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State Representative, 165th 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: Media, Morton and Swarthmore boroughs, Springfield and Upper Providence townships, and the southern part of Marple Township (Ward 4 precinct 2 and Wards 5-7).

CandidatesCompare by issue

Deirdre McCleary

Republican

Morton Borough

The gist

  • Pledges to support seniors.
  • Pledges to address affordability and help small businesses grow.
  • Opposes tax increases she calls harmful to families and seniors.
  • Pledges to support police, firefighters and EMS.
  • Opposes home-purchase aid for people in the U.S. illegally; wants housing programs reserved for legal residents.
More about Deirdre
View sources (4)

  1. Pledges to support seniors.

    Deirdre McCleary for State Representative (Facebook post: platform for PA 165th district)

    Candidate social media · Deirdre McCleary for State Representative · Jul 15, 2026 · facebook.com

    “When elected to represent the 165th District, I commit to supporting our seniors, addressing affordability, and supporting our police and first responders!”

  2. Pledges to address affordability and help small businesses grow.

    Deirdre McCleary for State Representative (Facebook post: platform for PA 165th district)

    Candidate social media · Deirdre McCleary for State Representative · Jul 15, 2026 · facebook.com

    “I commit to supporting our seniors, addressing affordability”
    Deirdre McCleary for State Representative (Facebook post: fight for you in Harrisburg)

    Candidate social media · Deirdre McCleary for State Representative · Jul 10, 2026 · facebook.com

    “help promote small business growth”

  3. Opposes tax increases she calls harmful to families and seniors.

    Deirdre McCleary for State Representative (Facebook post: fight for you in Harrisburg)

    Candidate social media · Deirdre McCleary for State Representative · Jul 10, 2026 · facebook.com

    “help promote small business growth and stopping harmful tax increases for families and seniors.”

  4. Pledges to support police, firefighters and EMS.

    Deirdre McCleary for State Representative (Facebook post: first responders Night Out)

    Candidate social media · Deirdre McCleary for State Representative · Aug 4, 2026 · facebook.com

    “As your State Representative in Harrisburg, I'll fight to support our police, firefighters, and EMS”

  5. Opposes home-purchase aid for people in the U.S. illegally; wants housing programs reserved for legal residents.

    Deirdre McCleary for State Representative (Facebook page)

    Candidate social media · Deirdre McCleary for State Representative · Post of Sept. 23, 2026 · facebook.com

    “The corrective step is to reserve housing programs for those who already belong here by law.”
Photo of Jennifer O'Mara
Jennifer O'MaraOfficial portrait — Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Jennifer O'Mara

DemocraticIncumbent

State representative · Springfield Township

The gist

  • Calls for a higher minimum wage, a state paid family leave program, and investment in transit and affordable housing.
  • Supports expanding early and mail-in voting, automatic voter registration, and letting independents vote in primaries.
  • Supports requiring a vote on a budget bill within a set time after the other chamber sends it over.
  • Supports state data center laws on energy and water use, plus model local ordinances (HB 2151).
  • Sponsored the Family Care Act (HB 200), passed by the House, to create paid family and medical leave insurance.In office
  • Backed a provision in HB 1505, passed by both chambers, requiring schools to notify parents of bullying incidents.In office
  • Sponsored the PARENT Act (HB 836), passed by the House, barring state policies that limit access to IVF.In office
  • Sponsored the House bill to join the Interstate Counseling Compact; the Senate version passed both chambers.In office

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

More about Jennifer
View sources (5)

  1. Calls for a higher minimum wage, a state paid family leave program, and investment in transit and affordable housing.

    Pennsylvania State Representative District 165 — VOTE411 Voter Guide

    Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org

    “by increasing the minimum wage, creating a paid family leave program in the state, and investing in mass transit and affordable housing”

  2. Supports expanding early and mail-in voting, automatic voter registration, and letting independents vote in primaries.

    Pennsylvania State Representative District 165 — VOTE411 Voter Guide

    Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org

    “I would support bills to expand early voting, no excuse absentee voting, and mail-in voting … I would also support automatic voter registration and allowing Independent voters to participate in primary elections.”

  3. Supports requiring a vote on a budget bill within a set time after the other chamber sends it over.

    Pennsylvania State Representative District 165 — VOTE411 Voter Guide

    Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org

    “require a vote on a budget bill in a certain time period after it is sent from either chamber”

  4. Supports state data center laws on energy and water use, plus model local ordinances (HB 2151).

    Pennsylvania State Representative District 165 — VOTE411 Voter Guide

    Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org

    “Yes, I believe states should enact laws concerning the impact of Data Centers on our environment. … This bill would require DCED to develop model ordinances to assist municipalities with regulating data centers.”

  5. Sponsored the Family Care Act (HB 200), passed by the House, to create paid family and medical leave insurance.

    House approves Family Care Act

    Public statement · Office of Rep. Jennifer O'Mara · Mar 25, 2026 · pahouse.com

    “to bring economic stability to more working families by creating a family and medical leave insurance program in Pennsylvania”

  6. Backed a provision in HB 1505, passed by both chambers, requiring schools to notify parents of bullying incidents.

    O'Mara proposal to require parental notification of bullying passes General Assembly

    Public statement · Office of Rep. Jennifer O'Mara · Jul 12, 2026 · pahouse.com

    “require schools to establish a procedure for investigating all alleged bullying and cyberbullying incidents and to immediately notify parents and legal guardians”

  7. Sponsored the PARENT Act (HB 836), passed by the House, barring state policies that limit access to IVF.

    House approves O'Mara bill to protect rights to fertility treatments in PA

    Public statement · Office of Rep. Jennifer O'Mara · Jun 9, 2026 · pahouse.com

    “would prohibit the commonwealth from creating policies that limit access to assistive reproductive technology such as IVF”

  8. Sponsored the House bill to join the Interstate Counseling Compact; the Senate version passed both chambers.

    O'Mara applauds passage of bill to provide greater access to mental health treatment

    Public statement · Office of Rep. Jennifer O'Mara · Jun 30, 2026 · pahouse.com

    “Pennsylvanians desperately need greater access to mental health providers, which is why I championed this legislation in the House”

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; 8 issues covered in this race.