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State Representative, 47th 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.

Northeastern York County: Conewago, East Manchester, Hellam and Manchester townships; part of Springettsbury Township (precincts 2, 3 and 7); and Hallam, Manchester, Mount Wolf and Wrightsville boroughs.

Photo of Edward Ritter
Edward RitterCampaign photo — submitted to VOTE411 (League of Women Voters)

Edward Ritter

Democratic

Retired professional engineer

The gist

  • Supports raising the state minimum wage to $15 an hour, with tipped workers paid 60% of it.
  • Calls for property tax relief for retirees living on fixed incomes.
  • Proposes that legislators forfeit two days' pay for each day the state budget is late.
  • Supports open primaries so unaffiliated voters can take part in primary elections.
  • Pledges to support a legislative gift ban and to serve no more than three terms.
  • Proposes state funding to replace federal cuts to programs such as SNAP, Head Start and Medicaid.
  • Supports expanding affordable housing by speeding permits and rehabilitating abandoned or underused properties.
  • Calls for data center transparency and enforceable limits, including on power consumption.
  • Supports Death with Dignity legislation for terminally ill patients of sound mind.
More about Edward
View sources (3)
  1. Supports raising the state minimum wage to $15 an hour, with tipped workers paid 60% of it.

    Pennsylvania State Representative District 47 — VOTE411 Voter Guide

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

    “I favor proposals to increase the state minimum wage to $15 per hour with tipped workers paid 60% of the minimum wage.”
  2. Calls for property tax relief for retirees living on fixed incomes.

    Pennsylvania State Representative District 47 — VOTE411 Voter Guide

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

    “some form of property tax relief needs to be considered for retirees living on fixed income. Nobody should lose their home due to tax increases.”
  3. Proposes that legislators forfeit two days' pay for each day the state budget is late.

    Pennsylvania State Representative District 47 — VOTE411 Voter Guide

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

    “For each day the budget is delayed, legislators forfeit their compensation at a rate of two days lost compensation for every day late”
    Plaidsylvania — Edward Ritter for Pennsylvania House District 47

    Campaign website · Plaidsylvania · plaidsylvania.com

    “I will waive my state salary each day that the state budget is late.”
  4. Supports open primaries so unaffiliated voters can take part in primary elections.

    Pennsylvania State Representative District 47 — VOTE411 Voter Guide

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

    “I believe Pennsylvania needs to implement open primaries to guarantee unaffiliated voters fair access throughout the process.”
  5. Pledges to support a legislative gift ban and to serve no more than three terms.

    Plaidsylvania — Edward Ritter for Pennsylvania House District 47

    Campaign website · Plaidsylvania · Ethics Pledge · plaidsylvania.com

    “I will not accept gifts and will support Gift Ban legislation. … I will not serve more than 3 terms.”
  6. Proposes state funding to replace federal cuts to programs such as SNAP, Head Start and Medicaid.

    Plaidsylvania — Edward Ritter for Pennsylvania House District 47

    Campaign website · Plaidsylvania · Core Platform Value · plaidsylvania.com

    “As your legislator, I will work to restore or deliver these benefits through state funding.”
    Edward Ritter — Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey

    Candidate questionnaire · Ballotpedia · ballotpedia.org

    “State support for food security programs needs to be increased to make up for loss of federal funding - at a minimum.”
  7. Supports expanding affordable housing by speeding permits and rehabilitating abandoned or underused properties.

    Edward Ritter — Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey

    Candidate questionnaire · Ballotpedia · Key messages · ballotpedia.org

    “Pennsylvania needs to expand affordable housing by expediting permitting and rehabbing abandoned OR underused properties.”
  8. Calls for data center transparency and enforceable limits, including on power consumption.

    Pennsylvania State Representative District 47 — VOTE411 Voter Guide

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

    “Data centers need to be transparent regarding their potential impact to their neighbors. This includes specific, enforceable limits regarding power consumption”
  9. Supports Death with Dignity legislation for terminally ill patients of sound mind.

