State

State Representative, 126th 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.

Part of the City of Reading, Laureldale, Mount Penn and St. Lawrence boroughs, Lower Alsace and Muhlenberg townships, and part of Exeter Township.

Candidates Compare by issue

Miguel Vasquez

Republican

Director of operational excellence

The gist

Calls for earlier budget negotiations, a focus on core services and on-time state budgets.
Supports expanding school choice, curriculum transparency and parental rights in education.
Supports law enforcement and community policing and a firm stance on violent crime and repeat offenders.
Supports cutting regulations on small businesses and reducing wasteful state spending.
Supports protecting natural gas jobs and letting solar and renewables compete in a free market.
Supports data center development with basic state standards but local control of zoning and land use.
Supports accurate voter rolls, ballot chain of custody and post-election audits, plus voter education.
Supports redirecting state resources toward veterans' programs.

More about Miguel

View sources (2)

Calls for earlier budget negotiations, a focus on core services and on-time state budgets.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Pennsylvania State Representative District 126
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania (VOTE411) · State budget · onyourballot.vote411.org
“we should start negotiations earlier, focus on core services, spend taxpayer dollars responsibly, and get the budget done on time”
Supports expanding school choice, curriculum transparency and parental rights in education.
Miguel Vasquez for PA House — District 126
Campaign website · Friends of Miguel Vasquez · Strong Families. Better Education. … Strong Families. Better Education. · mvfor126.com
“Expanding school choice so families can choose what works best … Strengthening parental rights in education”
Supports law enforcement and community policing and a firm stance on violent crime and repeat offenders.
Miguel Vasquez for PA House — District 126
Campaign website · Friends of Miguel Vasquez · Public Safety Comes First … Public Safety Comes First · mvfor126.com
“Supporting law enforcement and community policing efforts … Taking a firm stance on violent crime, drug trafficking, and repeat offenders”
Supports cutting regulations on small businesses and reducing wasteful state spending.
Miguel Vasquez for PA House — District 126
Campaign website · Friends of Miguel Vasquez · Grow the Economy — Not Government … Grow the Economy — Not Government · mvfor126.com
“Cutting regulations that hold back small businesses … Reducing wasteful spending to protect taxpayers”
Supports protecting natural gas jobs and letting solar and renewables compete in a free market.
Miguel Vasquez for PA House — District 126
Campaign website · Friends of Miguel Vasquez · Energy Independence & Affordability … Energy Independence & Affordability · mvfor126.com
“Protecting natural gas jobs and Pennsylvania energy workers … Allowing solar and renewable energy to compete in a free market”
Supports data center development with basic state standards but local control of zoning and land use.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Pennsylvania State Representative District 126
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania (VOTE411) · Data centers … Data centers · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I support economic development, including data centers, but I don't think Harrisburg should override local communities. … municipalities should still have the authority to make zoning and land use decisions under the Municipal Planning Code”
Supports accurate voter rolls, ballot chain of custody and post-election audits, plus voter education.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Pennsylvania State Representative District 126
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania (VOTE411) · Elections … Elections · onyourballot.vote411.org
“keeping voter rolls accurate, maintaining a clear chain of custody for ballots, and conducting post-election audits … We should make voting straightforward by improving voter education, making sure polling places are accessible”
Supports redirecting state resources toward veterans' programs.
Miguel Vasquez for PA House — District 126
Campaign website · Friends of Miguel Vasquez · Putting Veterans First · mvfor126.com
“He supports redirecting resources toward veterans and programs that make a real impact in their lives.”

Jacklyn Rusnock

DemocraticIncumbent

State representative · Muhlenberg Township

The gist

Supports policies to expand health care access and lower costs.
Supports protecting marriage equality and women's reproductive rights.
Sponsored a House-passed bill creating grants to modernize career and technical education curriculum.In office
Proposes restarting state reimbursement for school construction (PlanCon) to ease property tax burdens.In office
Sponsored a House-passed bill requiring new warehouses to be built solar-ready, with retrofit tax credits.In office
Sponsored a House-passed bill requiring insurers to tell homeowners about flood insurance and its cost.In office
Hosted a flood-risk hearing and says local flood mitigation needs more state and federal help.In office
Supports more housing assistance funding, incentives for affordable housing and stronger tenant protections.In office

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

More about Jacklyn

View sources (7)

Supports policies to expand health care access and lower costs.
State Representative - Friends of Jacklyn Rusnock
Campaign website · Friends of Jacklyn Rusnock · voterusnock.com
“Everyone deserves quality healthcare, regardless of income or background. I'll fight for policies that expand access and lower costs.”
Supports protecting marriage equality and women's reproductive rights.
State Representative - Friends of Jacklyn Rusnock
Campaign website · Friends of Jacklyn Rusnock · voterusnock.com
“Protecting marriage equality and women's reproductive rights … I'll stand up for equality and women's reproductive rights.”
Sponsored a House-passed bill creating grants to modernize career and technical education curriculum.
Pa. House unanimously approves Rusnock bill to modernize Career and Technical Education programs
Public statement · Office of Rep. Jacklyn Rusnock · Jun 2, 2026 · pahouse.com
“establish the Career and Technical Education Curriculum Modernization Grant Program … My bill invests in our workforce pipeline, supports local employers and gives students the tools they need to succeed in high-demand fields.”
Proposes restarting state reimbursement for school construction (PlanCon) to ease property tax burdens.
Co-Sponsorship Memo: Open PlanCon 2.0
Government record · Pennsylvania House of Representatives · Jun 12, 2026 · palegis.us
“It is time to restart state funding for school facilities. … help reduce property tax burdens for school construction and ensure students and teachers have adequate learning environments”
Sponsored a House-passed bill requiring new warehouses to be built solar-ready, with retrofit tax credits.
PA House OKs Rusnock bill to expand solar energy to warehouses and distribution centers
Public statement · Office of Rep. Jacklyn Rusnock · Mar 23, 2026 · pahouse.com
“House Bill 1260 would require that all new warehouses and distribution centers be constructed solar-ready”
Sponsored a House-passed bill requiring insurers to tell homeowners about flood insurance and its cost.
Rusnock bill to boost flood insurance awareness passes House
Public statement · Office of Rep. Jacklyn Rusnock · Mar 25, 2026 · pahouse.com
“require insurance companies to disclose the availability and cost of flood insurance to homeowners”
Hosted a flood-risk hearing and says local flood mitigation needs more state and federal help.
Local communities ask for state, federal help after devastating floods
Public statement · Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus · pahouse.com
“this problem is bigger than they can solve at the local level, and they are asking for more help at the state and federal level.”
Supports more housing assistance funding, incentives for affordable housing and stronger tenant protections.
Rep. Jacklyn Rusnock | Biography
Government record · Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus · pahouse.com
“She is working to expand funding for housing assistance programs, incentivize affordable housing development, and strengthen tenant protections.”

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.