The Gist
Home

State

State Representative, 150th 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.

Montgomery County: Collegeville and Trappe boroughs, Lower Providence and Upper Providence townships, and part of West Norriton Township (Ward 3).

Photo of Frank J Pastella
Frank J PastellaCampaign photo — Friends of Frank Pastella

Frank J Pastella

Republican

Self-employed general contractor

The gist

  • Proposes data center rules incl. 800-ft setbacks, closed-loop cooling, a 30-ft height cap and a bitcoin mining tax.
  • Says each data center proposal should be judged on its merits, with transparency and a local voice.
  • Calls for voters to apply for every mail ballot, with a voter ID number linking application and ballot.
  • Says the state budget sends too much to Philadelphia and Harrisburg, leaving less for the rest of the state.
  • Says local emergency responders are overlooked in the annual state budget.
  • Cites thinly spread public transit and years of Route 422 construction as district problems.
  • Lists support for local businesses, public safety and accountable, transparent government as campaign focuses.
More about Frank
View sources (3)
  1. Proposes data center rules incl. 800-ft setbacks, closed-loop cooling, a 30-ft height cap and a bitcoin mining tax.

    VOTE411 Voter Guide: Pennsylvania State Representative District 150

    Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters Education Fund · Data centers answer … Data centers answer · onyourballot.vote411.org

    “I came up with a list of regulations for data centers. … Charge a tax on bit coin miners. 2.5% on every bit coin.”
  2. Says each data center proposal should be judged on its merits, with transparency and a local voice.

    Data Centers: Understanding the Facts and Listening to Our Community

    Campaign website · Friends of Frank Pastella · My Position … My Position · frankpastella.com

    “I believe every proposed project should be evaluated on its own merits. … Communities deserve transparency, accurate information, and a meaningful voice in the decision-making process.”
  3. Calls for voters to apply for every mail ballot, with a voter ID number linking application and ballot.

    VOTE411 Voter Guide: Pennsylvania State Representative District 150

    Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters Education Fund · Elections answer … Elections answer · onyourballot.vote411.org

    “I feel that mail in ballots need to be applied for 100% of the time … I'm still confused why we use paper ballots.”
  4. Says the state budget sends too much to Philadelphia and Harrisburg, leaving less for the rest of the state.

    VOTE411 Voter Guide: Pennsylvania State Representative District 150

    Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters Education Fund · State budget answer · onyourballot.vote411.org

    “They send way too much of the states' budget to cities that don't have a tax base to support their infrastructure.”
  5. Says local emergency responders are overlooked in the annual state budget.

    VOTE411 Voter Guide: Pennsylvania State Representative District 150

    Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters Education Fund · Most pressing issues answer · onyourballot.vote411.org

    “Our local emergency responders seem to get forgotten in the annual state budget.”
  6. Cites thinly spread public transit and years of Route 422 construction as district problems.

    VOTE411 Voter Guide: Pennsylvania State Representative District 150

    Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters Education Fund · Most pressing issues answer … Most pressing issues answer · onyourballot.vote411.org

    “Public transportation is spread thin … We have a major highway Rt422 running through, it's been under construction for the last 15 years.”
  7. Lists support for local businesses, public safety and accountable, transparent government as campaign focuses.

    Meet Frank | Frank Pastella for State Representative

    Campaign website · Friends of Frank Pastella · frankpastella.com

    “His campaign champions local businesses, enhances public safety, and promotes a government that is accountable and transparent.”
Photo of Joe Webster
Joe WebsterOfficial portrait — Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Joe Webster

DemocraticIncumbent

State representative · Lower Providence Township

The gist

  • Sponsored HB 2650 tying data center tax breaks to strict energy, water and community standards.
  • Calls PA elections secure; supports funding county election offices and clarifying mail-in rules (HB 499).
  • Calls for more state revenue, citing untaxed oil and gas drilling and the 'Delaware loophole'.
  • Sponsored bills to bar political spending by PA-chartered corporations and by substantially foreign-owned firms.In office
  • Sponsored HB 782 requiring utilities to disclose their votes inside the PJM regional grid operator.In office
  • Urged the state Senate in 2025 to pass the House-approved public transit funding bill.In office
  • Backs a bill barring government agents and police in Pennsylvania from masking or hiding their identities.In office
  • Sponsored HB 894 creating an apprenticeship program for veterans entering clean-energy work.In office

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

More about Joe
View sources (9)
  1. Sponsored HB 2650 tying data center tax breaks to strict energy, water and community standards.

