State

State Representative, 145th 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.

Bucks County (Upper Bucks): Bridgeton, Durham, East Rockhill, Haycock, Milford, Nockamixon, Richland, Springfield and West Rockhill townships, and Quakertown, Richlandtown, Riegelsville, Trumbauersville and Telford (Bucks County portion) boroughs.

Candidates Compare by issue

Rebecca Prendergast

Independent Party

Entrepreneur · Upper Bucks County

The gist

Calls for a moratorium on data center development until protections are in place.
Calls for tax policies that keep Upper Bucks affordable and let seniors stay in their homes.
Pledges to fight rising health care, child care, housing, utility and property tax costs.
Supports strengthening public schools regardless of a family's zip code or income.
Proposes supporting small businesses and revitalizing communities such as Quakertown.
Supports investing in police, first responders, emergency services and local infrastructure.
Pledges to put the district ahead of party politics and to demand transparency.

More about Rebecca

View sources (3)

Calls for a moratorium on data center development until protections are in place.
Independent Rebecca Prendergast Announces Campaign In 145th House District
News coverage · Doylestown Patch · Aug 10, 2026 · patch.com
“Prendergast also supports a full stop on data-center development until protections are established for residents, workers, natural resources, the electrical grid, and taxpayers.”
Independent Candidate Rebecca Prendergast Enters Pa. House Race
News coverage · MyChesCo · Aug 7, 2026 · mychesco.com
“Upper Bucks should not become a testing ground for unchecked data-center development”
Calls for tax policies that keep Upper Bucks affordable and let seniors stay in their homes.
Independent Rebecca Prendergast Announces Campaign In 145th House District
News coverage · Doylestown Patch · Aug 10, 2026 · patch.com
“My campaign will fight for fair, responsible tax policies that make Upper Bucks more affordable for every generation”
Pledges to fight rising health care, child care, housing, utility and property tax costs.
Rebecca Prendergast for State House
Campaign website · Rebecca Prendergast for State House · prendergastforpa.com
“Make it easier for families and seniors to afford life here by fighting rising healthcare, childcare, housing, utility, and property tax pressures.”
Supports strengthening public schools regardless of a family's zip code or income.
Rebecca Prendergast for State House
Campaign website · Rebecca Prendergast for State House · prendergastforpa.com
“She believes every child deserves a high-quality education regardless of their zip code or family income.”
Proposes supporting small businesses and revitalizing communities such as Quakertown.
Rebecca Prendergast for State House
Campaign website · Rebecca Prendergast for State House · prendergastforpa.com
“Strengthen our local economy by supporting small businesses, revitalizing communities like Quakertown, and bringing investment and good jobs back to the district.”
Supports investing in police, first responders, emergency services and local infrastructure.
Rebecca Prendergast for State House
Campaign website · Rebecca Prendergast for State House · prendergastforpa.com
“including public schools, our police, first responders, emergency services, and the infrastructure our towns depend on”
Pledges to put the district ahead of party politics and to demand transparency.
Rebecca Prendergast for State House
Campaign website · Rebecca Prendergast for State House · prendergastforpa.com
“Put the 145th ahead of party politics by demanding transparency, rejecting special interest control”

Craig Staats

RepublicanIncumbent

State representative · Richland Township

The gist

Supports requiring identification to vote.
Says data center land use decisions belong with local officials, and projects must meet their own needs.
Supported ending Pennsylvania's participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
Opposed using the Rainy Day Fund for ongoing costs in the governor's 2026 plan; says reserves are for emergencies.In office
Backed the 2026-27 budget, citing no broad-based tax increases and no use of the Rainy Day Fund.In office
Voted against HB 1042 on felony murder sentencing, citing public safety and victims' rights.In office
Co-sponsors HB 158, which would bar students of the male sex from teams designated for females.In office
Raised privacy and parental-rights concerns about proposed Department of Health disease rules.In office

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

More about Craig

View sources (7)

Supports requiring identification to vote.
Pennsylvania State Representative District 145 — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania (VOTE411) · Elections · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I support requiring identification to vote because it is a reasonable step that helps verify eligibility and strengthens trust in the outcome.”
Says data center land use decisions belong with local officials, and projects must meet their own needs.
Pennsylvania State Representative District 145 — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania (VOTE411) · Data centers · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Local officials are in the best position to decide what fits their community.”
Supported ending Pennsylvania's participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
Craig Staats for State Representative
Campaign website · Staats for State Rep · Lowering Everyday Costs for Hardworking Families · staatsforstaterep.com
“ended participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, preventing an energy tax that would have driven up electricity and heating costs”
Opposed using the Rainy Day Fund for ongoing costs in the governor's 2026 plan; says reserves are for emergencies.
Staats Raises Concerns about Governor's Budget Proposal
Public statement · Office of Rep. Craig Staats · Feb 3, 2026 · repstaats.com
“avoids draining reserve funds that should be saved for true emergencies”
Backed the 2026-27 budget, citing no broad-based tax increases and no use of the Rainy Day Fund.
Staats Highlights Fiscal Responsibility, Education and Infrastructure Investments
Public statement · Office of Rep. Craig Staats · Jul 13, 2026 · repstaats.com
“a budget that protects taxpayers without raising broad-based taxes or using the Rainy Day Fund”
Voted against HB 1042 on felony murder sentencing, citing public safety and victims' rights.
Staats Opposes Felony Murder Sentencing Bill Over Public Safety Concerns
Public statement · Office of Rep. Craig Staats · Jul 24, 2026 · repstaats.com
“I could not support legislation that raises serious concerns about public safety and the rights of crime victims.”
Co-sponsors HB 158, which would bar students of the male sex from teams designated for females.
Staats Calls on House Majority to Bring Women's Sports Legislation Up for a Vote
Public statement · Office of Rep. Craig Staats · Sep 2, 2026 · repstaats.com
“I support protecting fairness and opportunities for female athletes.”
Raised privacy and parental-rights concerns about proposed Department of Health disease rules.
Staats Raises Concerns with Proposed Department of Health Regulations
Public statement · Office of Rep. Craig Staats · Sep 23, 2026 · repstaats.com
“There are some serious questions here about privacy, parental rights and just how much authority we are giving a state agency”

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.