State

State Representative, 187th 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.

Lehigh County: Heidelberg, Lower Macungie, Lynn, Washington and Weisenberg townships; Alburtis and Macungie boroughs; and part of Upper Macungie Township (districts 3, 7 and 8).

Candidates Compare by issue

Rachel Cuevas

Democratic

Human resources professional · Alburtis

The gist

Pledges to work to lower the cost of groceries and household essentials.
Supports building more affordable housing in the Lehigh Valley to bring down costs.
Pledges to seek lower health insurance premiums and relief from medical debt.
Opposes the spread of data centers and big-box warehouses; wants state standards that keep local authority.
Supports more state funding for public schools.
Pledges to secure grants and funding for first responders.
Calls for tiered taxes so the wealthiest Pennsylvanians pay more, to fund programs for seniors and health care.
Proposes legislation to promote apprenticeships between businesses and technical schools.

More about Rachel

View sources (3)

Pledges to work to lower the cost of groceries and household essentials.
Priorities - Rachel Cuevas for PA State Representative
Campaign website · Friends of Rachel Cuevas · Everyday Affordability · voterachelcuevas.com
“Rachel will work to lower the cost of groceries and household essentials to relieve the burden on working families.”
Supports building more affordable housing in the Lehigh Valley to bring down costs.
Priorities - Rachel Cuevas for PA State Representative
Campaign website · Friends of Rachel Cuevas · Affordable Housing · voterachelcuevas.com
“Rachel will support responsibly building more truly affordable housing in the region to bring down costs and make homeownership a reality again.”
Pledges to seek lower health insurance premiums and relief from medical debt.
Priorities - Rachel Cuevas for PA State Representative
Campaign website · Friends of Rachel Cuevas · Affordable Healthcare · voterachelcuevas.com
“Rachel will find solutions that increase benefits, bring down premiums, and free Pennsylvanians from crippling medical debt.”
Opposes the spread of data centers and big-box warehouses; wants state standards that keep local authority.
Priorities - Rachel Cuevas for PA State Representative
Campaign website · Friends of Rachel Cuevas · Protecting Farmland and Green Space · voterachelcuevas.com
“Rachel will push back on the spread of data centers and big box warehouses to make sure growth is responsible and accountable to the community.”
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Pennsylvania State Representative District 187
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I support reasonable statewide standards that protect resources while preserving local authority under the Municipal Planning Code.”
Supports more state funding for public schools.
Priorities - Rachel Cuevas for PA State Representative
Campaign website · Friends of Rachel Cuevas · Strong Public Schools · voterachelcuevas.com
“Rachel will support driving more state funding into public schools to make sure all kids, teachers, and parents are given the resources they need”
Pledges to secure grants and funding for first responders.
Priorities - Rachel Cuevas for PA State Representative
Campaign website · Friends of Rachel Cuevas · Community Safety · voterachelcuevas.com
“Rachel will secure grants, funding, and resources for first responders to help them continue doing good work in our communities.”
Calls for tiered taxes so the wealthiest Pennsylvanians pay more, to fund programs for seniors and health care.
Cuevas, Whitcomb campaign on affordability, data centers in 187th House Democratic primary
News coverage · Lehigh Valley Public Media (LehighValleyNews.com) · May 9, 2026 · lehighvalleypublicmedia.org
“What we need is a coalition to work with to make sure the taxation percentages are tiered. … raising taxes on Pennsylvania's wealthiest residents to contribute more funding toward programs supporting seniors and healthcare”
Proposes legislation to promote apprenticeships between businesses and technical schools.
Cuevas, Whitcomb campaign on affordability, data centers in 187th House Democratic primary
News coverage · Lehigh Valley Public Media (LehighValleyNews.com) · May 9, 2026 · lehighvalleypublicmedia.org
“Cuevas also said she wanted to pass legislation that would promote apprenticeships between businesses and technical schools.”

Gary Day

RepublicanIncumbent

State representative · Heidelberg Township

The gist

Backs the 2026-27 budget, saying it funds local priorities without asking families and businesses to pay more.In office
Supports keeping the EITC and Opportunity Scholarship tax credits, which he says give families school choices.In office
Voted against the revised HB 1042 on second-degree murder sentencing, saying it weakened protections for victims.In office
Proposes moving career and technical centers from sending-district control to independent governing boards.In office
Proposes letting municipalities pool residents on an opt-in basis to negotiate lower electricity rates.In office
Proposes classifying synthetic kratom and 7-OH as Schedule I controlled substances.In office
Proposes camera-based litter enforcement zones with $200 civil fines that fund roadside cleanup.In office
Proposes a PennDOT study of covered bridges, with warning signs where they endanger motorcyclists and cyclists.In office

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

More about Gary

View sources (7)

Backs the 2026-27 budget, saying it funds local priorities without asking families and businesses to pay more.
Rep. Day: 2026-27 State Budget Statement
Public statement · Office of Rep. Gary Day · Jul 14, 2026 · staterepgaryday.com
“This budget shows what's possible when we prioritize our communities without asking families and businesses to pay more.”
Supports keeping the EITC and Opportunity Scholarship tax credits, which he says give families school choices.
Rep. Day: 2026-27 State Budget Statement
Public statement · Office of Rep. Gary Day · Jul 14, 2026 · staterepgaryday.com
“We're also preserving the Educational Improvement Tax Credit and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit programs, which give families real choices in their children's education.”
Voted against the revised HB 1042 on second-degree murder sentencing, saying it weakened protections for victims.
Rep. Day: House Bill 1042 Opposition Was Necessary
Public statement · Office of Rep. Gary Day · Jul 27, 2026 · staterepgaryday.com
“A looming deadline could not justify abandoning accountability, weakening protections for victims or potentially making it easier for violent offenders to obtain release.”
Proposes moving career and technical centers from sending-district control to independent governing boards.
Co-Sponsorship Memo: CTE Independence Act
Government record · Pennsylvania House of Representatives · Aug 5, 2025 · palegis.us
“The CTE Independence Act transfers governance of each CTE school or institute to a new, independent governance board within three years”
Proposes letting municipalities pool residents on an opt-in basis to negotiate lower electricity rates.
Co-Sponsorship Memo: Municipal Electric Ratepayer Protection (MERPA) Act
Government record · Pennsylvania House of Representatives · Nov 10, 2025 · palegis.us
“enabling any borough, township, city, or county to act as brokers on behalf of their residents”
Proposes classifying synthetic kratom and 7-OH as Schedule I controlled substances.
Co-Sponsorship Memo: The Synthetic Kratom & 7-Hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) Control Act
Government record · Pennsylvania House of Representatives · Dec 15, 2025 · palegis.us
“schedule synthetic kratom and 7-Hydroxymitragynine (commonly referred to as 7-OH) as Schedule I controlled substances”
Proposes camera-based litter enforcement zones with $200 civil fines that fund roadside cleanup.
Co-Sponsorship Memo: Clean Communities and Anti-Litter Enforcement Act
Government record · Pennsylvania House of Representatives · May 8, 2026 · palegis.us
“Imposes a $200 civil penalty for littering violations detected by the system”
Proposes a PennDOT study of covered bridges, with warning signs where they endanger motorcyclists and cyclists.
Co-Sponsorship Memo: Covered Bridge Safety Study and Signage
Government record · Pennsylvania House of Representatives · Aug 18, 2025 · palegis.us
“require PennDOT to study covered bridges across the Commonwealth, identify those with potential hazards for motorcyclists and cyclists”

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.