State

State Representative, 63rd 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.

All of Clarion County, plus 25 municipalities in northern and eastern Armstrong County: Atwood, Dayton, Elderton, Rural Valley, South Bethlehem, Worthington and Kittanning boroughs, Parker City, and Boggs, Bradys Bend, Cowanshannock, Hovey, Kittanning, Madison, Mahoning, Perry, Pine, Plumcreek, Rayburn, Redbank, Sugarcreek, Valley, Washington, Wayne and West Franklin townships.

Candidates Compare by issue

Andrew Harbaugh

Democratic

Sportswriter (USA Today) · Clarion, Clarion County

The gist

Calls for better-paying and union jobs and wages competitive with neighboring states.
Wants protection for renters and homeowners from utility cost increases driven by data center and AI demand.
Says data center rules should be left to local communities; backs a stronger local ordinance than Clarion's.
Calls for fuller public school funding and holding charter schools to the same standards as public schools.
Says rural residents deserve the same access to good health care as city residents.
Says regulations and mandates should not hold back family-owned farms.
Opposes new voter ID or proof-of-citizenship rules, saying Pennsylvania's elections are already protected.
Calls for compromise to end late state budgets.

More about Andrew

View sources (4)

Calls for better-paying and union jobs and wages competitive with neighboring states.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Pennsylvania State Representative District 63
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters Education Fund · Most pressing issues · onyourballot.vote411.org
“we need to protect and promote better jobs, union jobs, and have a competitive wage compared to neighboring states”
Andrew Harbaugh Enters Race for Pennsylvania's 63rd State House District
News coverage · exploreClarion (EYT Media Group) · Dec 10, 2025 · exploreclarion.com
“He pledged to focus on providing living wages, addressing rising utility costs attributed to data centers”
Wants protection for renters and homeowners from utility cost increases driven by data center and AI demand.
Harbaugh for PA (issues and biography)
Campaign website · Harbaugh for PA · Issues: Affordability · harbaughforpa.com
“we need to find ways to protect ourselves from the increasing costs driven by the rising demand for electricity for data centers and AI”
Says data center rules should be left to local communities; backs a stronger local ordinance than Clarion's.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Pennsylvania State Representative District 63
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters Education Fund · Data centers … Data centers · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I say we leave it up to the areas that are facing them. A blanket approach is going to upset folks. … the ordinance I voted for I wish had more teeth”
Calls for fuller public school funding and holding charter schools to the same standards as public schools.
Harbaugh for PA (issues and biography)
Campaign website · Harbaugh for PA · Issues: Education · harbaughforpa.com
“If charter schools are taking public education funds, they need to be held to the same standards.”
Clarion man enters race for 63rd District House seat
News coverage · The Leader-Vindicator / Courier Express · Dec 11, 2025 · thecourierexpress.com
“Our schools deserve to be properly funded, period.”
Says rural residents deserve the same access to good health care as city residents.
Harbaugh for PA (issues and biography)
Campaign website · Harbaugh for PA · Issues: Health Care · harbaughforpa.com
“It shouldn't matter if a person lives in a rural community or in the city. We all deserve access to good health care.”
Clarion man enters race for 63rd District House seat
News coverage · The Leader-Vindicator / Courier Express · Dec 11, 2025 · thecourierexpress.com
“Here in rural Pennsylvania, we are forced to travel hours for the care we need and deserve.”
Says regulations and mandates should not hold back family-owned farms.
Harbaugh for PA (issues and biography)
Campaign website · Harbaugh for PA · Issues: Farming · harbaughforpa.com
“Regulations and mandates should not choke the success of family-owned farms.”
Opposes new voter ID or proof-of-citizenship rules, saying Pennsylvania's elections are already protected.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Pennsylvania State Representative District 63
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters Education Fund · Elections · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Our elections do not need more protections, real IDs, or passports to verify that the right folks are casting their vote.”
Calls for compromise to end late state budgets.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Pennsylvania State Representative District 63
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters Education Fund · State budget process · onyourballot.vote411.org
“There is a middle ground to be found, but no one wants to extend the olive branch to start that conversation.”

