State

State Representative, 66th 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 Jefferson County except the Falls Creek Borough 2 precinct (which votes in the 75th District), plus 16 municipalities in northern Indiana County: Cherry Tree, Ernest, Glen Campbell, Marion Center, Plumville and Smicksburg boroughs and Banks, Canoe, East Mahoning, Grant, Green, Montgomery, North Mahoning, Rayne, South Mahoning and West Mahoning townships.

Candidates Compare by issue

Lisa Gourley

Democratic

Retired registered nurse · Punxsutawney area

The gist

Supports expanding Medicaid coverage, lowering prescription drug costs and protecting rural healthcare access.
Calls for fair school funding, competitive teacher pay and modern facilities for every district.
Supports a living wage, workforce development programs and policies that keep good jobs local.
Pledges to hold polluters accountable, protect state parks and support a transition to cleaner energy.
Says recent cuts to senior centers concern her and pledges to focus on older residents' needs.
Supports women's rights, including protections for women seeking legal care in Pennsylvania.

More about Lisa

View sources (2)

Supports expanding Medicaid coverage, lowering prescription drug costs and protecting rural healthcare access.
Lisa Gourley — Democrat for PA House District 66
Campaign website · Friends of Lisa Gourley · The Issues: Healthcare · lisa4pa.com
“She'll fight to expand Medicaid coverage, lower prescription drug costs, and protect rural healthcare access in District 66.”
Gourley announces candidacy for state representative
News coverage · Punxsutawney Spirit · Feb 16, 2026 · punxsutawneyspirit.com
“Lisa will focus on this issue and will work on making health care and prescription costs affordable.”
Calls for fair school funding, competitive teacher pay and modern facilities for every district.
Lisa Gourley — Democrat for PA House District 66
Campaign website · Friends of Lisa Gourley · The Issues: Education · lisa4pa.com
“Lisa will fight for fair school funding, competitive teacher pay, and modern facilities for every district.”
Supports a living wage, workforce development programs and policies that keep good jobs local.
Lisa Gourley — Democrat for PA House District 66
Campaign website · Friends of Lisa Gourley · The Issues: Economy · lisa4pa.com
“Lisa will fight for a living wage, workforce development programs, and economic policies that keep good jobs and opportunity right here at home.”
Gourley announces candidacy for state representative
News coverage · Punxsutawney Spirit · Feb 16, 2026 · punxsutawneyspirit.com
“Lisa realizes that we must retain our citizens by creating employment opportunities that enable them to purchase a home and raise a family”
Pledges to hold polluters accountable, protect state parks and support a transition to cleaner energy.
Lisa Gourley — Democrat for PA House District 66
Campaign website · Friends of Lisa Gourley · The Issues: Environment · lisa4pa.com
“Lisa will hold polluters accountable, protect state parks and natural areas, and support the transition to a cleaner energy economy.”
Gourley announces candidacy for state representative
News coverage · Punxsutawney Spirit · Feb 16, 2026 · punxsutawneyspirit.com
“Protecting our precious environment has always been important to me and will be so going forward in my campaign!”
Says recent cuts to senior centers concern her and pledges to focus on older residents' needs.
Gourley announces candidacy for state representative
News coverage · Punxsutawney Spirit · Feb 16, 2026 · punxsutawneyspirit.com
“The recent cuts to senior centers … are a concern to Lisa. … Lisa will focus on these issues and work toward ensuring that we value our elders as much as we do ourselves.”
Supports women's rights, including protections for women seeking legal care in Pennsylvania.
Lisa Gourley — Democrat for PA House District 66
Campaign website · Friends of Lisa Gourley · The Wall of Receipts: HB 1786 · lisa4pa.com
“Would protect women seeking legal care in PA.”
Gourley announces candidacy for state representative
News coverage · Punxsutawney Spirit · Feb 16, 2026 · punxsutawneyspirit.com
“Women’s issues and rights will be a focus of Lisa’s.”

