State

State Representative, 12th 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.

Butler County only: Adams, Cranberry and Jackson townships, and Callery, Evans City, Harmony, Mars, Seven Fields, Valencia and Zelienople boroughs. The same two candidates met in an Aug. 18, 2026 special election for the rest of the current term, which Brandon Dukes won; this race is for the full two-year term starting in December 2026.

Candidates Compare by issue

Scott Timko

Republican

Pilot; retired U.S. Air Force captain · Cranberry Township

The gist

Says roads have not kept pace with the district's growth and pledges to back boroughs' proposed fixes.
Calls for cutting and reforming the state gas tax and school property taxes.
Supports school choice, including vouchers and cyber charter schools.
Opposes residents subsidizing data centers through taxes or utility bills; wants residents to decide on them.
Calls for addressing real estate transfer taxes for first-time home buyers and for lower interest rates.
Says he opposes illegal immigration, is tough on crime and supports Second Amendment rights.
Proposes using Pennsylvania's energy resources, including natural gas and coal, to lower costs.
Says there is 'massive waste' in state spending and calls for more fiscal responsibility.

More about Scott

View sources (4)

Says roads have not kept pace with the district's growth and pledges to back boroughs' proposed fixes.
State House 12th District Republican primary: Ethan Nicholas v. Scott Timko (WESA voter guide)
Candidate questionnaire · 90.5 WESA · Apr 20, 2026 · wesanews.org
“The largest issue is the failure of our infrastructure to keep pace with growth in the district. … I will work with each borough in the district and be an ally to implementing the solutions they’ve already proposed.”
Calls for cutting and reforming the state gas tax and school property taxes.
HD-12 Special Election Preview
News coverage · PoliticsPA · Aug 10, 2026 · politicspa.com
“High state gas taxes and school property taxes must be cut and reformed”
Supports school choice, including vouchers and cyber charter schools.
State House 12th District Republican primary: Ethan Nicholas v. Scott Timko (WESA voter guide)
Candidate questionnaire · 90.5 WESA · Apr 20, 2026 · wesanews.org
“We need competition in our schools. Competition drives achievement and success.”
Timko running for 12th District in state House
News coverage · Butler Eagle · Feb 18, 2026 · butlereagle.com
“He said he supports school choice programs and cyber charter schools.”
Opposes residents subsidizing data centers through taxes or utility bills; wants residents to decide on them.
State House 12th District Republican primary: Ethan Nicholas v. Scott Timko (WESA voter guide)
Candidate questionnaire · 90.5 WESA · Apr 20, 2026 · wesanews.org
“I do not want the citizens of my district subsidizing data centers in any way through additional taxes or rising utility bills.”
HD-12 Special Election Preview
News coverage · PoliticsPA · Aug 10, 2026 · politicspa.com
“Stand up for local municipalities to make certain that residents have the final say on data center developments”
Calls for addressing real estate transfer taxes for first-time home buyers and for lower interest rates.
State House 12th District Republican primary: Ethan Nicholas v. Scott Timko (WESA voter guide)
Candidate questionnaire · 90.5 WESA · Apr 20, 2026 · wesanews.org
“We need to reduce interest rates. We need to address real estate transfer taxes, particularly with first-time home buyers.”
Says he opposes illegal immigration, is tough on crime and supports Second Amendment rights.
12th District face-off: What voters need to know
News coverage · Cranberry Eagle · Aug 14, 2026 · cranberryeagle.com
“He said he is against illegal immigration, tough on crime and a “Second Amendment champion.””
Proposes using Pennsylvania's energy resources, including natural gas and coal, to lower costs.
State House 12th District Republican primary: Ethan Nicholas v. Scott Timko (WESA voter guide)
Candidate questionnaire · 90.5 WESA · Apr 20, 2026 · wesanews.org
“I intend to use the energy resources within our state to help eliminate and reduce these costs.”
Timko running for 12th District in state House
News coverage · Butler Eagle · Feb 18, 2026 · butlereagle.com
“promoting the use of natural gas and coal for energy”
Says there is 'massive waste' in state spending and calls for more fiscal responsibility.
Timko running for 12th District in state House
News coverage · Butler Eagle · Feb 18, 2026 · butlereagle.com
“He said he believes there is “massive waste in government spending” and state government should be more fiscally responsible with tax dollars.”

Brandon Dukes

DemocraticIncumbent

State representative; former commercial lender · Cranberry Township

The gist

Calls for easing Route 228 traffic and modernizing roads to keep up with the district's growth.
Proposes a state infrastructure fund for high-growth corridors and wants developers to pay their fair share.
Supports raising the state minimum wage to $15 an hour.
Calls for ending price gouging on utilities and food and keeping prescription prices affordable.
Opposes funding school vouchers and calls for accountability in school choice programs.
Supports more investment in community colleges and trade schools and competitive teacher pay.
Supports open primaries and same-day voter registration.
Sponsored HB 2769 to loosen inheritance tax exemption rules for family-owned businesses and farms.In office

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

More about Brandon

View sources (4)

Calls for easing Route 228 traffic and modernizing roads to keep up with the district's growth.
Brandon Dukes for PA
Campaign website · Brandon Dukes for PA · dukesforpa.com
“Ease gridlock and traffic on Route 228. … modernize our roadways so they finally keep up with our rapidly growing district”
Proposes a state infrastructure fund for high-growth corridors and wants developers to pay their fair share.
Brandon Dukes for PA
Campaign website · Brandon Dukes for PA · dukesforpa.com
“Push for a dedicated state infrastructure fund tied to high-growth corridors like southern Butler County. … Hold developers accountable for their fair share as they profit from Butler County's growth.”
Supports raising the state minimum wage to $15 an hour.
Brandon Dukes for PA
Campaign website · Brandon Dukes for PA · dukesforpa.com
“Raise the minimum wage to $15/hr”
Calls for ending price gouging on utilities and food and keeping prescription prices affordable.
Brandon Dukes for PA
Campaign website · Brandon Dukes for PA · dukesforpa.com
“End price gouging on utilities and food prices … Keep prescription prices low and affordable”
Opposes funding school vouchers and calls for accountability in school choice programs.
Brandon Dukes for PA
Campaign website · Brandon Dukes for PA · dukesforpa.com
“Require transparency and accountability in programs that claim to provide school choice for low-income students”
12th District face-off: What voters need to know
News coverage · Cranberry Eagle · Aug 14, 2026 · cranberryeagle.com
“Dukes said he is opposed to funding for school vouchers and wants to focus on supporting public schools.”
Supports more investment in community colleges and trade schools and competitive teacher pay.
Brandon Dukes for PA
Campaign website · Brandon Dukes for PA · dukesforpa.com
“Heavier investments into community colleges and trade schools … Recruit and retain teachers via competitive pay”
Supports open primaries and same-day voter registration.
Butler Pa. House special election pits Timko against Dukes ahead of midterms
News coverage · 90.5 WESA · Aug 10, 2026 · wesanews.org
“He supports same-day voter registration and open primaries”
Sponsored HB 2769 to loosen inheritance tax exemption rules for family-owned businesses and farms.
Dukes, Venkat introduce inheritance tax reform legislation for family-owned businesses
Public statement · Office of Rep. Brandon Dukes · Sep 10, 2026 · pahouse.com
“increase the maximum amount of assets a qualified family-owned business may have to qualify for an inheritance tax exemption from $5 million to $6.9 million”

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.