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State Representative, 72nd 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.

The 72nd District is entirely in Cambria County: the city of Johnstown; Brownstown, Daisytown, Dale, East Conemaugh, Ebensburg, Ehrenfeld, Franklin, Lorain, Nanty-Glo, Southmont, Summerhill, Vintondale and Westmont boroughs; and Blacklick, Cambria, Conemaugh, Croyle, East Taylor, Jackson, Lower Yoder, Middle Taylor, Upper Yoder and West Taylor townships.

CandidatesCompare by issue

Taxes & budget

  • Phil RiceRepublican

    • Proposes holding state budget growth to the rate of inflation and cutting the state income tax.
    • Supports cutting the gasoline tax and ending vehicle emissions testing in Cambria County.

  • Frank BurnsDemocratic

    • Proposes repealing the 2013 provision that raised Pennsylvania's gas tax at the wholesale level.In office

Public safety

  • Phil RiceRepublican

    • Supports banning sanctuary cities and more funding for police, EMS and firefighters; supports concealed carry.

  • Frank BurnsDemocratic

    • Proposes a state constitutional amendment allowing concealed carry of firearms without a permit.In office

Education

  • Phil RiceRepublican

    • Supports scholarships for students in schools he calls failing and expanding the EITC tuition program.

  • Frank BurnsDemocratic

    No documented position found.

Housing

  • Phil RiceRepublican

    No documented position found.

  • Frank BurnsDemocratic

    • Calls for reducing Johnstown's public housing and urges HUD to change Section 8 residency policy.In office

Economy & jobs

  • Phil RiceRepublican

    No documented position found.

  • Frank BurnsDemocratic

    • Voted for HB 2224 to set a formula-based profit rate for utilities, which he says would lower electric bills.In office

Roads & infrastructure

  • Phil RiceRepublican

    • Calls for data centers to supply their own energy and water and to be built on brownfield and industrial sites.

  • Frank BurnsDemocratic

    • Voted to let municipalities temporarily pause new data center applications.In office

Environment & parks

  • Phil RiceRepublican

    • Supports ending green energy mandates and expanding natural gas production to lower energy costs.

  • Frank BurnsDemocratic

    No documented position found.

Health & human services

  • Phil RiceRepublican

    • Supports medical liability reform, including caps on non-economic damages, and incentives for rural doctors.

  • Frank BurnsDemocratic

    • Proposes requiring pharmacy benefit managers to accept Medicaid prescriptions from any qualified pharmacy.In office
    • Proposes seeking a federal waiver to require work or community engagement for Medicaid eligibility.In office

Government & transparency

  • Phil RiceRepublican

    • Supports requiring voter ID and added ballot security measures.

  • Frank BurnsDemocratic

    No documented position found.

Courts & justice

  • Phil RiceRepublican

    No documented position found.

  • Frank BurnsDemocratic

    • Voted against the amended second-degree murder sentencing bill, saying it would ease release of convicted murderers.In office

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; 10 issues covered in this race.