2026 General Election Candidate Report Springfield Township East, Precinct 248
Prepared: October 14, 2026 · UOCAVA Absentee Ballot · Democratic Candidates Only
Governor of Pennsylvania · Four-Year Term · Incumbent
Josh Shapiro
Democratic Party · Running for re-election
Office Responsibilities
The Governor is chief executive of the Commonwealth. Powers include signing or vetoing legislation, issuing line-item vetoes on budget appropriations, appointing cabinet secretaries and judges, commanding the Pennsylvania National Guard, issuing executive orders, and submitting annual budget proposals. Annual base salary: $229,642.[1]
Biography & Pre-Political Career
Born in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania (age 53 in 2026). Earned a B.A. from the University of Rochester and a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.[2] Before elected office: foreign policy adviser and legislative aide to U.S. Senator Robert Torricelli (NJ) and U.S. Representative Joseph Hoeffel (PA-13); associate attorney at Ballard Spahr LLP, Philadelphia.[1]
Served three terms in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 153 (Montgomery County), 2005–2011, and two terms on the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners, 2012–2017, including service as chair.[1]
Record as Attorney General (2017–2023)
Directed the Grand Jury investigation into sexual abuse by Catholic clergy in Pennsylvania dioceses — one of the most extensive such reports in U.S. history.[1]
Secured multi-state opioid settlements against pharmaceutical distributors.[1]
Filed suit against a major mortgage lender for redlining practices.[1]
Record as Governor (2023–present)
Day-one executive order removing four-year college degree requirements from thousands of state government positions.[3]
Implemented automatic voter registration via PennDOT without new legislation.[3]
Signed legislation expanding insurance coverage for breast cancer screenings; renewed universal free school breakfast.[1]
Line-item vetoed a $100 million private school voucher appropriation (2023).[1]
Filed multiple federal lawsuits against the Trump administration (2025–26) over funding clawbacks and data privacy.[3]
Administration cites $43 billion in private investment and 29,000+ jobs: Eli Lilly GLP-1 facility, $1.2 billion Chobani dairy plant (Lehigh Valley), Amazon data centers.[3]
Policy Positions on Key Issues
Abortion Supports keeping abortion safe, legal, and accessible; has vetoed or threatened to veto restrictive legislation.[3]
Marijuana Supports recreational legalization; proposed a state Agriculture Department–run framework in each annual budget.[3]
LGBTQ+ Vocal supporter; sued over federal data requests targeting transgender residents.[3]
Gun Laws Supports stricter legislation; repeatedly blocked by Republican-controlled Senate.[3]
Energy "All of the above" — solar, wind, and continued fossil fuels. Rolled back predecessor's power-plant carbon emission rules; pursued federal hydrogen hub funding.[3]
Data Centers Initially championed large developments; tightened environmental and transparency standards in 2026.[3]
Education Supports full public school funding; secured increased appropriations through bipartisan deals.[3]
Minimum Wage Supports a federal and state increase; blocked in legislature.[3]
Shapiro is widely discussed as a potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidate. An August 2026 Inquirer/NYT/Siena poll found a 60% favorable rating among likely voters and a 16-point lead over Republican opponent Stacy Garrity.[3]
Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania · Four-Year Term · Incumbent
Austin Davis
Democratic Party · Running for re-election on Shapiro ticket
Office Responsibilities
The Lieutenant Governor serves as President of the State Senate (presiding without a vote except to break ties) and chairs four statutory bodies: the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons, the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD), the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Council, and the Local Government Advisory Committee. Succeeds the Governor if that office becomes vacant.[4]
Biography & Pre-Political Career
Born October 4, 1989, in McKeesport, Pennsylvania (Allegheny County). At age 15, after witnessing a shooting near his home, founded and chaired the Mayor's Youth Advisory Council for McKeesport.[5]
