State

State Representative, 82nd 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 central and northern Centre County: Howard, Milesburg, Snow Shoe and Unionville boroughs; Benner, Boggs, Burnside, College, Curtin, Harris, Howard, Liberty, Marion, Snow Shoe and Union townships; and most of State College borough (the North, Northeast, South 2, Southeast, South Central 1 and 2, PSU, East 3 and East Central 3 precincts).

Candidates Compare by issue

Kirsten McTernan

Republican

Author and homeschooling parent · Boalsburg area (State College)

The gist

Says data center developers should bring their own power and fund grid upgrades, with no local NDAs.
Calls for ending the use of surveillance cameras such as Flock, citing the Fourth Amendment.
Calls for reducing regulations on small businesses to encourage job growth.
Supports parental rights and expanding educational choice.
Supports 'health freedom,' which she defines as informed consent and parental rights.
Calls for preserving farmland and responsible land use.
Calls for lower living costs and helping young families afford to buy homes.
Supports law enforcement and first responders.

More about Kirsten

View sources (1)

Says data center developers should bring their own power and fund grid upgrades, with no local NDAs.
Kirsten McTernan for State Representative – State House District 82
Campaign website · McTernan for PA campaign · End Irresponsible Data Center Development · mcternanforpa.com
“Developers & operators should bring their own power; Fund grid updates; No NDAs with local municipalities.”
Calls for ending the use of surveillance cameras such as Flock, citing the Fourth Amendment.
Kirsten McTernan for State Representative – State House District 82
Campaign website · McTernan for PA campaign · Protection of Privacy · mcternanforpa.com
“End the use of surveillance cameras (Flock, etc). Respect the 4th Amendment.”
Calls for reducing regulations on small businesses to encourage job growth.
Kirsten McTernan for State Representative – State House District 82
Campaign website · McTernan for PA campaign · Grow Our Economy · mcternanforpa.com
“Decrease crippling regulations on small businesses, create opportunities, and encourage job growth.”
Supports parental rights and expanding educational choice.
Kirsten McTernan for State Representative – State House District 82
Campaign website · McTernan for PA campaign · Support Responsible Education · mcternanforpa.com
“Support teachers, uphold parental rights, and expand educational choice.”
Supports 'health freedom,' which she defines as informed consent and parental rights.
Kirsten McTernan for State Representative – State House District 82
Campaign website · McTernan for PA campaign · Support Health Freedom · mcternanforpa.com
“Support Health Freedom. This requires informed consent and parental rights.”
Calls for preserving farmland and responsible land use.
Kirsten McTernan for State Representative – State House District 82
Campaign website · McTernan for PA campaign · Protect Natural Resources · mcternanforpa.com
“Preserve agriculture, farm land, and assure responsible land use.”
Calls for lower living costs and helping young families afford to buy homes.
Kirsten McTernan for State Representative – State House District 82
Campaign website · McTernan for PA campaign · Affordable Living · mcternanforpa.com
“Fight for lower costs and help young families afford to buy a home.”
Supports law enforcement and first responders.
Kirsten McTernan for State Representative – State House District 82
Campaign website · McTernan for PA campaign · Safe & Peaceful Communities · mcternanforpa.com
“Support law enforcement, first responders, and safe neighborhoods.”

Paul Takac

DemocraticIncumbent

State representative · College Township

The gist

Calls for reforming cyber charter funding; sponsored H.B. 2544 on principals' contracts, which passed the House.
Supports a living wage and paid family and medical leave; sponsored a rural jobs tax credit fix that passed the House.
Sponsored H.B. 2302 to license water well drillers and set well construction standards; it passed the House.
Says data centers should pay their own way rather than pass costs to utility ratepayers.
Sponsored H.B. 1980 requiring one hour of nutrition training in doctors' continuing education; it passed the House.
Backed the enacted 2025-26 budget, citing no tax increase and a new Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit.
Supports mail voting, same-day registration and letting independents vote in party primaries.
Proposes letting utilities run high-voltage transmission lines along interstate highway rights-of-way.In office
Calls housing a basic human right.In office
Opposed the state's 2025 decision to close SCI Rockview and Quehanna Boot Camp.In office

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

More about Paul

View sources (12)

