State
State Representative, 156th 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.
Chester County: West Chester Borough, East Bradford and West Goshen townships, and most of East Goshen Township (East Goshen 1-4 and 7-9 precincts).
Taxes & budget
Kris R. VollrathRepublican
- Calls for fiscal discipline and balanced budgets.
Chris PielliDemocratic
- Proposes new revenue from legal marijuana, a skill-game tax and closing corporate tax loopholes.
Public safety
Kris R. VollrathRepublican
- Supports ending sanctuary policies and cooperating with federal immigration authorities.
- Supports law and order and policies that uphold the rule of law.
Chris PielliDemocratic
- Supports what he calls commonsense gun safety reforms.
Education
Kris R. VollrathRepublican
No documented position found.
Chris PielliDemocratic
- Supports fair public school funding and public preschool.
Housing
Kris R. VollrathRepublican
No documented position found.
Chris PielliDemocratic
- Sponsored Act 27 of 2026, letting older adults name someone to get delinquent property tax notices.In office
Economy & jobs
Kris R. VollrathRepublican
- Says overregulation, high taxes and anti-business policies drive employers out of Pennsylvania.
Chris PielliDemocratic
- Supports raising the minimum wage; cites House passage of HB 2189.
- Sponsored a House-passed bill requiring disclosure of AI-generated content used to sell consumer goods.In office
Roads & infrastructure
Kris R. VollrathRepublican
No documented position found.
Chris PielliDemocratic
- Supports state data center rules, such as HB 1834, that leave local ordinance authority intact.
- Proposes requiring utilities to join a regional grid operator and ending the bonus paid for joining.In office
Environment & parks
Kris R. VollrathRepublican
- Opposes RGGI, which he says drives up electricity prices.
Chris PielliDemocratic
No documented position found.
Health & human services
Kris R. VollrathRepublican
No documented position found.
Chris PielliDemocratic
- Supports abortion rights and opposes Senate Bill 106, a proposed constitutional amendment.
Government & transparency
Kris R. VollrathRepublican
- Supports voter ID, stronger verification and timely ballot processing.
Chris PielliDemocratic
- Supports pre-canvassing mail ballots before Election Day and a later deadline for receiving them.
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.