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State Representative, 22nd 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 only: part of Allentown (wards 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 14 and 15 and parts of wards 8 and 11) and part of Salisbury Township (wards 1 and 2 and part of ward 3).

Photo of Ce Ce Gerlach
Ce Ce GerlachCampaign photo — Ce-Ce for PA

Ce Ce Gerlach

Democratic

Case manager; Allentown City Council member · Allentown

The gist

  • Supports rent stabilization limiting how much landlords can raise rent.
  • Supports renewed home repair funding and inclusive zoning laws.
  • Proposes banning the use of artificial intelligence to set or raise grocery prices.
  • Proposes taxing the wealthiest and closing the "Delaware loophole" to fund schools and housing.
  • Supports automatic and same-day voter registration, expanded early voting and an Election Day holiday.
  • Supports campaign finance reform and publicly funded elections.
  • Supports withholding state representatives' pay when the budget deadline is missed.
  • Proposes requiring data centers to use renewable energy, study impacts and sign community benefit agreements.
More about Ce
View sources (3)
  1. Supports rent stabilization limiting how much landlords can raise rent.

    Pennsylvania State Representative District 22 — VOTE411 Voter Guide

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

    “I will fight to pass rent stabilization because stable rents mean stable communities and successful schools.”
    ISSUES | Ce-Ce for PA

    Campaign website · Ce-Ce for PA · ceceforpa.com

    “Stop High Rent Increases by limiting the amount that landlords can raise the rent.”
  2. Supports renewed home repair funding and inclusive zoning laws.

    Pennsylvania State Representative District 22 — VOTE411 Voter Guide

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

    “We must renew home repair funding to help low and moderate homeowners stay in their homes.”
    Tiburcio, Gerlach focus on housing, tax policy in Democratic primary for 22nd House seat

    News coverage · LehighValleyNews.com (Lehigh Valley Public Media) · lehighvalleynews.com

    “She has talked about her own experiences with homelessness, and said she would support inclusive zoning laws in Pennsylvania.”
  3. Proposes banning the use of artificial intelligence to set or raise grocery prices.

    Pennsylvania State Representative District 22 — VOTE411 Voter Guide

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

    “Corporations shouldn't be allowed to use artificial intelligence to inflate our grocery prices. I will fight to ban this practice.”
  4. Proposes taxing the wealthiest and closing the "Delaware loophole" to fund schools and housing.

    Tiburcio, Gerlach focus on housing, tax policy in Democratic primary for 22nd House seat

    News coverage · LehighValleyNews.com (Lehigh Valley Public Media) · lehighvalleynews.com

    “We need to tax their wealth. Those funds will then be used to fund schools, housing. … That fight includes closing the "Delaware loophole,"”
  5. Supports automatic and same-day voter registration, expanded early voting and an Election Day holiday.

    Pennsylvania State Representative District 22 — VOTE411 Voter Guide

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

    “I support automatic and same day registration, expanded early voting, language access, mail-in voting and making election day a holiday”
  6. Supports campaign finance reform and publicly funded elections.

    Pennsylvania State Representative District 22 — VOTE411 Voter Guide

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

    “I also support campaign finance reform and publicly funded elections because big money hijacks democracy.”
  7. Supports withholding state representatives' pay when the budget deadline is missed.

    Pennsylvania State Representative District 22 — VOTE411 Voter Guide

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

    “I support earlier public negotiations, clear deadlines and consequences for missing them including not getting paid as a State Representative.”
  8. Proposes requiring data centers to use renewable energy, study impacts and sign community benefit agreements.