Calls for reforming cyber charter funding; sponsored H.B. 2544 on principals' contracts, which passed the House.
After Uncontested Primaries, Here's Who Will Be on the November Ballot in Centre County for U.S. and State House
News coverage · StateCollege.com · May 20, 2026 · Quoting the LWV spring 2026 guide · statecollege.com
“reforming cyber charter school funding to keep more local taxpayer money in local school districts”
Paul Takac for PA | HD 82
Campaign website · Friends of Paul Takac · paultakac.com
“Fully and fairly fund public education at all levels”
Takac bill to protect principals' rights, improve school leadership stability passes House
Public statement · Office of Rep. Paul Takac · Jun 22, 2026 · June 22, 2026 release · pahouse.com
“require clear, written compensation and benefits agreements for school principals, assistant principals and vice principals”
Supports a living wage and paid family and medical leave; sponsored a rural jobs tax credit fix that passed the House.
After Uncontested Primaries, Here's Who Will Be on the November Ballot in Centre County for U.S. and State House
News coverage · StateCollege.com · May 20, 2026 · Quoting the LWV spring 2026 guide · statecollege.com
“I am focused on real relief for working families, including a living wage and paid family & medical leave”
Takac bill unlocking $50 million for rural job creation clears PA House
Public statement · Office of Rep. Paul Takac · Sep 30, 2025 · H.B. 1667, Sept. 30, 2025 · pahouse.com
“My bill helps free up $50 million dollars that is ready and waiting to help rural businesses expand”
Sponsored H.B. 2302 to license water well drillers and set well construction standards; it passed the House.
Paul Takac for PA | HD 82
Campaign website · Friends of Paul Takac · paultakac.com
“Protect our environment and transition to a domestic, renewable energy economy”
Takac bill to license water well drillers and protect consumers and the environment passes House
Public statement · Office of Rep. Paul Takac · May 7, 2026 · May 7, 2026 release · pahouse.com
“help protect homeowners and their neighbors from potential groundwater contamination”
Says data centers should pay their own way rather than pass costs to utility ratepayers.
League of Women Voters of Centre County Voters Guide, Spring 2026 (PDF)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Centre County · House District 82, data center question · lwvcentrecounty.org
“the first-ever regulatory framework for data centers in PA”
Paul Takac for PA | HD 82
Campaign website · Friends of Paul Takac · What's Next · paultakac.com
“Ensure data centers pay their own way instead of forcing ratepayers to foot the bill”
Sponsored H.B. 1980 requiring one hour of nutrition training in doctors' continuing education; it passed the House.
Paul Takac for PA | HD 82
Campaign website · Friends of Paul Takac · paultakac.com
“Expand access to affordable, high-quality healthcare”
Takac bill to equip doctors with better nutrition guidance wins House approval
Public statement · Office of Rep. Paul Takac · Nov 17, 2025 · Nov. 17, 2025 release · pahouse.com
“Proper nutrition is the cornerstone of preventative medicine”
Backed the enacted 2025-26 budget, citing no tax increase and a new Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit.
Paul Takac for PA | HD 82
Campaign website · Friends of Paul Takac · paultakac.com
“Reduce taxes and the cost of living for working families and seniors”
Takac: Historic boost for schools at center of budget that builds jobs, supports working people, and invests in our economy
Public statement · Office of Rep. Paul Takac · Nov 12, 2025 · Nov. 12, 2025 release · pahouse.com
“With $11 billion in reserves and no tax increase, this budget meets our current needs while protecting our future.”
Supports mail voting, same-day registration and letting independents vote in party primaries.
League of Women Voters of Centre County Voters Guide, Spring 2026 (PDF)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Centre County · House District 82, elections question … House District 82, elections question · lwvcentrecounty.org
“I support vote by mail, extended registration, and the use of secure drop boxes in multiple convenient locations. … I support same day registration, extended in person voting opportunities, and allowing independent voters to participate in party primaries”
Meet Paul | Paul Takac for PA
Campaign website · Friends of Paul Takac · paultakac.com
“democracy only works when every eligible citizen can vote”
Proposes letting utilities run high-voltage transmission lines along interstate highway rights-of-way.
Co-Sponsorship Memo: Co-location of high voltage transmission lines along state highway right-of-ways
Government record · Pennsylvania House of Representatives · Aug 31, 2026 · Aug. 31, 2026 memo; H.B. 2791 · palegis.us
“co-locate high voltage transmission infrastructure along limited access highway corridors on right-of-ways controlled by PENNDOT”
Calls housing a basic human right.
Rural housing attainability focus of House Majority Policy Roundtable
Public statement · Office of Rep. Paul Takac · Aug 11, 2026 · Aug. 11, 2026 release · pahouse.com
“Housing is a basic human right and everyone deserves to have a safe and affordable place to live.”
Opposed the state's 2025 decision to close SCI Rockview and Quehanna Boot Camp.
Takac bitterly disappointed by announcement to close SCI Rockview, Quehanna Boot Camp
Public statement · Office of Rep. Paul Takac · Sep 17, 2025 · Sept. 17, 2025 statement · pahouse.com
“I continue to urge Corrections Secretary Laurel Harry and Governor Shapiro to reverse course and to keep Rockview and Quehanna open.”

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.