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State Representative, 161st 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.

Delaware County only: Aston, Chester and Nether Providence townships; Brookhaven, Rose Valley and Upland boroughs; part of Middletown Township (District 1 precincts 1-3 and District 2 precincts 1-2); and part of Ridley Township (Ward 1 precinct 1, Ward 2 precincts 1-3, Ward 5 precinct 1 and Ward 7 precincts 1-2).

Photo of John Mancinelli, Jr.
John Mancinelli, Jr.Campaign photo — submitted by the candidate to VOTE411

John Mancinelli, Jr.

Republican

Small business owner; Penn-Delco School Board director

The gist

  • Calls for stronger state support for EMS and more accountability for health care funding after hospital closures.
  • Supports giving counties time before Election Day to prepare mail ballots, with strict security and observation rules.
  • Supports keeping voter-verifiable paper ballots, pre-election equipment testing and post-election audits.
  • Calls for earlier budget negotiations, more spending transparency and accountability for program results.
  • Supports statewide data center standards to protect ratepayers and resources while keeping local land-use control.
  • Calls for addressing the cost of living and doing business, supporting public schools and helping small businesses grow.
More about John
View sources (1)
  1. Calls for stronger state support for EMS and more accountability for health care funding after hospital closures.

    Pennsylvania State Representative District 161 — VOTE411 Voter Guide (John Mancinelli, Jr.)

    Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania (VOTE411) · Most pressing issues · onyourballot.vote411.org

    “I would work to strengthen state support for EMS and improve accountability for healthcare funding.”
  2. Supports giving counties time before Election Day to prepare mail ballots, with strict security and observation rules.

    Pennsylvania State Representative District 161 — VOTE411 Voter Guide (John Mancinelli, Jr.)

    Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania (VOTE411) · Elections question · onyourballot.vote411.org

    “I would also support giving counties reasonable time before Election Day to prepare mail ballots for counting, with strict security and observation requirements”
  3. Supports keeping voter-verifiable paper ballots, pre-election equipment testing and post-election audits.

    Pennsylvania State Representative District 161 — VOTE411 Voter Guide (John Mancinelli, Jr.)

    Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania (VOTE411) · Elections question · onyourballot.vote411.org

    “Pennsylvania should continue using voter-verifiable paper ballots, pre-election equipment testing and post-election audits.”
  4. Calls for earlier budget negotiations, more spending transparency and accountability for program results.

    Pennsylvania State Representative District 161 — VOTE411 Voter Guide (John Mancinelli, Jr.)

    Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania (VOTE411) · State budget question · onyourballot.vote411.org

    “I would support beginning serious budget negotiations earlier, greater transparency about spending priorities and more accountability for whether programs are producing results.”
  5. Supports statewide data center standards to protect ratepayers and resources while keeping local land-use control.

    Pennsylvania State Representative District 161 — VOTE411 Voter Guide (John Mancinelli, Jr.)

    Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania (VOTE411) · Data centers question … Data centers question · onyourballot.vote411.org

    “I support reasonable statewide standards for transparency, utility planning and protection of ratepayers and natural resources. … Harrisburg should not simply override municipalities on local land-use decisions.”
  6. Calls for addressing the cost of living and doing business, supporting public schools and helping small businesses grow.

    Pennsylvania State Representative District 161 — VOTE411 Voter Guide (John Mancinelli, Jr.)

    Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania (VOTE411) · Most pressing issues · onyourballot.vote411.org

    “I also want to address the rising cost of living and doing business, protect taxpayers, support strong public schools and help small businesses grow.”
Photo of Leanne Krueger
Leanne KruegerOfficial portrait — Pennsylvania House of Representatives (palegis.us)

Leanne Krueger

DemocraticIncumbent

State representative · Wallingford

The gist

  • Voted for eight House bills to put guardrails on data centers, none of which have passed the Senate.
  • Supports protecting access to mail-in voting under Pennsylvania law.
  • Opposes PECO's proposed rate hikes and says she is fighting to reduce energy costs and hold corporations accountable.
  • Calls for a state budget that invests in the things people need most.
  • Sponsored H.B. 994 to ban buying and selling parts of protected animal species, such as ivory, with civil penalties.In office
  • Backs state funding for PFAS removal at Ridley's water treatment plant, saying everyone deserves safe, clean water.In office
  • Co-authored a proposal to repeal Act 12 and pause sales of public water and sewer systems to for-profit companies.In office

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

More about Leanne
View sources (5)
  1. Voted for eight House bills to put guardrails on data centers, none of which have passed the Senate.

    Pennsylvania State Representative District 161 — VOTE411 Voter Guide (Leanne Krueger)

    Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania (VOTE411) · Data centers question · onyourballot.vote411.org

    “I have voted for eight bills to put guardrails on data centers … none of these bills have passed the State Senate.”
  2. Supports protecting access to mail-in voting under Pennsylvania law.

    Pennsylvania State Representative District 161 — VOTE411 Voter Guide (Leanne Krueger)

    Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania (VOTE411) · Elections question · onyourballot.vote411.org

    “we need to protect the access to mail in voting that is Pennsylvania state law”
  3. Opposes PECO's proposed rate hikes and says she is fighting to reduce energy costs and hold corporations accountable.

    Pennsylvania State Representative District 161 — VOTE411 Voter Guide (Leanne Krueger)

    Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania (VOTE411) · Most pressing issues · onyourballot.vote411.org

    “I am fighting to reduce energy costs, protect healthcare and hold big corporations accountable.”
    Delaware County Legislative Delegation responds to PECO's proposed rate hikes

    Public statement · Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus · Apr 1, 2026 · pahouse.com

    “We will not unduly allow PECO to add to their burden.”
  4. Calls for a state budget that invests in the things people need most.

    Pennsylvania State Representative District 161 — VOTE411 Voter Guide (Leanne Krueger)

    Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania (VOTE411) · State budget question · onyourballot.vote411.org

    “Budgets are really a statement of values. Pennsylvania's state budget should invest in the things that people need most.”
  5. Sponsored H.B. 994 to ban buying and selling parts of protected animal species, such as ivory, with civil penalties.

    Krueger: Let's end the demand for trafficked animal parts in PA

    Public statement · Office of Rep. Leanne Krueger · Mar 3, 2026 · pahouse.com

    “House Bill 994 would more comprehensively prohibit both the sale and purchase of protected animal parts, such as ivory and taxidermied wildlife”
  6. Backs state funding for PFAS removal at Ridley's water treatment plant, saying everyone deserves safe, clean water.

    Krueger, Delloso: Ridley PFAS mitigation bolstered by $35 million in state funding

    Public statement · Office of Rep. Leanne Krueger · Oct 15, 2025 · pahouse.com

    “Everyone deserves access to safe, clean water, and this funding will help us continue to solve the issues we've been facing.”
  7. Co-authored a proposal to repeal Act 12 and pause sales of public water and sewer systems to for-profit companies.

    Co-Sponsorship Memo: Standing Up for Rate Payers - Restoring Fairness and Accountability in How Our Public Water Systems are Managed

    Government record · Pennsylvania House of Representatives · Aug 27, 2025 · palegis.us

    “I am introducing legislation that pauses the sale of future systems through a repeal of Act 12 and a year-long study”

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.