State
State Representative, 7th 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.
Entirely in Mercer County: the cities of Farrell, Hermitage and Sharon; Greene, Hempfield, Lackawannock, Pymatuning, Shenango, South Pymatuning and West Salem townships; and Clark, Greenville, Jamestown, Sharpsville, West Middlesex and Wheatland boroughs.
Taxes & budget
Christopher A. Crumby-FordDemocratic
- Praised the bipartisan 2026-27 state budget and pledges to push for transparent, careful spending.
Parke WentlingRepublican
- Advocates reducing the tax burden on working families and seniors.In office
- Sponsored a bill (HB 2448) to exempt bicycles, e-bikes and helmets from sales tax during May.In office
Education
Christopher A. Crumby-FordDemocratic
No documented position found.
Parke WentlingRepublican
- Urged Penn State to keep its Shenango campus open, citing its role for students and local jobs.In office
Economy & jobs
Christopher A. Crumby-FordDemocratic
- Supports 'Fair Chance' hiring rules that delay criminal background questions in the hiring process.
- Proposes tax incentives for employers who hire reentry program graduates, and a district reentry partnership.
- Supports organized labor and campaigns on good-paying jobs, fair wages and safe workplaces.
Parke WentlingRepublican
- Names creating good-paying, family-sustaining jobs as his top legislative priority.In office
- Sponsored a bill (HB 2204) letting retired doctors keep performing workers' compensation impairment exams.In office
Environment & parks
Christopher A. Crumby-FordDemocratic
No documented position found.
Parke WentlingRepublican
- Supports responsible stewardship of natural resources and preserving family farms.In office
Health & human services
Christopher A. Crumby-FordDemocratic
- Says he would press state labor officials over missed paychecks for Sharon Regional hospital workers.
Parke WentlingRepublican
No documented position found.
Government & transparency
Christopher A. Crumby-FordDemocratic
- Calls for reviewing occupational licensing laws that bar people with unrelated past offenses from careers.
Parke WentlingRepublican
- Sponsored a bill (HB 1784) letting licensing boards penalize frivolous or bad-faith complaints against licensees.In office
Courts & justice
Christopher A. Crumby-FordDemocratic
- Supports expanding Clean Slate and expungement laws for nonviolent offenders who stay crime-free.
Parke WentlingRepublican
- Sponsored a bill (HB 714) letting siblings separated in custody cases petition for visitation.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; 7 issues covered in this race.