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State Representative, 137th 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.

Central Northampton County: Bethlehem, Lower Nazareth and Upper Nazareth townships, Nazareth and Tatamy boroughs, most of Palmer Township and part of Hanover Township.

CandidatesCompare by issue

Taxes & budget

  • Jeff WarrenDemocratic

    • Says legislators should be required to stay in session until a state budget is enacted.

  • Joe EmrickRepublican

    • Voted for the 2026-27 state budget, noting it had no new or increased broad-based taxes.In office
    • Sponsored a bill returning table-game tax revenue to property tax relief for homeowners.In office

Public safety

  • Jeff WarrenDemocratic

    • Pledges more funding for police, fire departments and EMS.

  • Joe EmrickRepublican

    No documented position found.

Education

  • Jeff WarrenDemocratic

    • Calls for more state school funding to expand opportunities and ease local property taxes.

  • Joe EmrickRepublican

    • Sponsored a bill requiring colleges to notify students in advance of tuition increases.In office

Housing

  • Jeff WarrenDemocratic

    • Promises to focus on living costs by expanding attainable housing, child care and lower health costs.

  • Joe EmrickRepublican

    No documented position found.

Economy & jobs

  • Jeff WarrenDemocratic

    • Opposes right-to-work policies and supports collective bargaining rights.

  • Joe EmrickRepublican

    • Sponsored a bill letting voters approve or reject large warehouse developments by local referendum.In office

Roads & infrastructure

  • Jeff WarrenDemocratic

    No documented position found.

  • Joe EmrickRepublican

    • Sponsored a bill giving the Governor veto power over Pennsylvania's Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge commissioners.In office

Environment & parks

  • Jeff WarrenDemocratic

    • Supports statewide data center standards for power and water use and mandatory environmental reviews.
    • Pledges to keep preserving farmland and open space with local communities.

  • Joe EmrickRepublican

    • Supported the 2025-26 budget deal repealing Pennsylvania's entry into RGGI.In office

Health & human services

  • Jeff WarrenDemocratic

    No documented position found.

  • Joe EmrickRepublican

    • Supports stricter benefit-integrity checks in public health programs to cut costs.In office

Government & transparency

  • Jeff WarrenDemocratic

    • Supports in-person early voting and more time for counties to process mail ballots.

  • Joe EmrickRepublican

    • Co-sponsored an election bill package responding to Northampton County voting problems.In office

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.