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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.

CandidatesCompare by issue

Taxes & budget

  • Kathryn WatersDemocratic

    • Supports withholding pay from legislators and the governor until a budget is enacted.

  • Joe KerwinRepublican

    • Voted for the 2026-27 budget, citing no tax increase and no use of the Rainy Day Fund.In office
    • Co-sponsored a House-passed bill exempting volunteer firefighters' length-of-service awards from income tax.In office

Public safety

  • Kathryn WatersDemocratic

    No documented position found.

  • Joe KerwinRepublican

    • Opposes sanctuary cities and backed county cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
    • Sponsored the VICTIM Act, grants to help police solve violent crimes; it was included in the 2026-27 budget.In office

Education

  • Kathryn WatersDemocratic

    • Calls for raising achievement and rankings at 125th District schools.
    • Calls for changing school funding so all districts in the state are helped equally.

  • Joe KerwinRepublican

    • Supports public school funding along with school choice such as charters, homeschooling and scholarships.

Housing

  • Kathryn WatersDemocratic

    • Pledges to work with other legislators to create more affordable housing.

  • Joe KerwinRepublican

    No documented position found.

Economy & jobs

  • Kathryn WatersDemocratic

    No documented position found.

  • Joe KerwinRepublican

    • Sponsors a bill (H.B. 2660) expanding Agri-Link low-interest farm loans and raising the loan cap.In office

Environment & parks

  • Kathryn WatersDemocratic

    • Calls for a moratorium on the use and siting of data centers until their effects are studied.

  • Joe KerwinRepublican

    No documented position found.

Health & human services

  • Kathryn WatersDemocratic

    • Calls healthcare a human right and says patients and medical professionals should make care decisions together.
    • Proposes state funding to restore health coverage and increase food benefits for residents in need.

  • Joe KerwinRepublican

    • Opposes public funding of abortion and late-term abortion; supports parental notification for minors.

Government & transparency

  • Kathryn WatersDemocratic

    • Says votes should be cast to 'restore basic rights for all.'
    • Supports voter ID such as a state ID or driver's license but opposes requiring passports; supports mail voting.

  • Joe KerwinRepublican

    No documented position found.

Courts & justice

  • Kathryn WatersDemocratic

    No documented position found.

  • Joe KerwinRepublican

    • Co-authors a bill clarifying state law on silencers and short-barreled guns after a federal NFA ruling.

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.