State

State Representative, 117th District

Vote for: 1
Term: 2 years
Candidates: 2
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A state representative votes on Pennsylvania laws and the state budget in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

Covers the Back Mountain, western and southern Luzerne County: the townships of Black Creek, Butler, Conyngham, Dennison, Dorrance, Fairmount, Foster, Hollenback, Hunlock, Huntington, Lake, Lehman, Nescopeck, Ross, Salem, Slocum, Sugarloaf and Union, and the boroughs of Conyngham, Dallas, Freeland, Harveys Lake, Jeddo, Nescopeck, New Columbus, Nuangola, Penn Lake Park, Shickshinny and White Haven.

Candidates Compare by issue

Jeremy Benscoter

Democratic

Director of information technology · Hunlock Creek

The gist

Supports a three-year moratorium on data centers and letting communities deny large-scale projects.
Calls for PUC scrutiny of utility rate increases, saying profitable utilities should not get them.
Proposes legislation against AI-driven price setting and pressure on companies not to replace workers with AI.
Proposes taxing skill games and legalizing marijuana to fund schools, not raising property, income or sales taxes.
Calls for further cyber charter reform, holding cyber charters to the same standards as other schools.
Proposes expanding the homestead exemption to reduce property taxes on homeowners.
Proposes online child-safety laws, including separating adults from children in games and social media age limits.
Says he wants to work across party lines and find a middle ground.

More about Jeremy

View sources (4)

Supports a three-year moratorium on data centers and letting communities deny large-scale projects.
Jeremy Benscoter for State Representative
Campaign website · JBPAC · Data Center Accountability & Fairness · jeremybenscoter.com
“I support the three-year moratorium on data centers and will continue the fight to prevent them from destroying our communities.”
Residents, candidates speak out against data center development during protest in Wilkes-Barre
News coverage · WVIA News · Jul 18, 2026 · wvia.org
“Benscoter wants communities to be able to outright deny large-scale data center developments”
Calls for PUC scrutiny of utility rate increases, saying profitable utilities should not get them.
Issues - Jeremy Benscoter
Campaign website · JBPAC · Cost of Living · jeremybenscoter.com
“The fact is when utility companies continue to post profits to shareholders year-over-year, they should not be granted rate increases.”
Proposes legislation against AI-driven price setting and pressure on companies not to replace workers with AI.
Issues - Jeremy Benscoter
Campaign website · JBPAC · Cost of Living … Data Centers · jeremybenscoter.com
“I also want to pass legislation to protect families from AI-adjusted price fixing based on algorithms that determine where you stand financially. … We need to start putting pressure on companies to continue to use real American labor, and not replace people with AI.”
Proposes taxing skill games and legalizing marijuana to fund schools, not raising property, income or sales taxes.
Issues - Jeremy Benscoter
Campaign website · JBPAC · School Funding · jeremybenscoter.com
“My plan to get more funding for schools isn't to raise property taxes, income tax, or sales tax. I want to tax skill games”
Calls for further cyber charter reform, holding cyber charters to the same standards as other schools.
Jeremy Benscoter for State Representative
Campaign website · JBPAC · Cyber Charter School Reform · jeremybenscoter.com
“I also want to hold Cyber Charter schools to the same standards as a our brick and mortar ones.”
Proposes expanding the homestead exemption to reduce property taxes on homeowners.
Jeremy Benscoter for State Representative
Campaign website · JBPAC · Property Tax Reform · jeremybenscoter.com
“My goal is to push to expand the Homestead Exemption, and decrease the tax burden on home owners.”
Proposes online child-safety laws, including separating adults from children in games and social media age limits.
Issues - Jeremy Benscoter
Campaign website · JBPAC · Protecting Children … Protecting Children · jeremybenscoter.com
“require stricter protections in online gaming, such as separating adult players from children players in online games like Roblox. … I will work on legislation that would require age limits on things like social media.”
Says he wants to work across party lines and find a middle ground.
Benscoter announces candidacy for 117th district
News coverage · Times Leader · Feb 3, 2026 · timesleader.com
“Too many politicians act like everything is red vs blue — I want to change that.”

