The Gist
Home

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.

CandidatesCompare by issue

Taxes & budget

  • Lisa GourleyDemocratic

    No documented position found.

  • Brian SmithRepublican

    • Voted for the 2026-27 budget while calling spending too high; opposes using the Rainy Day Fund to balance budgets.In office

Public safety

  • Lisa GourleyDemocratic

    No documented position found.

  • Brian SmithRepublican

    • 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

Education

  • Lisa GourleyDemocratic

    • Calls for fair school funding, competitive teacher pay and modern facilities for every district.

  • Brian SmithRepublican

    • 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

Economy & jobs

  • Lisa GourleyDemocratic

    • Supports a living wage, workforce development programs and policies that keep good jobs local.

  • Brian SmithRepublican

    • Says keeping government out of the way of business drives growth; opposed the governor's wage and marijuana plans.In office
    • Opposes DCNR's plan to close Cook Forest's Ridge Campground for all of 2027, citing harm to local businesses.In office

Roads & infrastructure

  • Lisa GourleyDemocratic

    No documented position found.

  • Brian SmithRepublican

    • Sponsored HB 1172 letting counties open state roads to ATVs and snowmobiles.In office

Environment & parks

  • Lisa GourleyDemocratic

    • Pledges to hold polluters accountable, protect state parks and support a transition to cleaner energy.

  • Brian SmithRepublican

    • Wants the deer rifle season opener set in law for the Monday after Thanksgiving (HB 70).In office

Health & human services

  • Lisa GourleyDemocratic

    • Supports expanding Medicaid coverage, lowering prescription drug costs and protecting rural healthcare access.
    • Says recent cuts to senior centers concern her and pledges to focus on older residents' needs.

  • Brian SmithRepublican

    • Sponsored HB 74 requiring DHS to give licensed child care providers a voluntary autism screening tool.In office

Government & transparency

  • Lisa GourleyDemocratic

    • Supports women's rights, including protections for women seeking legal care in Pennsylvania.

  • Brian SmithRepublican

    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; 8 issues covered in this race.