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State Representative, 121st 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 Wilkes-Barre and nearby communities: the city of Wilkes-Barre; the townships of Bear Creek, Buck, Plains and Wilkes-Barre; and the boroughs of Bear Creek Village and Laurel Run. Open seat: incumbent Eddie Day Pashinski (Democratic) is not on the ballot.

Photo of Jessica McClay
Jessica McClayCampaign photo — Jessica McClay for State Representative

Jessica McClay

Democratic

Workers' compensation claims adjuster; Wilkes-Barre City Council chair · Wilkes-Barre (North End)

The gist

  • Supports raising the minimum wage from $7.25 to $15 an hour.
  • Supports taxing skill games and legalizing marijuana to raise state revenue.
  • Calls for fully funding public schools, hiring more teachers and reducing class sizes.
  • Opposes utility price increases and tax breaks for data centers, and efforts to weaken local zoning control.
  • Supports requiring insurers to cover preventive care and extending Medicaid benefits.
  • Supports a state constitutional amendment protecting abortion access.
  • Supports a nonpartisan redistricting board and a gift ban for state legislators.
  • Supports background-check gun safety legislation.
More about Jessica
View sources (2)
  1. Supports raising the minimum wage from $7.25 to $15 an hour.

    Jessica McClay for State Representative | Join the Movement for Lower Costs

    Campaign website · Jessica McClay for PA · Create Jobs & Increase Revenue · mcclayforpa.com

    “Raise the minimum wage from $7.25 to $15 an hour to make sure our talented workers stay in Pennsylvania.”
  2. Supports taxing skill games and legalizing marijuana to raise state revenue.

    Unusual primary election features challenges to three incumbent state legislators

    News coverage · WVIA News · May 17, 2026 · wvia.org

    “legalizing recreational marijuana use to raise tax revenues”
    Jessica McClay for State Representative | Join the Movement for Lower Costs

    Campaign website · Jessica McClay for PA · Create Jobs & Increase Revenue · mcclayforpa.com

    “Create new jobs and revenue through methods like taxing skill games and legalizing marijuana.”
  3. Calls for fully funding public schools, hiring more teachers and reducing class sizes.

    Jessica McClay for State Representative | Join the Movement for Lower Costs

    Campaign website · Jessica McClay for PA · Invest in Our Public Schools … Invest in Our Public Schools · mcclayforpa.com

    “Fully fund our public schools to their constitutionally mandated levels. … Fight to hire more teachers and reduce classroom sizes.”
  4. Opposes utility price increases and tax breaks for data centers, and efforts to weaken local zoning control.

    Jessica McClay for State Representative | Join the Movement for Lower Costs

    Campaign website · Jessica McClay for PA · Data Centers … Data Centers … Data Centers … In the News: Sept. 3, 2026 release on Bear Creek Township · mcclayforpa.com

    “Oppose any increase in utility prices for a proposed Data Center … Oppose tax credits, subsidies, or incentives for any proposed Data Center … Oppose any efforts to weaken local zoning laws or local control over proposed data center developments … I will vote to rein in the data center expansion that hurts our environment”
  5. Supports requiring insurers to cover preventive care and extending Medicaid benefits.

    Jessica McClay for State Representative | Join the Movement for Lower Costs

    Campaign website · Jessica McClay for PA · Affordable & Accessible Health Care · mcclayforpa.com

    “mandating that insurance companies cover preventative healthcare procedures and extending Medicaid benefits”
  6. Supports a state constitutional amendment protecting abortion access.

    Jessica McClay for State Representative | Join the Movement for Lower Costs

    Campaign website · Jessica McClay for PA · Reproductive Rights · mcclayforpa.com

    “Pass a State Constitutional Amendment to protect reproductive rights and access to abortion.”
  7. Supports a nonpartisan redistricting board and a gift ban for state legislators.

    Jessica McClay for State Representative | Join the Movement for Lower Costs

    Campaign website · Jessica McClay for PA · End Gerrymandering & Protect Our Right to Vote … Anti-Corruption · mcclayforpa.com

    “Create a non-partisan redistricting board to draw fair voting maps across the board. … Pass the Gift ban on all members of the state legislature”
  8. Supports background-check gun safety legislation.

    Jessica McClay for State Representative | Join the Movement for Lower Costs

    Campaign website · Jessica McClay for PA · Support First Responders & Public Safety · mcclayforpa.com

    “Promote common-sense gun safety reform through background checks to keep firearms away from criminals.”
Photo of Mike Harostock
Mike HarostockCampaign photo — Friends of Mike Harostock

Mike Harostock

Republican

Business executive; mayor of Bear Creek Village · Bear Creek Village

The gist

  • Opposes letting large tech companies build data centers throughout Northeast Pennsylvania.
  • Pledges to lower taxes and energy costs for families and seniors.
  • Calls for economic development and small-business support to create family-sustaining jobs.
  • Calls for access to affordable health care and prescription drugs for every Pennsylvanian.
  • Pledges to secure funding for police, firefighters and first responders.
  • Lists childcare, education and teacher-student resources as priorities.
More about Mike
View sources (2)
  1. Opposes letting large tech companies build data centers throughout Northeast Pennsylvania.

    Priorities - Mike Harostock for State Representative

    Campaign website · Friends of Mike Harostock · mikeharostock.com

    “Stopping the politicians who are allowing the Big Tech Billionaires to build data centers throughout Northeast PA”
  2. Pledges to lower taxes and energy costs for families and seniors.

    Priorities - Mike Harostock for State Representative

    Campaign website · Friends of Mike Harostock · mikeharostock.com

    “Committed to lowering taxes, reducing energy costs, and making life more affordable for families and seniors”
  3. Calls for economic development and small-business support to create family-sustaining jobs.

    With Pashinski retiring, Republicans, Democrats gear up for stiff 121st House District battle in Luzerne County

    News coverage · WVIA News · Feb 13, 2026 · wvia.org

    “I think the big issues are going to be our business climate, safety and security, our education”
    Priorities - Mike Harostock for State Representative

    Campaign website · Friends of Mike Harostock · mikeharostock.com

    “Driving economic development and supporting small businesses to create and protect family-sustaining jobs”
  4. Calls for access to affordable health care and prescription drugs for every Pennsylvanian.

    Priorities - Mike Harostock for State Representative

    Campaign website · Friends of Mike Harostock · mikeharostock.com

    “Ensuring every Pennsylvanian has access to high-quality, affordable healthcare and prescription drugs”
  5. Pledges to secure funding for police, firefighters and first responders.

    Priorities - Mike Harostock for State Representative

    Campaign website · Friends of Mike Harostock · mikeharostock.com

    “Securing funding for our police officers, firefighters, and first responders”
  6. Lists childcare, education and teacher-student resources as priorities.

    Priorities - Mike Harostock for State Representative

    Campaign website · Friends of Mike Harostock · mikeharostock.com

    “Prioritizing childcare, education, student opportunities, and teacher-student resources”

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.