    Pennsylvania State Representative District 22 — VOTE411 Voter Guide

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

    “I support requiring data centers to use 100% renewable energy, conduct independent environmental impact studies, conserve water, and enter binding community benefit agreements”
Photo of Robert E Smith Jr
Robert E Smith JrCampaign photo — submitted by the candidate to VOTE411

Robert E Smith Jr

Republican

Program specialist, New Vitae Wellness and Recovery · Allentown (East Side)

The gist

  • Proposes cutting property taxes with revenue from regulated skill games and legal recreational cannabis.
  • Calls for abolishing Allentown's Neighborhood Improvement Zone and returning its tax revenue to residents.
  • Supports suspending legislators' pay and keeping them in session until a budget passes.
  • Supports zoning that protects open space and makes developers pay for infrastructure upgrades.
  • Pledges regular town halls, office hours, listening sessions and bilingual district office staff.
  • Said he would vote for a state ban on masks for federal immigration officers.
  • Supports wider Narcan access, including in libraries, and restoring drug education in schools.
  • Says unsheltered residents need permanent homes, not just relocation; backs more state housing aid.
More about Robert
View sources (2)
  1. Proposes cutting property taxes with revenue from regulated skill games and legal recreational cannabis.

    Pennsylvania State Representative District 22 — VOTE411 Voter Guide

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

    “I advocate for lowering property taxes without raising sales or income taxes by increasing state revenue through skill games and recreational cannabis.”
    Allentown special election: Republican Smith makes his case on ICE, taxes and homelessness in 22nd District race

    News coverage · Lehigh Daily · Feb 23, 2026 · lehighdaily.com

    “Smith said he backs Gov. Josh Shapiro's proposal to legalize recreational marijuana and regulate games of chance to generate revenue”
  2. Calls for abolishing Allentown's Neighborhood Improvement Zone and returning its tax revenue to residents.

    Allentown special election: Republican Smith makes his case on ICE, taxes and homelessness in 22nd District race

    News coverage · Lehigh Daily · Feb 23, 2026 · lehighdaily.com

    “On the Neighborhood Improvement Zone, Smith called for abolishing the NIZ and returning tax revenue to residents.”
  3. Supports suspending legislators' pay and keeping them in session until a budget passes.

    Pennsylvania State Representative District 22 — VOTE411 Voter Guide

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

    “If there is any delay, legislators should be required to remain in session until a budget is in place. Furthermore, legislative pay should be suspended”
  4. Supports zoning that protects open space and makes developers pay for infrastructure upgrades.

    Pennsylvania State Representative District 22 — VOTE411 Voter Guide

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

    “I support zoning that protects open space and ensures that developers, rather than taxpayers, fund infrastructure upgrades”
  5. Pledges regular town halls, office hours, listening sessions and bilingual district office staff.

    Pennsylvania State Representative District 22 — VOTE411 Voter Guide

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

    “I plan to implement regularly scheduled town halls, consistent office hours, and both in-person and virtual listening sessions.”
    Allentown special election: Republican Smith makes his case on ICE, taxes and homelessness in 22nd District race

    News coverage · Lehigh Daily · Feb 23, 2026 · lehighdaily.com

    “Smith pledged that his district office would have bilingual staff from day one”
  6. Said he would vote for a state ban on masks for federal immigration officers.

    Allentown special election: Republican Smith makes his case on ICE, taxes and homelessness in 22nd District race

    News coverage · Lehigh Daily · Feb 23, 2026 · lehighdaily.com

    “Smith said he would vote for such a measure if it came to the state level.”
  7. Supports wider Narcan access, including in libraries, and restoring drug education in schools.

    Allentown special election: Republican Smith makes his case on ICE, taxes and homelessness in 22nd District race

    News coverage · Lehigh Daily · Feb 23, 2026 · lehighdaily.com

    “Smith said he supports expanded access to Narcan, including placement in libraries and public spaces”
  8. Says unsheltered residents need permanent homes, not just relocation; backs more state housing aid.

    Allentown special election: Republican Smith makes his case on ICE, taxes and homelessness in 22nd District race

    News coverage · Lehigh Daily · Feb 23, 2026 · lehighdaily.com

    “We just can't relocate them. We have to get them a home, … He also called for expanded state funding for services already in place, including housing assistance, job placement and family reunification programs.”

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.