PA-9, PA-11, and PA-13–PA-16 are seen as solidly Republican, and the rest are considered solidly Democrat. No Republican even filed to run in PA-3, so it is guaranteed to Democrats, but candidates in both parties filed to run in the other districts so none are guaranteed.
Also on the ballot
Other races Pennsylvania voters will decide.
- Lieutenant Governor
- State Senate
- State House
- Special state legislative
Whose job is it?
Ten things government does. Tap the office that does each one.
Whose job is it to…
1 of 10
Declare a state of emergency after a hurricane or flood?
Pass it on
Know someone voting in Pennsylvania?
Send them the guide. It takes one tap, and it saves them an evening of arguing in a group chat.
A prayer for Pennsylvania
O God of mountains, waterways, and forests, the Keystone State is Yours. We lift voters to You in their deep divisions; draw near as they enter the ballot box, and unite them in the things that matter most. Give them unconditional love for their neighbors. Help them prioritize the good of their communities, and teach them to seek Your glory above all. May they cast their votes with conviction and hold the outcome with open hands.
Shield candidates from the temptation to win at any cost. May they lead with humility and remember that the people they seek to represent belong to You before they belong to any party. If they win, surround them with wise counsel, and guide them toward decisions that serve their constituents. For those who lose, may they do so with dignity and a unifying spirit.
Guard the hearts and minds of those weighed down by the noise, grieved by the division, or afraid of what comes next. For You are not shaken by elections, You govern governors, and Your kingdom will not be moved.
Amen.