State Representative, 49th District · 2026 General Election

Vanessa Acosta

Republican

Insurance agent · Millersville

The gist

Names the cost of living, public safety and the community's future as residents' main concerns.
Calls for supporting families, strengthening schools and keeping neighborhoods safe so young people succeed.
Supports voter ID, with IDs made accessible so no eligible voter is excluded.
Calls for a transparent, accountable state budget passed on time.
Says data center development should protect local resources, with local governments deciding how it happens.

More about Vanessa

View sources (1)

Names the cost of living, public safety and the community's future as residents' main concerns.
Pennsylvania State Representative District 49 - VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters Education Fund (VOTE411) · Most pressing issues · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Residents are concerned about the cost of living, public safety, and the future of our community.”
Calls for supporting families, strengthening schools and keeping neighborhoods safe so young people succeed.
Pennsylvania State Representative District 49 - VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters Education Fund (VOTE411) · Most pressing issues · onyourballot.vote411.org
“By supporting families, strengthening schools, and maintaining safe neighborhoods, we can ensure all young people are prepared to become productive, responsible members of society.”
Supports voter ID, with IDs made accessible so no eligible voter is excluded.
Pennsylvania State Representative District 49 - VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters Education Fund (VOTE411) · Elections · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I support voter ID as a common-sense safeguard, along with ensuring IDs are accessible so no eligible voter is excluded.”
Calls for a transparent, accountable state budget passed on time.
Pennsylvania State Representative District 49 - VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters Education Fund (VOTE411) · State budget process · onyourballot.vote411.org
“with transparency, accountability, and a commitment to getting the budget done on time so families and businesses can plan with confidence”
Says data center development should protect local resources, with local governments deciding how it happens.
Pennsylvania State Representative District 49 - VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters Education Fund (VOTE411) · Data centers … Data centers · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Data centers are important, but I prioritize humans over machines. … local governments should lead the way in deciding how it happens”

Izzy Smith-Wade-El

DemocraticIncumbent

State representative · Lancaster

The gist

Prioritizes adding housing across the state, tenants' rights and decriminalizing homelessness.
Opposes new data centers; says developers, not residential customers, should pay for new grid costs.
Supports making it easier to vote, including by mail.
Attributes late state budgets to State Senate obstruction and calls for good-faith negotiations.
Proposes banning pet fees and pet rent, allowing only a capped pet deposit (1% of monthly rent, up to $500).In office
Proposes letting homeless people carry out life-sustaining activity in public when no housing is available.In office
Proposes letting municipalities levy a payroll tax and set their own earned income and local services taxes.In office

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

More about Izzy

View sources (4)

Prioritizes adding housing across the state, tenants' rights and decriminalizing homelessness.
Pennsylvania State Representative District 49 - VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters Education Fund (VOTE411) · Most pressing issues · onyourballot.vote411.org
“My priorities have been to increase the amount of housing available to people across the commonwealth, advocating for tenants rights, and working to decriminalize homelessness”
Opposes new data centers; says developers, not residential customers, should pay for new grid costs.
Pennsylvania State Representative District 49 - VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters Education Fund (VOTE411) · Data centers … Data centers · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I am opposed to the new data centers. … be borne by the developer or operator not by residential consumers”
Supports making it easier to vote, including by mail.
Pennsylvania State Representative District 49 - VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters Education Fund (VOTE411) · Elections · onyourballot.vote411.org
“This includes making it easier to vote by mail as much as it means ensuring that we advocate for the integrity of our elections”
Attributes late state budgets to State Senate obstruction and calls for good-faith negotiations.
Pennsylvania State Representative District 49 - VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters Education Fund (VOTE411) · State budget process · onyourballot.vote411.org
“obstructionism from the State Senate and an unwillingness to engage in good faith negotiations throughout that process”
Proposes banning pet fees and pet rent, allowing only a capped pet deposit (1% of monthly rent, up to $500).
Co-Sponsorship Memo: Reining in Pet Rent and Fees
Government record · Pennsylvania House of Representatives · Apr 27, 2026 · palegis.us
“I will soon introduce legislation to prohibit landlords from charging tenants an upfront or ongoing pet fee or rent”
Proposes letting homeless people carry out life-sustaining activity in public when no housing is available.
Co-Sponsorship Memo: Ending the Criminalization of Homelessness
Government record · Pennsylvania House of Representatives · Oct 2, 2025 · Shelter First for Pennsylvanians Experiencing Homelessness Act (HB 2028) · palegis.us
“permit individuals experiencing homelessness to conduct life-sustaining activity in public spaces when no reasonable, alternative options for housing are offered or available”
Proposes letting municipalities levy a payroll tax and set their own earned income and local services taxes.
Co-Sponsorship Memo: Empowering Local Communities; Optional Local Tax Reform for Municipalities
Government record · Pennsylvania House of Representatives · Dec 3, 2024 · palegis.us
“my legislation would give other municipalities the option to levy a payroll tax, along with an earned income tax and local services tax, through ordinances”