State

State Representative, 125th 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.

Dauphin County only: northern and upper Dauphin County — Halifax, Jackson, Jefferson, Lykens, Middle Paxton, Mifflin, Reed, Rush, Upper Paxton, Washington, Wayne, West Hanover, Wiconisco and Williams townships; Lower Paxton Township Precincts 3, 4, 9, 15, 16, 19, 21, 22, 24 and 27; and Berrysburg, Dauphin, Elizabethville, Gratz, Halifax, Lykens, Millersburg, Pillow and Williamstown boroughs.

Candidates Compare by issue

Kathryn Waters

Democratic

Attorney · Dauphin County (125th District)

The gist

Calls healthcare a human right and says patients and medical professionals should make care decisions together.
Calls for raising achievement and rankings at 125th District schools.
Calls for a moratorium on the use and siting of data centers until their effects are studied.
Says votes should be cast to 'restore basic rights for all.'
Proposes state funding to restore health coverage and increase food benefits for residents in need.
Calls for changing school funding so all districts in the state are helped equally.
Pledges to work with other legislators to create more affordable housing.
Supports voter ID such as a state ID or driver's license but opposes requiring passports; supports mail voting.
Supports withholding pay from legislators and the governor until a budget is enacted.

More about Kathryn

View sources (2)

Calls healthcare a human right and says patients and medical professionals should make care decisions together.
Home | Watersforpa
Campaign website · Kathryn Waters campaign · Protecting Healthcare Access … Protecting Healthcare Access · watersforparep.com
“Healthcare is a human right and not a privilege. … Patients and medical professionals must work together to make the best healthcare choices.”
Calls for raising achievement and rankings at 125th District schools.
Home | Watersforpa
Campaign website · Kathryn Waters campaign · Investing in Education · watersforparep.com
“Let's work together to increase the knowledge and ranking of our schools to catapult our children to a higher educational success rate.”
Calls for a moratorium on the use and siting of data centers until their effects are studied.
Home | Watersforpa
Campaign website · Kathryn Waters campaign · watersforparep.com
“A moratorium should be placed on the use and location of data centers until studies and more information can be obtained and assessed.”
Says votes should be cast to 'restore basic rights for all.'
Home | Watersforpa
Campaign website · Kathryn Waters campaign · Defending Our Rights · watersforparep.com
“ensuring votes are cast to restore basic rights for all”
Proposes state funding to restore health coverage and increase food benefits for residents in need.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Pennsylvania State Representative District 125
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania (VOTE411) · Most pressing issues · onyourballot.vote411.org
“create funding for healthcare, restore healthcare taken away from residents of the district, increase food benefits for those in need within the district”
Calls for changing school funding so all districts in the state are helped equally.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Pennsylvania State Representative District 125
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania (VOTE411) · Most pressing issues · onyourballot.vote411.org
“change the funding of education to help all districts equally within the state.”
Pledges to work with other legislators to create more affordable housing.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Pennsylvania State Representative District 125
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania (VOTE411) · Most pressing issues · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I also would work with representatives of the legislature to create more affordable housing.”
Supports voter ID such as a state ID or driver's license but opposes requiring passports; supports mail voting.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Pennsylvania State Representative District 125
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania (VOTE411) · Elections … Elections · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I would support identification such as state ID and drivers license but oppose identification in certain forms such as pass ports … I would continue the support of mail in voting”
Supports withholding pay from legislators and the governor until a budget is enacted.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Pennsylvania State Representative District 125
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania (VOTE411) · State budget · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I would support legislation that would prohibit pay of Pennsylvania legislatures and the Governor until a budget is enacted”

