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State Representative, 36th 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.

Entirely in Allegheny County: the boroughs of Brentwood and Mount Oliver, and parts of Pittsburgh (wards 16, 29 and 32 and parts of wards 17, 18 and 19), including the South Side Flats and Slopes, Arlington, St. Clair, Bon Air, Carrick, Overbrook, Mount Washington, Brookline and Beechview.

CandidatesCompare by issue

Taxes & budget

Public safety

  • Timothy McCuneRepublican

    • Proposes tax relief and vehicle registration or fee waivers for volunteer firefighters and first responders.
    • Supports protecting gun rights, with laws focused on criminals rather than lawful gun owners.

  • Jessica BenhamDemocratic

    • Supports universal background checks, extreme risk protection orders, firearm safety training and safe storage laws.
    • Sponsored Act 11 of 2026, letting surviving spouses of Pittsburgh firefighters keep pension benefits if they remarry.In office

Education

  • Timothy McCuneRepublican

    • Supports public schools along with school choice options such as charter schools and career training.
    • Supports school transparency and parental involvement in decisions affecting their children.
    • Proposes teaching high school students to recognize and report signs of dating and domestic abuse.

  • Jessica BenhamDemocratic

    • Supports free public early childhood education for all children.

Economy & jobs

  • Timothy McCuneRepublican

    No documented position found.

  • Jessica BenhamDemocratic

    • Supports raising the minimum wage and protecting workers' rights to unionize.

Roads & infrastructure

  • Timothy McCuneRepublican

    No documented position found.

  • Jessica BenhamDemocratic

    • Co-sponsors transit funding bills raising rental car and lease fees and adding a 6% ride-hailing tax.In office

Health & human services

  • Timothy McCuneRepublican

    • Calls for more services for special-needs families, especially young adults moving from school to work.
    • Supports policies to 'protect life' along with support systems for mothers, families and children.

  • Jessica BenhamDemocratic

    • Supports abortion rights and opposes laws restricting reproductive choice.
    • Authored the 2024 law regulating pharmacy benefit managers; now backs a pharmacy reimbursement floor and a single Medicaid PBM.In office

Government & transparency

  • Timothy McCuneRepublican

    No documented position found.

  • Jessica BenhamDemocratic

    • Supports a gift ban for officials, campaign contribution limits, full disclosure of election spending and a redistricting commission.
    • Supports election-day and automatic voter registration and more early voting.
    • Supports the Fairness Act, adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the state's anti-discrimination law.In office

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.