State

State Representative, 176th 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.

Western Monroe County: Chestnuthill, Eldred, Hamilton, Jackson, Polk, Ross, Tobyhanna and Tunkhannock townships.

Candidates Compare by issue

Thomas Kucer

Democratic

Union sheet metal worker · Hamilton Township, Monroe County

The gist

Opposes developer-backed data center proposals, citing risks to gamelands, farms and well water.
Calls for state money so Monroe County can repair its roads.
Supports legislation to strengthen unions and expand worker protections.
Supports raising Pennsylvania's minimum wage so full-time workers can afford to live in the Poconos.
Wants data centers that get state money to pay prevailing wages and use accredited apprenticeships.
Wants new and existing warehouses to have filtered drainage systems and solar panels.
Supports state data center guardrails set with municipalities, since impacts cross township lines.
Proposes that the House and Senate draft budgets at the same time, then negotiate, to speed passage.

More about Thomas

View sources (3)

Opposes developer-backed data center proposals, citing risks to gamelands, farms and well water.
Tom Kucer for PA State House — 176th District
Campaign website · Friends of Tom Kucer · The Issues — Environment · tomkucerforpa.com
“Fighting against the developer backed spree of proposed data centers that are often devastating to our gamelands, farms, and even our well water.”
What Tom Stands For — Tom Kucer for PA State House
Campaign website · Friends of Tom Kucer · Environment · tomkucerforpa.com
“assure that no developer or speculator can cause tremendous harm throughout our community just for the chance at a better bottom line”
Calls for state money so Monroe County can repair its roads.
What Tom Stands For — Tom Kucer for PA State House
Campaign website · Friends of Tom Kucer · Roads & Infrastructure · tomkucerforpa.com
“Not only will Tom fight in Harrisburg to assure that Monroe County has the money to fix”
Supports legislation to strengthen unions and expand worker protections.
What Tom Stands For — Tom Kucer for PA State House
Campaign website · Friends of Tom Kucer · Working Families & Worker Protections · tomkucerforpa.com
“Tom would support legislation and efforts to strengthen our unions, build on the protections that workers have”
Supports raising Pennsylvania's minimum wage so full-time workers can afford to live in the Poconos.
What Tom Stands For — Tom Kucer for PA State House
Campaign website · Friends of Tom Kucer · Economic Opportunity · tomkucerforpa.com
“raising the minimum wage in PA so that anyone working 40 hours a week in Pennsylvania actually makes enough money to live”
Wants data centers that get state money to pay prevailing wages and use accredited apprenticeships.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Pennsylvania State Representative District 176
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania (VOTE411) · Most pressing issues · onyourballot.vote411.org
“DC's using Pa funding must adhere to Prevailing Wage laws and invest in our community by using an accredited apprenticeship”
Wants new and existing warehouses to have filtered drainage systems and solar panels.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Pennsylvania State Representative District 176
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania (VOTE411) · Most pressing issues · onyourballot.vote411.org
“New and existing warehouses should have filtered drainage systems to flow back into our waterway resources along with Solar panels.”
Supports state data center guardrails set with municipalities, since impacts cross township lines.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Pennsylvania State Representative District 176
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania (VOTE411) · Data centers … Data centers · onyourballot.vote411.org
“State legislature should most definitely enact guardrails on these DC's because most of the impacts affect other communities. … State and municipalities should work together”
Proposes that the House and Senate draft budgets at the same time, then negotiate, to speed passage.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Pennsylvania State Representative District 176
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania (VOTE411) · State budget · onyourballot.vote411.org
“why can't both branches work on their own budgets simultaneously and present them to their counterparts in a timely manner”

Jack Rader

RepublicanIncumbent

State representative · Reeders, Jackson Township, Monroe County

The gist

Says he favors bipartisan compromise and focusing state spending on education and job creation.
Called the governor's 2026-27 budget proposal unsustainable, citing spending growth and Rainy Day Fund use.In office
Supported ending Pennsylvania's RGGI participation, saying it will boost energy production and lower bills.In office
Proposes requiring large data centers to use closed-loop or other water-saving cooling systems.In office
Supported the 2025-26 budget's expansion of school choice scholarships for economically disadvantaged students.In office
Supports added SNAP and Medicaid monitoring and reporting requirements aimed at preventing fraud.In office
Sponsored HB 2679 to set a permanent Dec. 31 deadline for Property Tax/Rent Rebate applications.In office
Sponsored HB 2638 requiring telecom carriers to promptly repair damaged lines and remove tree limbs.In office

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

More about Jack

View sources (6)

Says he favors bipartisan compromise and focusing state spending on education and job creation.
Rader announces 2026 reelection bid for Monroe rep
News coverage · Times News · Jan 16, 2026 · tnonline.com
“I made it clear that we needed to come together to focus state spending on priorities like education and job creation”
Called the governor's 2026-27 budget proposal unsustainable, citing spending growth and Rainy Day Fund use.
Shapiro Budget Proposal Unsustainable, Rader Says
Public statement · Office of Rep. Jack Rader · Feb 3, 2026 · reprader.com
“The governor is proposing a 5.4% increase in the state budget with a projected revenue increase of just 1.9%. This is unsustainable … The proposed budget will reduce the Rainy Day Fund balance by approximately 60%”
Supported ending Pennsylvania's RGGI participation, saying it will boost energy production and lower bills.
Rader Releases Statement Following Vote on 2025-26 State Budget
Public statement · Office of Rep. Jack Rader · Nov 12, 2025 · reprader.com
“It removes the biggest hurdle keeping Pennsylvania from increasing energy production and enhancing the reliability of our energy grid, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).”
Proposes requiring large data centers to use closed-loop or other water-saving cooling systems.
Co-Sponsorship Memo: Data Centers Water Usage Recycling
Government record · Pennsylvania House of Representatives · Jun 2, 2026 · palegis.us
“require all large data centers to use a closed loop system to recycle their water”
Supported the 2025-26 budget's expansion of school choice scholarships for economically disadvantaged students.
Rader Releases Statement Following Vote on 2025-26 State Budget
Public statement · Office of Rep. Jack Rader · Nov 12, 2025 · reprader.com
“We are expanding school choice opportunities by doubling the number of scholarships provided for economically disadvantaged students.”
Supports added SNAP and Medicaid monitoring and reporting requirements aimed at preventing fraud.
Rader Releases Statement Following Vote on 2025-26 State Budget
Public statement · Office of Rep. Jack Rader · Nov 12, 2025 · reprader.com
“The policies included in this budget help to prevent theft and fraud by requiring more diligent monitoring and reporting.”
Sponsored HB 2679 to set a permanent Dec. 31 deadline for Property Tax/Rent Rebate applications.
Co-Sponsorship Memo: Extending the Deadline for Filing Property Tax/Rent Rebate Applications (HB 2679)
Government record · Pennsylvania House of Representatives · Jun 25, 2026 · palegis.us
“My proposal would remove this meaningless deadline and set the deadline for December 31 every year.”
Sponsored HB 2638 requiring telecom carriers to promptly repair damaged lines and remove tree limbs.
Co-Sponsorship Memo: Telecom Line – Tree Limb Remediation (HB 2638)
Government record · Pennsylvania House of Representatives · Jun 8, 2026 · palegis.us
“a telecommunications carrier must promptly remove the obstructing tree limb and repair the affected line”

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; 7 issues covered in this race.