Jamie Walsh

RepublicanIncumbent

State representative · Sweet Valley (Ross Township)

The gist

Supports eliminating property taxes through a combination of higher sales and income taxes, per WVIA.
Sponsored a bill letting municipalities place a moratorium on data center applications while revising zoning.In office
Proposes a constitutional amendment giving municipalities power to block development projects through zoning.In office
Sponsored a bill to repeal the data center sales tax exemption, sending the revenue to the Motor License Fund.In office
Co-sponsored a bill requiring data centers to fund their own grid connections and power supply.In office
Voted against the 2026-27 state budget, saying spending beyond the state's means will lead to tax increases.In office
Co-sponsors a childcare package with start-up grants, expansion loans and changes to state childcare regulations.In office
Signed a letter asking regulators to withdraw the Health Department's proposed disease-control rule rewrite.In office
Proposes exempting Luzerne County from the enhanced vehicle emissions inspection program.In office

In office = from the candidate's own official statements or legislation as an officeholder, not their campaign.

More about Jamie

View sources (9)

Supports eliminating property taxes through a combination of higher sales and income taxes, per WVIA.
Unusual primary election features challenges to three incumbent state legislators
News coverage · WVIA News · May 17, 2026 · wvia.org
“He also favors eliminating property taxes through a combination of higher sales and income taxes.”
Sponsored a bill letting municipalities place a moratorium on data center applications while revising zoning.
Co-Sponsorship Memo: Empowering Municipalities to Place a Moratorium on Data Center Development
Government record · Pennsylvania House of Representatives · May 4, 2026 · palegis.us
“I am therefore proposing to give municipalities the option of placing a moratorium on data center applications”
Proposes a constitutional amendment giving municipalities power to block development projects through zoning.
Co-Sponsorship Memo: Zoning Constitutional Amendment
Government record · Pennsylvania House of Representatives · May 8, 2026 · palegis.us
“empowering local municipalities to manage their zoning regulations to prevent any development projects that they find untenable or detrimental”
Sponsored a bill to repeal the data center sales tax exemption, sending the revenue to the Motor License Fund.
Co-Sponsorship Memo: Repealing the Data Center Tax Break and Reducing the Gas Tax
Government record · Pennsylvania House of Representatives · May 4, 2026 · palegis.us
“I am proposing that the Computer Data Center Equipment Exemption Program be repealed, with the resulting revenue directed to the Motor License Fund”
Co-sponsored a bill requiring data centers to fund their own grid connections and power supply.
Walsh Supports Pennsylvania Ratepayer Protection Act to Lower Electricity Costs, Address Data Center Demand
Public statement · Office of Rep. Jamie Walsh · Apr 13, 2026 · repwalsh.com
“Requires data center developers to fully fund their energy infrastructure and grid connections, ensuring no additional costs are passed on to consumers.”
Voted against the 2026-27 state budget, saying spending beyond the state's means will lead to tax increases.
Walsh Votes Against Unsustainable Budget Plan
Public statement · Office of Rep. Jamie Walsh · Jul 12, 2026 · repwalsh.com
“I cannot support the continued spending beyond our means that will only result in increased taxes in the years ahead”
Co-sponsors a childcare package with start-up grants, expansion loans and changes to state childcare regulations.
Walsh Supports Legislative Initiative to Make Childcare More Affordable in PA
Public statement · Office of Rep. Jamie Walsh · Jun 3, 2026 · repwalsh.com
“is a co-sponsor of a legislative package designed to address the childcare crisis in Pennsylvania … Establish a state-funded grant program for start-up childcare providers. … Establish a state-funded low-interest/forgivable loan program for expansion of childcare facilities. … make recommendations for reducing burdensome and redundant regulations”
Signed a letter asking regulators to withdraw the Health Department's proposed disease-control rule rewrite.
Walsh Joins Colleagues in Fight Against Government Overreach
Public statement · Office of Rep. Jamie Walsh · Sep 25, 2026 · repwalsh.com
“The proposal from the Department of Health would threaten the rights and privacy of every Pennsylvania resident”
Proposes exempting Luzerne County from the enhanced vehicle emissions inspection program.
Co-Sponsorship Memo: Exempting Luzerne County from Vehicle Emissions Inspections
Government record · Pennsylvania House of Representatives · Feb 9, 2026 · palegis.us
“I will be introducing legislation exempting Luzerne County from the enhanced vehicle emission inspection and maintenance program”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 8 issues covered in this race.