State

State Representative, 128th 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.

Southern and southeastern Berks County: Amity, Caernarvon, Douglass, Robeson and Union townships, Birdsboro and New Morgan boroughs, and parts of Cumru and Exeter townships.

Candidates Compare by issue

Andy Wagner

Democratic

Teacher

The gist

Proposes eliminating state standardized testing in favor of competency certificates.
Calls for state funding to renovate aging school buildings and for equitable school funding.
Proposes a 1% state income tax cut for first responders to help recruit and retain them.
Supports developing timber, natural gas, oil, coal, solar and hydro energy to lower costs.
Calls emissions testing on brand-new vehicles a tax.
Pledges to work against water and electricity rate hikes.
Supports making primary and general election days holidays to help people vote.
Supports adding state safeguards on data centers alongside local control.

More about Andy

View sources (2)

Proposes eliminating state standardized testing in favor of competency certificates.
Andrew Wagner for PA House District 128 — Our Platform
Campaign website · Wagner Action Committee · Eliminate State Standardized Testing · wagnerworks4pa.org
“It's time to say goodbye to standardized testing and instead earn certificates that demonstrate competency for jobs and higher education.”
Calls for state funding to renovate aging school buildings and for equitable school funding.
Andrew Wagner for PA House District 128 — Our Platform
Campaign website · Wagner Action Committee · Modernize School Infrastructure … Fair Funding for All Schools · wagnerworks4pa.org
“I'll advocate for funding to renovate aging school buildings across our school districts. … I'll fight for equitable state education funding to ensure every child has the resources to succeed.”
Proposes a 1% state income tax cut for first responders to help recruit and retain them.
Andrew Wagner for PA House District 128 — Our Platform
Campaign website · Wagner Action Committee · Reward and Recruit through Lower Income Taxes · wagnerworks4pa.org
“I'll propose a 1% reduction in State Income Tax for First Responders to help recruit and retain these vital professionals.”
Supports developing timber, natural gas, oil, coal, solar and hydro energy to lower costs.
Andrew Wagner for PA House District 128 — Our Platform
Campaign website · Wagner Action Committee · Maximize Responsible Energy Production · wagnerworks4pa.org
“I'll support balanced development of timber, natural gas, oil, coal, solar, and hydro.”
Calls emissions testing on brand-new vehicles a tax.
Andrew Wagner for PA House District 128 — Our Platform
Campaign website · Wagner Action Committee · Eliminate State Emission Tax on New Car Purchases · wagnerworks4pa.org
“Emission testing on brand-new vehicles is a tax.”
Pledges to work against water and electricity rate hikes.
Andrew Wagner for PA House District 128 — Our Platform
Campaign website · Wagner Action Committee · Fighting for Our Municipalities · wagnerworks4pa.org
“I'm committed to keeping water and electricity utility prices down.”
Supports making primary and general election days holidays to help people vote.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Pennsylvania State Representative District 128
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania (VOTE411) · Elections … Elections · onyourballot.vote411.org
“make election days (general and primary) holidays … we should not disenfranchise or impede citizens from casting their vote”
Supports adding state safeguards on data centers alongside local control.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Pennsylvania State Representative District 128
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania (VOTE411) · Data centers · onyourballot.vote411.org
“having another layer of safeguarding related to keeping data centers in check from being a detriment to communities is needed”

Mark M. Gillen

RepublicanIncumbent

State representative

The gist

Sponsored a constitutional amendment to eliminate property taxes and says he will keep pushing for it.
Proposes capping water and sewer rate increases; testified against a PA American Water rate hike.
Calls for on-time, balanced budgets and opposes spending down the Rainy Day Fund on one-time costs.
Supports requiring voters to show identification before voting.
Says he supported House bills to keep data centers from being built in the midst of communities.
Proposes a constitutional amendment widening the property tax exemption for 100% disabled veterans.In office
Proposes making it simple assault to intentionally spit or expel bodily fluids on another person.In office
Supports funding more state police trooper classes and law enforcement resources.In office

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

More about Mark

View sources (6)

Sponsored a constitutional amendment to eliminate property taxes and says he will keep pushing for it.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Pennsylvania State Representative District 128
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania (VOTE411) · Most pressing issues · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I will continue to press for property tax elimination.”
Gillen Backs First Responders, Calls for Fiscal Responsibility
Public statement · Office of Rep. Mark Gillen · repgillen.com
“I urge Shapiro to champion my proposed constitutional amendment to eliminate property taxes”
Proposes capping water and sewer rate increases; testified against a PA American Water rate hike.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Pennsylvania State Representative District 128
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania (VOTE411) · Most pressing issues · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I testified at a Public Utility Commission hearing against the atrocious rate increase propose by PA American Water.”
Co-Sponsorship Memo: Rate Increase Cap for Water and Wastewater
Government record · Pennsylvania House of Representatives · Dec 17, 2025 · palegis.us
“This legislation establishes a cap on the amount these utilities can raise the price of this essential service”
Calls for on-time, balanced budgets and opposes spending down the Rainy Day Fund on one-time costs.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Pennsylvania State Representative District 128
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania (VOTE411) · State budget · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Pennsylvania needs on-time, balanced state budgets”
Gillen Issues Statement on 2026-27 State Budget
Public statement · Office of Rep. Mark Gillen · repgillen.com
“Spending that account down for one-time expenses is unwise, and I have resisted such efforts this year”
Supports requiring voters to show identification before voting.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Pennsylvania State Representative District 128
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania (VOTE411) · Elections · onyourballot.vote411.org
“It is reasonable to expect that voters should produce identification before voting.”
Says he supported House bills to keep data centers from being built in the midst of communities.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Pennsylvania State Representative District 128
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania (VOTE411) · Data centers · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I have supported PA House bills that would prevent data centers from being built in the midst of our community.”
Proposes a constitutional amendment widening the property tax exemption for 100% disabled veterans.
Co-Sponsorship Memo: Disabled Real Estate Tax Exemption Program Veterans Community Updates
Government record · Pennsylvania House of Representatives · Jan 29, 2026 · palegis.us
“amend the Pennsylvania state constitution to ensure the continued property tax benefit to disabled veterans … Removing the wartime provision from the program”
Proposes making it simple assault to intentionally spit or expel bodily fluids on another person.
Co-Sponsorship Memo: Increasing criminal penalties for spitting or expelling bodily fluids on another person
Government record · Pennsylvania House of Representatives · Jul 13, 2026 · palegis.us
“making it the crime of Simple Assault to intentionally cause another to come into contact with blood, seminal fluid, saliva, urine or feces”
Supports funding more state police trooper classes and law enforcement resources.
Gillen Backs First Responders, Calls for Fiscal Responsibility
Public statement · Office of Rep. Mark Gillen · repgillen.com
“I fully support efforts to enhance law enforcement resources in our communities.”

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; 8 issues covered in this race.