State

State Representative, 143rd District

Vote for: 1
Term: 2 years
Candidates: 3
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.

Bucks County: Bedminster, Hilltown, Plumstead and Tinicum townships; Dublin, Perkasie, Sellersville and Silverdale boroughs; and part of New Britain Township (East, West 1 and West 2 precincts).

Candidates Compare by issue

Taxes & budget

Tim HayesDemocratic
- Proposes withholding legislators' pay when the state budget is not passed by June 30.
Chris GambinoForward Independent
- Proposes a Pennsylvania standard deduction to give working families direct tax relief.
- Calls for earlier budget talks with clear deadlines and public reporting on fiscal projections.
Shelby LabsRepublican
- Proposes a temporary sales tax exemption for personal care items such as soap and shampoo.In office

Public safety

Tim HayesDemocratic
- Supports background checks and red flag laws.
Chris GambinoForward Independent
- Supports background checks, safe storage and mental health support to prevent school violence.
Shelby LabsRepublican
- Proposes state funding for a technical school's EMS training program for high school students.In office

Education

Tim HayesDemocratic
- Supports fully funding public schools and opposes shifting public money to charter or private schools.
Chris GambinoForward Independent
- Supports directing state school funding based on student need.
Shelby LabsRepublican
- Cites bipartisan record school funding paired with property tax relief.

Housing

Tim HayesDemocratic
No documented position found.
Chris GambinoForward Independent
- Proposes seller-side housing incentives to help first-time buyers and older homeowners.
Shelby LabsRepublican
No documented position found.

Economy & jobs

Tim HayesDemocratic
- Supports raising the state minimum wage to $15 an hour.
Chris GambinoForward Independent
No documented position found.
Shelby LabsRepublican
No documented position found.

Roads & infrastructure

Tim HayesDemocratic
- Calls for requiring data centers to supply their own energy and report their water use.
Chris GambinoForward Independent
- Calls for interim state data center standards and developer-funded grid and water upgrades.
Shelby LabsRepublican
No documented position found.

Environment & parks

Tim HayesDemocratic
- Proposes more state park and forest funding, support for the Clean Streams Fund and eliminating PFAS.
Chris GambinoForward Independent
No documented position found.
Shelby LabsRepublican
- Supported repealing RGGI, calling it a tax increase, and says she backs more energy production.

Health & human services

Tim HayesDemocratic
No documented position found.
Chris GambinoForward Independent
- Supports banning conversion therapy for minors.
Shelby LabsRepublican
- Joined a package to ease child care regulations, which the sponsors say raise costs.In office

Government & transparency

Tim HayesDemocratic
- Supports the current mail voting law plus more drop boxes, pre-canvassing and ballot curing.
- Supports campaign contribution limits, legislative term limits and a ban on unreported gifts to lawmakers.
Chris GambinoForward Independent
- Supports opening primaries to independent voters, plus fusion voting and ranked-choice voting.
Shelby LabsRepublican
No documented position found.

Courts & justice

Tim HayesDemocratic
No documented position found.
Chris GambinoForward Independent
No documented position found.
Shelby LabsRepublican
- Proposes "Joey's Law," raising mandatory minimum sentences for homicide by vehicle while DUI.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; 10 issues covered in this race.