State

State Representative, 98th District

Vote for: 1
Term: 2 years
Candidates: 3
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.

Lebanon County part: Mount Gretna borough and South Annville and South Londonderry townships. Lancaster County part: Conoy, East Donegal, Mount Joy and West Donegal townships, and Elizabethtown, Marietta and Mount Joy boroughs. Open seat: Rep. Tom Jones is running for the 36th Senate District instead.

Candidates Compare by issue

Hugh Darlington

Democratic

Retired master arborist

The gist

Supports raising the minimum wage as proposed by Gov. Shapiro to address affordability.
Calls for adequately funded public schools and more oversight of private and charter schools.
Supports giving career and technical education equal emphasis with four-year college.
Supports mail-in ballots, pre-canvassing, ballot drop boxes and letting independents vote in primaries.
Supports an independent redistricting commission and opposes the proposed federal SAVE Act.
Says legislators should not be paid while the state budget is past its June 30 deadline.
Says data center owners should bear their full costs; backs state minimum guidelines that keep local control.
Calls for protecting clean water, farmland and open space with approaches that also respect agriculture and business.

More about Hugh

View sources (3)

Supports raising the minimum wage as proposed by Gov. Shapiro to address affordability.
Pennsylvania State Representative District 98 — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters Education Fund (VOTE411) · Most pressing issues · onyourballot.vote411.org
“A good start would be to raise the minimum wage as proposed by Governor Shapiro.”
Calls for adequately funded public schools and more oversight of private and charter schools.
Pennsylvania State Representative District 98 — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters Education Fund (VOTE411) · Most pressing issues · onyourballot.vote411.org
“We need public education that is adequately funded and offer the best resources for our children and more oversight of private and charter schools.”
Supports giving career and technical education equal emphasis with four-year college.
Priorities | Hugh Darlington
Campaign website · Hugh for PA 98 · Strong Public Schools & Career Pathways · hugh4pa98.com
“Hugh believes every student deserves a fair shot and multiple pathways to success.”
Pennsylvania State Representative District 98 — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters Education Fund (VOTE411) · Most pressing issues · onyourballot.vote411.org
“equal emphasis on career and technology education as well as 4yr college”
Supports mail-in ballots, pre-canvassing, ballot drop boxes and letting independents vote in primaries.
Pennsylvania State Representative District 98 — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters Education Fund (VOTE411) · Elections … Elections · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I support the use of mail in ballots and pre-canvassing to enhance election day efficiency. … independent/third party voter participation in PA primaries”
Supports an independent redistricting commission and opposes the proposed federal SAVE Act.
Pennsylvania State Representative District 98 — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters Education Fund (VOTE411) · Elections … Elections · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I am firmly against the proposed federal SAVE Act. … I am behind the initiative championed by Fair Districts PA to establish an independent redistricting commission”
Says legislators should not be paid while the state budget is past its June 30 deadline.
Pennsylvania State Representative District 98 — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters Education Fund (VOTE411) · State budget process · onyourballot.vote411.org
“In the same way many employees, organizations and businesses do not receive payment during this time, neither should state senators or representatives.”
Says data center owners should bear their full costs; backs state minimum guidelines that keep local control.
Pennsylvania State Representative District 98 — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters Education Fund (VOTE411) · Data centers … Data centers · onyourballot.vote411.org
“The added expense of data center operations should be borne fully by the data center owner/operator. … The state could set minimum guidelines not exceeding the lowest threshold of any municipality.”
Calls for protecting clean water, farmland and open space with approaches that also respect agriculture and business.
Hugh Darlington for PA House District 98
Campaign website · Hugh for PA 98 · Priorities: Responsible Stewardship · hugh4pa98.com
“Protecting clean water, farmland, and open space is a responsibility we owe the next generation.”

Nicky Woods

Republican

Lancaster County Clerk of Courts; small business owner · Mount Joy Township

The gist

Supports lowering taxes, cutting wasteful spending and keeping state costs from shifting onto property taxes.
Supports parental rights and school choice, including private, charter, cyber and homeschool options.
Pledges to back police and put victims' rights first; opposes sanctuary city policies.
Opposes new gun restrictions on law-abiding owners and favors enforcing existing laws instead.
Supports limiting executive power and increasing government transparency and accountability.
Calls for fewer regulations, lower taxes and affordable energy for small businesses.
Opposes one-size-fits-all minimum wage mandates, saying wages should grow through a strong economy.
Opposes elective abortion except to save the mother's life and opposes public funds for abortion providers.
Supports requiring photo identification to vote.

