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State Representative, 118th 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.

Lackawanna County part: Dalton, Moosic, Old Forge and Taylor boroughs, and Glenburn, La Plume, Newton, Ransom and West Abington townships. Luzerne County part: the City of Pittston; Avoca, Dupont, Duryea, Hughestown, Laflin, West Pittston and Yatesville boroughs; and Jenkins and Pittston townships.

CandidatesCompare by issue

Taxes & budget

  • John LombardoRepublican

    • Supports withholding politicians' pay until a state budget is passed.
    • Voted for Luzerne County's 2026 budget, which raised county property taxes 1.5%.In office

  • Jim HaddockDemocratic

    • Supports H.B. 1682, which would withhold lawmakers' and the Governor's pay while the state budget is late.

Public safety

  • John LombardoRepublican

    • Scored 100% on Gun Owners of America's candidate survey, according to the group.

  • Jim HaddockDemocratic

    • Says he protects law-abiding gun owners while backing safety measures to keep guns from dangerous criminals.
    • Sponsored a House-passed bill creating a $30 million grant program for fire companies.In office

Education

  • John LombardoRepublican

    • Calls for properly funding schools without raising taxes on working families.

  • Jim HaddockDemocratic

    • Supports cyber charter school reform; says it does not end school choice.In office

Economy & jobs

  • John LombardoRepublican

    • Proposes lowering energy costs by cutting red tape, holding utilities accountable and ending programs he calls costly.

  • Jim HaddockDemocratic

    • Opposes UGI Electric's requested rate increase and urged the PUC to reject it.In office

Environment & parks

  • John LombardoRepublican

    • Wants local communities to decide how to regulate data centers; open to reusing mine-scarred and industrial land.

  • Jim HaddockDemocratic

    • Voted for House bills making data centers pay their water and power costs and report their usage.

Health & human services

  • John LombardoRepublican

    • Calls for reducing prescription drug prices for seniors.

  • Jim HaddockDemocratic

    • Supports access to reproductive care.

Government & transparency

  • John LombardoRepublican

    • Supports voter ID and would change mail-ballot request deadlines and the state's SURE voter system.

  • Jim HaddockDemocratic

    • Supports protecting and expanding voting laws, including opening primary elections to independent voters.

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; 7 issues covered in this race.