The Gist
State Representative, 36th District
Photo of Jessica Benham
Jessica BenhamOfficial portrait — Pennsylvania House of Representatives (palegis.us)

Jessica Benham

Candidate for State Representative, 36th District

DemocraticIncumbent

Background

Occupation
State representative
Lives in
Pittsburgh (South Side Slopes)
Campaign website
benhamforpa.com

State representative for the 36th District, first elected in 2020, and co-chair of the legislature's LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus. She was previously director of development for the Pittsburgh Center for Autistic Advocacy and holds a Ph.D. in communication from the University of Pittsburgh.

Report

Photo: Official portrait — Pennsylvania House of Representatives (palegis.us)

Documented positions

Public safety

  • Supports comprehensive background checks, extreme risk protection orders, firearm safety training and safe storage laws.

    Policy Priorities - Benham for PA

    Campaign website · Benham for PA · Increasing Public Safety in Our Communities · benhamforpa.com

    “comprehensive background checks, extreme risk protection orders, firearm safety training, and safe storage laws”
    Report

  • Sponsored Act 11 of 2026, letting surviving spouses of Pittsburgh firefighters keep pension benefits if they remarry.In office

    Governor signs Benham bill closing Pittsburgh firefighter pension loophole

    Public statement · Office of Rep. Jessica Benham · May 6, 2026 · pahouse.com

    “Families of first responders should never lose benefits their loved one earned through a lifetime of service.”
    Report

Education

  • Supports free public early childhood education for all children.

    Policy Priorities - Benham for PA

    Campaign website · Benham for PA · Fully Funding Our Education System · benhamforpa.com

    “Early education should be public, free, and inclusive for all students.”
    Report

Economy & jobs

  • Supports raising the minimum wage and protecting workers' rights to unionize.

    Policy Priorities - Benham for PA

    Campaign website · Benham for PA · Workers' Rights · benhamforpa.com

    “Jessica is pushing for a higher minimum wage, and to protect the rights of workers to unionize and collectively bargain.”
    Report

Roads & infrastructure

  • Co-sponsors transit funding bills raising rental car and lease fees and adding a 6% ride-hailing tax.In office

    House Bills 1523 and 1524 (2025) would raise the rental car fee from $2 to $6.50 and the car lease fee from 3% to 5%.

    Policy Priorities - Benham for PA

    Campaign website · Benham for PA · Climate Change and Infrastructure · benhamforpa.com

    “Jessica believes firmly in the importance of sustainably funding public transit.”
    Abney, Benham formally introduce bills to fund Pennsylvania's transit systems

    Public statement · Office of Rep. Jessica Benham · May 30, 2025 · pahouse.com

    “Our legislative package will provide the necessary funding to keep Allegheny moving”
    Report

Health & human services

  • Supports abortion rights and opposes laws restricting reproductive choice.

    Policy Priorities - Benham for PA

    Campaign website · Benham for PA · Reproductive Justice · benhamforpa.com

    “Jessica fights to make sure that choice isn't restricted by harmful laws that take away our rights.”
    Report

  • Authored the 2024 pharmacy benefit manager law; now backs a pharmacy reimbursement floor and a single Medicaid PBM.In office

    Benham: Study shows more Pharmacy Benefit Managers reforms needed

    Public statement · Office of Rep. Jessica Benham · May 21, 2026 · pahouse.com

    “this study also makes clear that we should take action to set a reimbursement floor within the commercial insurance space … I remain enthusiastic about legislation that has been introduced to require the use of a single PBM for Medicaid”
    Report

Government & transparency

  • Supports a gift ban, campaign contribution limits, full election-spending disclosure and a redistricting commission.

    Policy Priorities - Benham for PA

    Campaign website · Benham for PA · Protecting Our Democracy … Protecting Our Democracy · benhamforpa.com

    “Jessica supports a ban on gifts to elected officials, limits on contributions to political candidates, and full disclosure of all spending … She supports a redistricting commission to draw fair lines”
    Report

  • Supports election-day and automatic voter registration and more early voting.

    Policy Priorities - Benham for PA

    Campaign website · Benham for PA · Protecting Our Democracy · benhamforpa.com

    “Jessica will fight for election day voter registration, automatic voter registration, and more opportunities for early voting.”
    Report

  • Supports the Fairness Act, adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the state's anti-discrimination law.In office

    PA Fairness Act reintroduced by LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus

    Public statement · PA House Democratic Caucus · Jun 3, 2025 · pahouse.com

    “lawmakers like us need to do more to protect them through bills like the Fairness Act”
    Report

Other issues in this race

Other candidates in this race addressed these topics. We found no documented position from Jessica Benham on them.

  • Taxes & budgetNo documented position found.

All sources (8)

Positions are summarized from the sources listed and are not inferred from party affiliation. Items marked “Provided by” were published by the candidate's verified campaign or party office under our campaign content standards. See something wrong? Use the Report link beside it, or contact us.