Earned a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg (2012) as a first-generation college student; served as a legislative intern for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives while in college.[6]
After graduation, served as executive assistant to Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald; helped establish a countywide violence prevention program. Became the youngest and first Black vice chair of the Allegheny County Democratic Committee (2014); resigned in 2020 over a party endorsement dispute.[5]
Board service before statewide office: YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh, Communities in Schools of Pittsburgh, Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh Charter School.[6]
Won a 2018 special election to PA House District 35 with ~73.7% of the vote, becoming the district's first African American state representative. Re-elected 2018, 2020, and 2022.[6]
Record as Lieutenant Governor (2023–present)
First Black Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania; youngest in state history (sworn in at age 33); first millennial elected to statewide office in Pennsylvania.[5]
Helped relaunch the Office of Gun Violence Prevention.[5]
Distributed hundreds of millions in PCCD community and school safety grants.[5]
Secured increased state funding for the Violence Intervention and Prevention program; created a PCCD grant for after-school programs.[5]
Pushed for expansion of hospital-based violence intervention programs and online access to the Board of Pardons.[5]
Led statewide conversation on firearm suicide reduction (2026).[7]
Chaired the Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association, 2024–2025; spoke at the 2024 Democratic National Convention.[5]
Policy Positions on Key Issues
Gun Violence Signature issue, rooted in personal experience; advocates for prevention funding and hospital-based intervention.[5]
Small Business Advocates for minority- and small-business inclusion in state contracting.[4]
Parental Leave Advocates for paid family and medical leave.[5]
Working Families Focuses on workers and communities that feel left behind by state government.[4]
U.S. Representative, PA-01 (Bucks & Montgomery Counties) · Two-Year Term · Challenger
Bob Harvie
Democratic Party · Opponent: incumbent Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R)
Office Responsibilities
A Member of the U.S. House of Representatives votes on all federal legislation, sits on committee assignments, handles constituent casework with federal agencies, and participates in the appropriations and authorization process. PA-01 covers most of Bucks County and a portion of Montgomery County. Terms are two years with no term limits.
Biography & Pre-Political Career
Born and raised in Bristol Borough, Bucks County. Earned a B.A. in History (with honors) from George Washington University and an M.Ed. from Holy Family University.[8]
Taught high school social studies for 26 years, approximately 20 at Bucks County Technical High School, where he chaired the Social Studies Department. Founded the Beyond the Books program, bringing military veterans from World War II through the War on Terror into classrooms.[8]
Moved to Falls Township in 1999; served two years on the Falls Township Planning Commission, then was elected to the Falls Township Board of Supervisors in 2003. Served as chair from 2008 to 2020 — the longest chairmanship in township history.[8]
Elected to the Bucks County Board of Commissioners in November 2019; sworn in January 6, 2020. His election alongside Diane Ellis-Marseglia gave Democrats their first commissioner majority in nearly 40 years. Chaired the board from 2022; re-elected 2023; named chair again January 2025.[9]
Policy Positions on Key Issues
Labor Raise the federal minimum wage; support union workers.[9]
Bucks and Montgomery County Democratic Committees; U.S. Reps. Madeleine Dean, Chris Deluzio, Mary Gay Scanlon; former Rep. Matt Cartwright; Transport Workers Union Local 234; American Federation of Teachers Pennsylvania.[9] The Philadelphia Inquirer editorial board endorsed Harvie on October 4, 2026.[10]
PA State Senator, District 16 (Upper Bucks & Lehigh Counties) · Four-Year Term · Challenger
Mark Pinsley
Democratic Party · Opponent: incumbent Sen. Jarrett Coleman (R)
Office Responsibilities
A Pennsylvania State Senator serves a four-year term in the 50-member upper chamber of the General Assembly, voting on state legislation and participating in committee work. District 16 covers parts of upper Bucks County and Lehigh County.