    Edward Ritter — Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey

    Candidate questionnaire · Ballotpedia · Areas of public policy · ballotpedia.org

    “I am an advocate for Death with Dignity legislation.”
Photo of Joe D'Orsie
Joe D'OrsieOfficial portrait — Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Joe D'Orsie

RepublicanIncumbent

State representative · Mount Wolf, York County

The gist

  • Proposes a Grooming of a Minor offense for adults who exploit positions of authority and trust.In office
  • Voted against the House-passed second-degree murder sentencing bill, saying it would allow release eligibility.In office
  • Sponsored HB 2661 requiring annual residency checks for school district and cyber charter students.In office
  • Sponsored a bill creating a State Seal of Biliteracy for graduates; it passed both chambers unanimously.In office
  • Sponsored HB 2317 to cap Labor and Industry safety inspection and certification fees.In office
  • Voted against the 2026-27 state budget, citing spending above projected revenue.In office
  • Opposes proposed Department of Health disease-control regulations and has called for their withdrawal.In office
  • Co-sponsors child care bills, including easing lifeguard staffing rules for providers' water outings.In office

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

More about Joe
View sources (8)
  1. Proposes a Grooming of a Minor offense for adults who exploit positions of authority and trust.

    Co-Sponsorship Memo: Establishing the Offense of Grooming of a Minor

    Government record · Pennsylvania House of Representatives · Aug 13, 2026 · palegis.us

    “establishing a dedicated offense within the Crimes Code to target adults who exploit positions of authority and trust to groom minors in their care”
  2. Voted against the House-passed second-degree murder sentencing bill, saying it would allow release eligibility.

    Voting AGAINST the Early Release of Convicted Murderers

    Public statement · Office of Rep. Joe D'Orsie · Aug 3, 2026 · repjoed.com

    “the House majority passed a bill that would allow convicted felony murderers serving life without parole to become eligible for release. I VOTED NO.”
  3. Sponsored HB 2661 requiring annual residency checks for school district and cyber charter students.

    Co-Sponsorship Memo: Annual Residency Verification for Pennsylvania Students

    Government record · Pennsylvania House of Representatives · May 5, 2026 · palegis.us

    “This legislation would require annual residency verification for students being educated by a school district and by a public cyber charter school”
  4. Sponsored a bill creating a State Seal of Biliteracy for graduates; it passed both chambers unanimously.

    D'Orsie's Seal of Biliteracy Bill Clears the Senate

    Public statement · Office of Rep. Joe D'Orsie · Jun 23, 2026 · repjoed.com

    “his bill to establish the State Seal of Biliteracy is headed to the governor’s desk after passing the Senate unanimously”
  5. Sponsored HB 2317 to cap Labor and Industry safety inspection and certification fees.

    Co-Sponsorship Memo: Protecting Businesses by keeping BOIS Fees in Check

    Government record · Pennsylvania House of Representatives · Dec 10, 2025 · palegis.us

    “I am preparing to introduce legislation that will stop the outrageous growth of fees at the Department of Labor and Industry.”
  6. Voted against the 2026-27 state budget, citing spending above projected revenue.

    York County House Republicans: State Budget Overspends… Again

    Public statement · Office of Rep. Joe D'Orsie · Jul 12, 2026 · repjoed.com

    “We voted “no” on this year’s budget because rather than scale back irresponsible spending, we’ve burdened tomorrow’s taxpayers with a steep bill.”
  7. Opposes proposed Department of Health disease-control regulations and has called for their withdrawal.

    Fighting Government Overreach

    Public statement · Office of Rep. Joe D'Orsie · Sep 24, 2026 · repjoed.com

    “calling for the withdrawal of the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s proposed rewrite of regulations that govern communicable and noncommunicable diseases”
  8. Co-sponsors child care bills, including easing lifeguard staffing rules for providers' water outings.

    Co-Sponsorship Memo: Child Care Affordability Legislative Package Part 2

    Government record · Pennsylvania House of Representatives · Jun 3, 2026 · palegis.us

    “This legislation will statutorily define the necessary requirements for water safety and adjust some of the burdens related to additional staffing at water activities.”

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.