The Gist
State Senator, 26th District
Photo of Tim Kearney
Tim KearneyOfficial portrait — Pennsylvania State Senate

Tim Kearney

Candidate for State Senator, 26th District

DemocraticIncumbent

Background

Occupation
State senator; architect
Lives in
Swarthmore
Campaign website
senatorkearney4pa.com

State senator for the 26th District since his election in 2018 and Democratic chair of the Senate Institutional Sustainability and Innovation Committee. An architect and small business owner, he was mayor of Swarthmore from 2013 to 2018.

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Photo: Official portrait — Pennsylvania State Senate

Documented positions

Taxes & budget

Public safety

  • Supports universal background checks for all gun sales and a ban on assault weapons such as the AR-15.

    Issues – Tim Kearney for PA

    Campaign website · Friends of Tim Kearney · Gun Safety · senatorkearney4pa.com

    “Tim supports universal background checks for all gun sales … He also supports a ban on assault weapons such as the AR-15”
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  • Sponsored Abby's Law (SB 1008) setting statewide e-scooter rules, including a minimum riding age of 16.In office

    On Anniversary of Abby Gillon's Death, Senator Kearney Urges Senate Action on Stalled Abby's Law

    Public statement · Office of Sen. Tim Kearney · Jun 12, 2026 · senatorkearney.com

    “a minimum riding age of 16, and helmet requirements for older teens”
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Education

  • Calls for sending all school funding through the Fair Funding Formula and a Marcellus Shale extraction tax for schools.

    Issues – Tim Kearney for PA

    Campaign website · Friends of Tim Kearney · Education … Education · senatorkearney4pa.com

    “All money for school funding should pass through the Fair Funding Formula … we must enact an extraction tax on Marcellus Shale drillers and distribute it equitably to our schools”
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Environment & parks

  • Supports state laws on data center impacts so ratepayers don't face higher utility rates.

    Pennsylvania State Senator District 26 — VOTE411 Voter Guide (Tim Kearney)

    Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania (VOTE411) · Data centers question … Data centers question · onyourballot.vote411.org

    “The Legislature should absolutely enact laws to make sure that data center development does not adversely affect the communities where they are built. … Rate payers should not be subject to even higher utility rates when these come online.”
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Health & human services

  • Supports health care system oversight legislation and work to reopen closed hospitals in Delaware County.

    Pennsylvania State Senator District 26 — VOTE411 Voter Guide (Tim Kearney)

    Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania (VOTE411) · Most pressing issues · onyourballot.vote411.org

    “We continue to address these issues with legislation around Health Care System oversight and working with local developers and healthcare systems to reopen closed hospitals”
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Government & transparency

  • Supports allowing counties to pre-canvass mail ballots for 5 days before Election Day.

    Pennsylvania State Senator District 26 — VOTE411 Voter Guide (Tim Kearney)

    Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania (VOTE411) · Elections question · onyourballot.vote411.org

    “the most effective would be to allow pre-canvassing for 5 days prior to election day”
    Report

  • Proposes removing corporations' power to spend on Pennsylvania election and ballot-question activity.In office

    Democracy is Not for Sale: Stopping Corporate Super PAC Influence in Elections

    Public statement · Office of Sen. Tim Kearney · Sep 9, 2026 · senatorkearney.com

    “rewrites the general powers of Pennsylvania corporations, nonprofit corporations, and LLCs to exclude the power to make donations or contributions to election or ballot-question activity”
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All sources (18)

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.