Joe Kerwin

RepublicanIncumbent

State representative; attorney; Army National Guard officer

The gist

Opposes sanctuary cities and backed county cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Supports public school funding along with school choice such as charters, homeschooling and scholarships.
Co-authors a bill clarifying state law on silencers and short-barreled guns after a federal NFA ruling.
Opposes public funding of abortion and late-term abortion; supports parental notification for minors.
Voted for the 2026-27 budget, citing no tax increase and no use of the Rainy Day Fund.In office
Sponsored the VICTIM Act, grants to help police solve violent crimes; it was included in the 2026-27 budget.In office
Co-sponsored a House-passed bill exempting volunteer firefighters' length-of-service awards from income tax.In office
Sponsors a bill (H.B. 2660) expanding Agri-Link low-interest farm loans and raising the loan cap.In office

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

More about Joe

View sources (7)

Opposes sanctuary cities and backed county cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Kerwin, Mehaffie Applaud County Commissioner Vote Against Anti-ICE Resolution
Public statement · Office of Rep. Joe Kerwin · Sep 10, 2025 · repjoekerwin.com
“It is not the time to restrict cooperation and communication between law enforcement and government agencies.”
Issues - Joe Kerwin | PA State Representative | 125th District
Campaign website · Friends of Joe Kerwin · Provide Safe Communities · kerwinforpa125.com
“He opposes sanctuary cities and supports banning them in Pennsylvania.”
Supports public school funding along with school choice such as charters, homeschooling and scholarships.
Issues - Joe Kerwin | PA State Representative | 125th District
Campaign website · Friends of Joe Kerwin · Improve Education · kerwinforpa125.com
“he believes in investing in public education and programs that allow parents to determine the best education choices for their children”
Co-authors a bill clarifying state law on silencers and short-barreled guns after a federal NFA ruling.
Co-Sponsorship Memo: National Firearms Act
Government record · Pennsylvania House of Representatives · Aug 20, 2026 · palegis.us
“Pennsylvania's laws governing the exercise of a fundamental right should be clear, consistent, and readily understood.”
Issues - Joe Kerwin | PA State Representative | 125th District
Campaign website · Friends of Joe Kerwin · Defend the 2nd Amendment · kerwinforpa125.com
“has consistently stood against anti-gun legislation”
Opposes public funding of abortion and late-term abortion; supports parental notification for minors.
Issues - Joe Kerwin | PA State Representative | 125th District
Campaign website · Friends of Joe Kerwin · Protect Life · kerwinforpa125.com
“Joe supports common sense measures such as parental notification for minors seeking an abortion and opposes public funding of abortions”
Voted for the 2026-27 budget, citing no tax increase and no use of the Rainy Day Fund.
2026-27 Budget Reflects Dauphin County's Priorities, Says Kerwin
Public statement · Office of Rep. Joe Kerwin · Jul 12, 2026 · repjoekerwin.com
“The final budget is a balanced budget that will not raise taxes or use the Commonwealth's Rainy Day Fund”
Sponsored the VICTIM Act, grants to help police solve violent crimes; it was included in the 2026-27 budget.
2026-27 Budget Reflects Dauphin County's Priorities, Says Kerwin
Public statement · Office of Rep. Joe Kerwin · Jul 12, 2026 · repjoekerwin.com
“The VICTIM Act, legislation that I sponsored, was included in the budget”
VICTIM Act Designed to Empower Crime Victims, Police
Public statement · Office of Rep. Joe Kerwin · Jun 10, 2025 · repjoekerwin.com
“without the necessary funding, many departments are forced to rely on outdated methods”
Co-sponsored a House-passed bill exempting volunteer firefighters' length-of-service awards from income tax.
Legislation to Protect Firefighters' Income Passes House
Public statement · Office of Rep. Joe Kerwin · Jun 23, 2025 · repjoekerwin.com
“they shouldn't be taxed on the income that departments use as a retention incentive”
Sponsors a bill (H.B. 2660) expanding Agri-Link low-interest farm loans and raising the loan cap.
Co-Sponsorship Memo: Pennsylvania Agricultural Linked (Agri-Link) Investment Program Improvements
Government record · Pennsylvania House of Representatives · Jun 10, 2026 · palegis.us
“expand the use of the Agriculture Linked (Agri-Link) Investment Program to provide greater access to credit to the agriculture community”

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; 9 issues covered in this race.