State

State Representative, 81st 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.

Covers nearly all of Huntingdon County (every municipality except Birmingham Borough and Franklin and Warriors Mark townships, which are in the 80th), including Huntingdon, Mount Union, Alexandria and Orbisonia boroughs. Also includes part of Franklin County.

Candidates Compare by issue

Caleb Donahue

Democratic

Huntingdon County

The gist

Pledges to sponsor bills protecting and expanding access to Medicare and Medicaid.
Supports protecting labor unions and fair wages and protections for workers.
Says he is not opposed to voter photo ID if voters can get one quickly and at no cost.
Supports higher pay for poll workers and automatic voter registration at the DMV.
Says lawmakers should forfeit their pay when the state budget is late.
Calls for more state environmental rules on data centers and countywide referendums on projects.

More about Caleb

View sources (1)

Pledges to sponsor bills protecting and expanding access to Medicare and Medicaid.
Pennsylvania State Representative District 81 — VOTE411 Voter Guide (Caleb J. Donahue)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania (VOTE411) · Most pressing issues · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I will write and sponsor bills designed to protect and expand access to Medicare and Medicaid for Pennsylvanians.”
Supports protecting labor unions and fair wages and protections for workers.
Pennsylvania State Representative District 81 — VOTE411 Voter Guide (Caleb J. Donahue)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania (VOTE411) · Most pressing issues · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I believe it is important to protect labor unions and to ensure every worker has fair wages and protections.”
Says he is not opposed to voter photo ID if voters can get one quickly and at no cost.
Pennsylvania State Representative District 81 — VOTE411 Voter Guide (Caleb J. Donahue)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania (VOTE411) · Elections · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I am not opposed to Photo ID … a quick and efficient way of providing a photo on their voter-ID cards at no cost”
Supports higher pay for poll workers and automatic voter registration at the DMV.
Pennsylvania State Representative District 81 — VOTE411 Voter Guide (Caleb J. Donahue)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania (VOTE411) · Elections · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I support increasing awareness and pay for poll workers … I also support the Automatic Voter Registration for younger voters at the DMV.”
Says lawmakers should forfeit their pay when the state budget is late.
Pennsylvania State Representative District 81 — VOTE411 Voter Guide (Caleb J. Donahue)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania (VOTE411) · State budget process · onyourballot.vote411.org
“if a budget isn't passed on time, lawmakers should forfeit their pay.”
Calls for more state environmental rules on data centers and countywide referendums on projects.
Pennsylvania State Representative District 81 — VOTE411 Voter Guide (Caleb J. Donahue)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania (VOTE411) · Data centers · onyourballot.vote411.org
“All projects should be voted on by a countywide referendum. The state legislature should increase environmental regulations of data center projects”

Rich Irvin

RepublicanIncumbent

State representative · Spruce Creek Township, Huntingdon County

The gist

Proposes moving the Medicaid pharmacy benefit to fee-for-service so the state pays pharmacies directly.In office
Proposes letting private school students join extracurriculars at their home public school district.In office
Proposes letting towns allow rebuilt homes on vacant downtown lots at the old setbacks.In office
Supports holding the line on taxes, pension reform for new hires and property tax reform.In office
Supports protecting law-abiding citizens' Second Amendment rights.In office
Describes himself as pro-life.In office

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

More about Rich

View sources (4)

Proposes moving the Medicaid pharmacy benefit to fee-for-service so the state pays pharmacies directly.
Co-Sponsorship Memo: Reimbursing Pharmacies Fairly
Government record · Pennsylvania House of Representatives · Sep 25, 2025 · palegis.us
“I intend to introduce legislation that will transition Pennsylvania's Medical Assistance pharmacy benefit from managed care to a Fee-For-Service (FFS) program.”
Proposes letting private school students join extracurriculars at their home public school district.
Co-Sponsorship Memo: Private School Students Participating in Extracurricular Activities at their Resident Public Schools
Government record · Pennsylvania House of Representatives · Apr 16, 2025 · palegis.us
“I believe that private school students should be able to participate as well.”
Proposes letting towns allow rebuilt homes on vacant downtown lots at the old setbacks.
Co-Sponsorship Memo: Uniform Construction Code Setback Requirements
Government record · Pennsylvania House of Representatives · Feb 27, 2025 · palegis.us
“My bill addresses the housing shortage by allowing municipalities the option to permit residential housing that is substantially the same in structure and use”
Supports holding the line on taxes, pension reform for new hires and property tax reform.
About | PA State Rep. Rich Irvin
Government record · Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus · repirvin.com
“holding the line on taxes, public pension reform for new hires, true property tax reform”
Supports protecting law-abiding citizens' Second Amendment rights.
About | PA State Rep. Rich Irvin
Government record · Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus · repirvin.com
“believes in protecting every law-abiding citizen's Second Amendment right”
Describes himself as pro-life.
About | PA State Rep. Rich Irvin
Government record · Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus · repirvin.com
“Rich is pro-life”

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.