    VOTE411 Voter Guide: Pennsylvania State Representative District 150

    Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters Education Fund · Data centers answer · onyourballot.vote411.org

    “The state legislature absolutely must establish guardrails around the power, water, and land use for data centers.”
    Co-Sponsorship Memo: Creating Strict, Enforceable Controls On Data Center Development in Pennsylvania (HB 2650)

    Government record · Pennsylvania House of Representatives · Jun 15, 2026 · palegis.us

    “establishes strict, enforceable guidelines to ensure that any developer seeking tax incentives for data center equipment in Pennsylvania meets strong standards”
  2. Calls PA elections secure; supports funding county election offices and clarifying mail-in rules (HB 499).

    VOTE411 Voter Guide: Pennsylvania State Representative District 150

    Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters Education Fund · Elections answer · onyourballot.vote411.org

    “We should fund county election services so they can be fully staffed, so all counties can keep their equipment current.”
    Co-Sponsorship Memo: Implementing the Bipartisan Joint State Government Commission Report Regarding Mail-in Ballots (HB 499)

    Government record · Pennsylvania House of Representatives · Jan 13, 2025 · palegis.us

    “I am introducing legislation to clarify and streamline the mail-in voting process in Pennsylvania.”
  3. Calls for more state revenue, citing untaxed oil and gas drilling and the 'Delaware loophole'.

    VOTE411 Voter Guide: Pennsylvania State Representative District 150

    Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters Education Fund · State budget answer … State budget answer · onyourballot.vote411.org

    “We don't tax oil and gas development (Texas, Wyoming, West Virginia do). … We allow multi-regional and international companies to move their revenue outside of PA (see Delaware loophole).”
  4. Sponsored bills to bar political spending by PA-chartered corporations and by substantially foreign-owned firms.

    Co-Sponsorship Memo: Prohibiting Political Expenditures by Corporations (HB 2728)

    Government record · Pennsylvania House of Representatives · Jun 2, 2026 · palegis.us

    “we are introducing legislation to revoke the power of corporations in Pennsylvania to make political expenditures”
    Co-Sponsorship Memo: Stopping Foreign Interference in Elections (HB 497)

    Government record · Pennsylvania House of Representatives · Jan 29, 2025 · palegis.us

    “prohibit corporations that are substantially foreign owned from making expenditures and contributions in support of the success or defeat of a candidate”
  5. Sponsored HB 782 requiring utilities to disclose their votes inside the PJM regional grid operator.

    Webster, Rabb introduce bill to increase transparency in electric supply

    Public statement · Office of Rep. Joe Webster · Mar 6, 2025 · pahouse.com

    “Pennsylvanians deserve transparency when it comes to decisions that affect their electricity bills and our state's energy future.”
  6. Urged the state Senate in 2025 to pass the House-approved public transit funding bill.

    Webster, Montgomery County Democrats demand Senate Republicans return to Harrisburg to pass critical transit funding bill

    Public statement · Office of Rep. Joe Webster · Aug 6, 2025 · pahouse.com

    “pass a full state budget that includes the critical needs for our transit systems”
  7. Backs a bill barring government agents and police in Pennsylvania from masking or hiding their identities.

    Pa. lawmakers to introduce bill to rein in masks worn by government agents

    Public statement · Office of Rep. Joe Webster · Jul 21, 2025 · pahouse.com

    “This legislation will ensure that the public is able to identify that someone is a government officer”
  8. Sponsored HB 894 creating an apprenticeship program for veterans entering clean-energy work.

    Amid energy affordability crisis, House Blue-Green Caucus launches new bill package to expand clean energy, strengthen workforce

    Public statement · Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus · Apr 13, 2026 · pahouse.com

    “sponsored by Rep. Joe Webster, D-Montgomery, creates an apprenticeship program for veterans entering the sustainability sector”

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; 6 issues covered in this race.