The Gist
Home

State

State Representative, 50th 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.

Covers all of Greene County and 24 municipalities in southeastern Washington County: California, Charleroi, North Charleroi, Allenport, Beallsville, Bentleyville, Centerville, Coal Center, Cokeburg, Deemston, Dunlevy, Elco, Ellsworth, Long Branch, Marianna, Roscoe, Speers, Stockdale, Twilight and West Brownsville boroughs, and East Bethlehem, North Bethlehem, West Bethlehem and West Pike Run townships.

CandidatesCompare by issue

Taxes & budget

  • Lois Bower-BjornsonDemocratic

    No documented position found.

  • Ben HumbleRepublican

    • Calls for lowering taxes, including relief for residents facing high property taxes.

Public safety

Education

  • Lois Bower-BjornsonDemocratic

    • Supports fair school funding, competitive teacher pay and expanded career and technical education.

  • Ben HumbleRepublican

    • Supports a larger share of state school funding for rural districts and prioritizing career and technical centers.

Housing

  • Lois Bower-BjornsonDemocratic

    • Links affordable housing to expanded public transit, saying improving one improves the other.

  • Ben HumbleRepublican

    • Proposes consolidating homebuyer programs, easing regulations, rehab tax credits and flexible zoning to add housing.

Economy & jobs

  • Lois Bower-BjornsonDemocratic

    • Supports keeping existing energy jobs while attracting clean energy industries and small businesses.

  • Ben HumbleRepublican

    No documented position found.

Roads & infrastructure

  • Lois Bower-BjornsonDemocratic

    • Calls for state investment to repair aging infrastructure and expand high-speed internet to every community.
    • Proposes working with Mid-Mon Valley Transit and Freedom Transit to connect bus routes and close service gaps.

  • Ben HumbleRepublican

    • Calls for improving bus transportation and promoting transit services for students and seniors.

Environment & parks

  • Lois Bower-BjornsonDemocratic

    • Opposes rapid, unchecked data center development in the 50th District.

  • Ben HumbleRepublican

    • Supports siting data centers in industrial or commercial zones rather than near homes.

Health & human services

  • Lois Bower-BjornsonDemocratic

    • Calls for protecting rural hospitals, lowering prescription drug prices and expanding mental health access.

  • Ben HumbleRepublican

    • Proposes tax credits and higher Medicare reimbursement to draw physicians and caregivers to rural areas.
    • Describes himself as pro-life.

Government & transparency

  • Lois Bower-BjornsonDemocratic

    • Pledges to hold open town halls and make decisions based on what is best for the district.

  • Ben HumbleRepublican

    No documented position found.

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.