Josh Bashline

RepublicanIncumbent

State representative · Clarion Township, Clarion County

The gist

Added fraud safeguards, including residency and citizenship proof, to a small-business health insurance tax credit.
Opposes raising taxes; says the governor's 2026-27 budget plan overspends and draws down the Rainy Day Fund.In office
Voted for HB 2224 to eliminate the tax on electricity; backs suspending gas and cell phone taxes.In office
Supports expanding EITC school-choice tax credits; opposed HB 2632, which cut EITC and OSTC.In office
Voted for HB 2496 letting towns pause data center applications for up to 180 days; favors local control.In office
Sponsored a bill to strengthen state preemption of local firearm ordinances and let challengers recover costs.In office
Proposes requiring warrants before police use license plate readers or facial recognition to track a person.In office
Sponsored HB 1695 to eliminate inactive state boards, commissions and advisory committees.In office

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

More about Josh

View sources (6)

Added fraud safeguards, including residency and citizenship proof, to a small-business health insurance tax credit.
House Approves Bashline Amendment Aimed at Strengthening Fraud Prevention Measures
News coverage · exploreJefferson (EYT Media Group) · Jun 12, 2026 · explorejeffersonpa.com
“requirements for proof of residency and citizenship for employees receiving benefits under the program, the establishment of a fraud prevention office within Pennie … We must stop fraudsters and thieves from accessing funds that belong to other people”
Opposes raising taxes; says the governor's 2026-27 budget plan overspends and draws down the Rainy Day Fund.
Fight Continues to Put 63rd District First, Says Bashline
Public statement · Office of Rep. Josh Bashline · repbashline.com
“We should increase state revenue through economic prosperity and job creation, not by raising taxes”
Fiscal Stewardship, Fair Funding Critical for Next State Budget, Says Bashline
Public statement · Office of Rep. Josh Bashline · Feb 4, 2026 · repbashline.com
“It spends well past our means and will take $4.58 billion out of the Rainy Day Fund”
Voted for HB 2224 to eliminate the tax on electricity; backs suspending gas and cell phone taxes.
Fight Continues to Put 63rd District First, Says Bashline
Public statement · Office of Rep. Josh Bashline · repbashline.com
“House Bill 2224 would eliminate the nearly 6% tax on electricity, saving Pennsylvania families $1.7 billion. … My colleagues and I are advocating for a six-month suspension of the tax on cell phone services and the gas tax”
Supports expanding EITC school-choice tax credits; opposed HB 2632, which cut EITC and OSTC.
Fight Continues to Put 63rd District First, Says Bashline
Public statement · Office of Rep. Josh Bashline · repbashline.com
“I will continue fighting to preserve and expand the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program … I opposed the recent passage of House Bill 2632 because it makes significant cuts to the EITC and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) programs”
Voted for HB 2496 letting towns pause data center applications for up to 180 days; favors local control.
Fight Continues to Put 63rd District First, Says Bashline
Public statement · Office of Rep. Josh Bashline · repbashline.com
“When it comes to data centers, the decisions should be made by the communities that will host them. … allow a municipality to pause applications for data center proposals for no longer than 180 days”
Sponsored a bill to strengthen state preemption of local firearm ordinances and let challengers recover costs.
Co-Sponsorship Memo: Preemption Legislation (former HB 63)
Government record · Pennsylvania House of Representatives · Jan 15, 2025 · palegis.us
“providing for better enforcement of Pennsylvania's current state preemption over local firearms and ammunition regulations … Despite this local governments continue to pass ordinances regulating firearms in defiance of state law.”
Proposes requiring warrants before police use license plate readers or facial recognition to track a person.
Co-Sponsorship Memo: Protecting the 4th Amendment - Establishing Safeguards for Automated Surveillance Technologies
Government record · Pennsylvania House of Representatives · Jul 24, 2026 · palegis.us
“require a government agency to obtain a warrant before utilizing these technologies to search for or track a specific person or license plate”
Sponsored HB 1695 to eliminate inactive state boards, commissions and advisory committees.
Co-Sponsorship Memo: Streamlining State Government by Eliminating Inactive Boards, Commissions, Advisory Committees (HB 1695)
Government record · Pennsylvania House of Representatives · Jun 17, 2025 · palegis.us
“reduce bureaucratic inefficiency and waste by eliminating unnecessary boards, commissions, and advisory committees”

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.