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State Representative, 56th District

Vote for
1
Term
2 years
Candidates
1
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 Westmoreland County: the city of Jeannette, Penn Township, most of North Huntingdon Township, and the boroughs of Irwin, Manor, North Irwin, Penn and Trafford. Uncontested: no Democratic candidate is on the ballot.

Photo of Brian Rasel
Brian RaselOfficial portrait — Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Brian Rasel

RepublicanIncumbent

State representative · Penn Township

The gist

  • Calls for holding the line on taxes and cutting spending.
  • Supports giving parents more control over their children's education.
  • Calls for expanding Pennsylvania energy production to lower power bills.
  • Supports ending sanctuary counties in Pennsylvania.
  • Supports requiring voter ID.
  • Sponsored HB 1661, requiring hospitals to report care given to people in the country illegally.In office
  • Proposes requiring public college students to take a one-credit course on communism and socialism.In office
  • Joined a Westmoreland delegation bill to require lifetime registration for youths released from the state SRTP program.In office

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

More about Brian
View sources (6)
  1. Calls for holding the line on taxes and cutting spending.

    Brian Rasel for PA House of Representatives

    Campaign website · Friends of Brian Rasel · Protecting Taxpayers · brianrasel.org

    “Hold the line on taxes, cut wasteful spending and stop liberal tax increases that will raise inflation”
    Rasel: Taxpayers' Wallets Must be Prioritized

    Public statement · Office of Rep. Brian Rasel · Feb 4, 2025 · reprasel.com

    “I am more concerned about the amount of money taxpayers keep in their pockets than what Harrisburg thinks it needs”
  2. Supports giving parents more control over their children's education.

    Brian Rasel for PA House of Representatives

    Campaign website · Friends of Brian Rasel · Prioritizing Our Students · brianrasel.org

    “Give parents more control of their children's education and keep woke politics out of our schools”
  3. Calls for expanding Pennsylvania energy production to lower power bills.

    Brian Rasel for PA House of Representatives

    Campaign website · Friends of Brian Rasel · Putting Our Jobs First · brianrasel.org

    “Stop job-crushing regulations, support energy Independence and stand with our workers”
    Rasel, Policy Committee Call for Unleashing Pennsylvania Energy to Lower Costs, Strengthen Reliability

    Public statement · Pennsylvania House Republican Policy Committee · Sep 16, 2026 · reprasel.com

    “Affordable, reliable energy shouldn't be a question in a resource-rich environment like Pennsylvania.”
  4. Supports ending sanctuary counties in Pennsylvania.

    Brian Rasel for PA House of Representatives

    Campaign website · Friends of Brian Rasel · Securing Our Borders · brianrasel.org

    “work to end sanctuary counties throughout the commonwealth”
  5. Supports requiring voter ID.

    Brian Rasel for PA House of Representatives

    Campaign website · Friends of Brian Rasel · Defending our Values · brianrasel.org

    “Secure our elections with voter ID”
  6. Sponsored HB 1661, requiring hospitals to report care given to people in the country illegally.

    Rasel Proposal Addresses Illegal Immigrants' Health Care Costs

    Public statement · Office of Rep. Brian Rasel · Jun 25, 2025 · reprasel.com

    “would require all hospitals licensed in Pennsylvania to report the number of admissions and emergency room visits made by those here illegally”
  7. Proposes requiring public college students to take a one-credit course on communism and socialism.

    Rasel Introduces Unraveling Socialism Act

    Public statement · Office of Rep. Brian Rasel · Jan 6, 2026 · reprasel.com

    “take a one-credit class on how communism and socialism pose threats to American ideals”
  8. Joined a Westmoreland delegation bill to require lifetime registration for youths released from the state SRTP program.

    Westmoreland County House Delegation Works to Better Protect Citizens from Juvenile Sex Offenders

    Public statement · Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus · Jun 11, 2026 · reprasel.com

    “All individuals discharged from the SRTP to be subject to lifetime sexual offender registration and oversight requirements, regardless of when they were adjudicated delinquent.”

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.