Biography & Pre-Political Career
U.S. Army veteran (specific dates and role not publicly documented in available sources). After military service, entered government accountability; currently serves as Lehigh County Controller.[11]
Detailed pre-Controller biographical information — education, Army service dates, private-sector career — is not documented in publicly available sources reviewed for this report.
Record as Lehigh County Controller
Identified and implemented prescription drug cost reductions for county employees and taxpayers.[12]
Investigated medical malpractice that caused children to be wrongly separated from their families; helped reunite those families.[12]
Framed the Controller role as forensic accountability — "following the money" on public contracts and subsidies.[12]
Policy Positions on Key Issues
Data Centers Supports a statewide moratorium on new hyperscale data centers until enforceable protections exist for electricity and water use, noise, pollution, setbacks, and emergency planning. Insists developers — not ratepayers — cover infrastructure costs. Opposes tax breaks or subsidies; requires community benefits and union construction jobs.[12]
Surveillance Opposes unlimited movement-tracking databases from license plate readers; supports short retention periods, logged access, independent audits, public reporting, bans on commercial sale, and penalties for misuse.[12]
Healthcare Frames healthcare as a right. Near-term: lower drug costs, hold pharmacy benefit managers accountable, expand PACE/PACENET, protect rural hospitals, strengthen mental health care. Long-term: open to the PA Universal Health Care Act.[12]
Labor Supports the right to organize, paid family and medical leave, and wages sufficient to support a family.[11]
Fiscal Increased government transparency; real property tax relief; scrutiny of subsidies and contracts.[12]
Social Supports reproductive freedom and LGBTQ+ equality.[11]
PA State Representative, District 145 (Upper Bucks) · Two-Year Term · Challenger
Les Mavus
Democratic Party · Opponent: incumbent Rep. Craig Staats (R)
Office Responsibilities
A Pennsylvania State Representative serves a two-year term in the 203-member lower chamber of the General Assembly, voting on state legislation and handling constituent service. District 145 covers Springfield Township, Nockamixon Township, and surrounding municipalities in upper Bucks County.
Biography & Pre-Political Career
Resides in Nockamixon Township, Bucks County. Claims a 20-year career in the technical services industry. Current occupation: Level 3 Customer Care Specialist, Best Buy.[13]
Civic record: served as Majority Inspector of Elections for Nockamixon Township's Revere precinct — an elected county position responsible for overseeing voter rolls and election administration at the precinct level. No prior legislative or executive elected office on public record.[14]
Mavus is a first-time legislative candidate. Detailed education, career history, and policy positions are minimally documented in available public sources. The campaign's stated issue areas — healthcare, education, economic protection, environment, and civil rights — have not been elaborated in publicly accessible platforms or press interviews located for this report.[13]
Policy Positions on Key Issues
Healthcare Central campaign priority; no specific mechanism stated in available sources.[13]
Education Supports investment in public education.[13]
Economy Protecting Pennsylvania residents' economic interests; no specific legislation cited.[13]
Environment Identified as a priority; no specific position stated in available sources.[13]
Rights General civil rights support; no specific legislation cited.[13]
9.WHYY. "Pa. election 2026: Meet Bob Harvie and Lucia Simonelli, Dems fighting to unseat Brian Fitzpatrick." 2026. whyy.org
10.Philadelphia Inquirer Editorial Board. "Bob Harvie is the best choice for Pennsylvania's 1st Congressional District." October 4, 2026. inquirer.com
11.Mark Pinsley Campaign. "Meet Mark." Accessed October 14, 2026. votemarkpinsley.com
12.Bucks County Beacon. "Q&A: Democratic State Senate Candidate Mark Pinsley on Data Centers, Flock Cameras, Health Care and More." September 2026. buckscountybeacon.com
13.Bucks County Beacon. "Les Mavus — Candidate Profile." Accessed October 14, 2026. buckscountybeacon.com
14.Civoren. "Les Mavus — Representative in the General Assembly District 145." Accessed October 14, 2026. civoren.com