Brian Smith

RepublicanIncumbent

State representative; business owner · Punxsutawney area, Jefferson County

The gist

Voted for the 2026-27 budget while calling spending too high; opposes using the Rainy Day Fund to balance budgets.In office
Says keeping government out of the way of business drives growth; opposed the governor's wage and marijuana plans.In office
Supports keeping EITC business tax-credit scholarships unchanged; backed the budget's added school funding.In office
Supports limiting girls' school sports to female athletes.In office
Wants the deer rifle season opener set in law for the Monday after Thanksgiving (HB 70).In office
Opposes DCNR's plan to close Cook Forest's Ridge Campground for all of 2027, citing harm to local businesses.In office
Sponsored HB 1172 letting counties open state roads to ATVs and snowmobiles.In office
Sponsored HB 74 requiring DHS to give licensed child care providers a voluntary autism screening tool.In office
Describes himself as a defender of the right to keep and bear arms and a lifetime NRA member.In office
Sponsored HB 1173 to renew State Police use of minors in compliance checks on underage liquor sales.In office

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

More about Brian

View sources (9)

Voted for the 2026-27 budget while calling spending too high; opposes using the Rainy Day Fund to balance budgets.
Smith Supports Budget Deal Funding Schools, Retired Public Workers
Public statement · Office of Rep. Brian Smith · Jul 13, 2026 · repsmith.com
“While I still feel that spending is too high, the reality is that we operate in a divided Legislature. … This budget also avoids raiding the Rainy Day Fund.”
Smith: Latest Budget Plan Feels Like Groundhog Day
Public statement · Office of Rep. Brian Smith · Feb 3, 2026 · repsmith.com
“It’s past time we break this cycle of irresponsible spending.”
Says keeping government out of the way of business drives growth; opposed the governor's wage and marijuana plans.
Smith Supports Budget Deal Funding Schools, Retired Public Workers
Public statement · Office of Rep. Brian Smith · Jul 13, 2026 · repsmith.com
“if we continue to keep government out of the way of our business community, we’ll continue to see economic growth”
Smith: Latest Budget Plan Feels Like Groundhog Day
Public statement · Office of Rep. Brian Smith · Feb 3, 2026 · repsmith.com
“the governor says we need to legalize recreational marijuana, increase the minimum wage and set a tax on skill games.”
Supports keeping EITC business tax-credit scholarships unchanged; backed the budget's added school funding.
Smith Supports Budget Deal Funding Schools, Retired Public Workers
Public statement · Office of Rep. Brian Smith · Jul 13, 2026 · repsmith.com
“we reached an agreement that no programmatic or funding changes will occur for EITC scholarships. … This deal includes historic investments in education”
Supports limiting girls' school sports to female athletes.
Defending Our Daughters: Make the Promise
Public statement · Office of Rep. Brian Smith · Jan 7, 2026 · repsmith.com
“Female athletes should compete against female athletes, and male athletes should compete against male athletes.”
Wants the deer rifle season opener set in law for the Monday after Thanksgiving (HB 70).
Smith Pushes Back Against PGC Proposals Regarding Deer Hunting Opener
Public statement · Office of Rep. Brian Smith · Jan 20, 2026 · repsmith.com
“I support a move of the current deer season opener, but it should be a move back to the Monday after Thanksgiving, where it belongs.”
Opposes DCNR's plan to close Cook Forest's Ridge Campground for all of 2027, citing harm to local businesses.
Bashline, Rapp, Smith Demand Immediate Action to Avert Full Closure of Local Tourist Attraction
Public statement · Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus · May 6, 2026 · repsmith.com
“Closing the campground for the entire summer will severely impact the local businesses that depend on seasonal visitors,”
Sponsored HB 1172 letting counties open state roads to ATVs and snowmobiles.
Co-Sponsorship Memo: County Approval for ATV Use (HB 1172)
Government record · Pennsylvania House of Representatives · Feb 20, 2025 · palegis.us
“to designate a state road located within the boundary of the county as a snowmobile road, ATV road, or both.”
Sponsored HB 74 requiring DHS to give licensed child care providers a voluntary autism screening tool.
Co-Sponsorship Memo: Voluntary Autism Screening (HB 74)
Government record · Pennsylvania House of Representatives · Jan 6, 2025 · palegis.us
“require the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services to provide Pennsylvania’s licensed child care providers with an autism screening tool”
Describes himself as a defender of the right to keep and bear arms and a lifetime NRA member.
About Brian | PA State Rep. Brian Smith
Government record · Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus · repsmith.com
“An uncompromising defender of our Constitutional right to keep and bear arms, Brian is a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association.”
Sponsored HB 1173 to renew State Police use of minors in compliance checks on underage liquor sales.
Co-Sponsorship Memo: Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement Use of Minors for Compliance Checks (HB 1173)
Government record · Pennsylvania House of Representatives · Mar 24, 2025 · palegis.us
“I believe this legislation is vital to ensure that our liquor establishments are not serving minors underage.”

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.