More about Nicky

View sources (3)

Supports lowering taxes, cutting wasteful spending and keeping state costs from shifting onto property taxes.
Issues | Nicky Woods for State Representative
Campaign website · Friends of Nicky Woods · Lower Taxes & Responsible Spending · nickyforstaterep.com
“Nicky Woods supports lowering taxes, reducing wasteful spending, and stopping Harrisburg from shifting costs onto homeowners through rising property taxes.”
Supports parental rights and school choice, including private, charter, cyber and homeschool options.
GOP voters overwhelmingly pick Woods over Lindemuth in the 98th District
News coverage · LancasterOnline · May 19, 2026 · lancasteronline.com
“cut government red tape, defend parental rights in education, and stand firm with law enforcement to protect public safety”
Issues | Nicky Woods for State Representative
Campaign website · Friends of Nicky Woods · Parental Rights & Educational Choice · nickyforstaterep.com
“Nicky supports educational choice, strong academic standards, and removing unnecessary state barriers”
Pledges to back police and put victims' rights first; opposes sanctuary city policies.
Issues | Nicky Woods for State Representative
Campaign website · Friends of Nicky Woods · Law & Order · nickyforstaterep.com
“Nicky Woods will stand with police, strengthen public safety, and ensure victims' rights come first.”
Voter Guide Profile for PA State Representative, District 98 candidate - Nicky Woods
Candidate questionnaire · iVoterGuide (AFA Action) · Immigration · ivoterguide.com
“As someone with over 20 years in law enforcement, I strongly oppose sanctuary city policies.”
Opposes new gun restrictions on law-abiding owners and favors enforcing existing laws instead.
Issues | Nicky Woods for State Representative
Campaign website · Friends of Nicky Woods · Defending the Second Amendment · nickyforstaterep.com
“Nicky will defend the Second Amendment and oppose policies that burden law-abiding citizens”
Voter Guide Profile for PA State Representative, District 98 candidate - Nicky Woods
Candidate questionnaire · iVoterGuide (AFA Action) · 2nd Amendment · ivoterguide.com
“Rather than placing additional restrictions on responsible gun owners, we should focus on enforcing existing laws”
Supports limiting executive power and increasing government transparency and accountability.
Issues | Nicky Woods for State Representative
Campaign website · Friends of Nicky Woods · Limited Government · nickyforstaterep.com
“Nicky supports limiting executive overreach, increasing transparency, and restoring accountability”
Calls for fewer regulations, lower taxes and affordable energy for small businesses.
Issues | Nicky Woods for State Representative
Campaign website · Friends of Nicky Woods · Supporting Small Business · nickyforstaterep.com
“Nicky will fight for fewer regulations, lower taxes, affordable energy, and a business climate where employers can hire, grow, and stay”
Opposes one-size-fits-all minimum wage mandates, saying wages should grow through a strong economy.
Voter Guide Profile for PA State Representative, District 98 candidate - Nicky Woods
Candidate questionnaire · iVoterGuide (AFA Action) · Economy: minimum wage · ivoterguide.com
“I support fair wages, but oppose one-size-fits-all mandates.”
Opposes elective abortion except to save the mother's life and opposes public funds for abortion providers.
Voter Guide Profile for PA State Representative, District 98 candidate - Nicky Woods
Candidate questionnaire · iVoterGuide (AFA Action) · Right to Life … Right to Life · ivoterguide.com
“Elective abortion should not be permitted, with the only exception being when it is necessary to save the life of the mother … I strongly believe that taxpayer dollars should never be used to fund abortion providers.”
Supports requiring photo identification to vote.
Voter Guide Profile for PA State Representative, District 98 candidate - Nicky Woods
Candidate questionnaire · iVoterGuide (AFA Action) · Elections and Voting · ivoterguide.com
“Requiring photo identification is a simple, common-sense way to protect the integrity of our elections”

Joshua Deering

Independent

Quality engineer · Mount Joy

The gist

Supports property tax reform paired with school tax reform; opposes shifting state costs onto municipalities.
Supports growth that balances farming with the area's quality of life.
Supports open primaries so all registered voters can vote in primary elections.
Calls for more transparency in the state budget process and realistic revenue projections.
Supports delaying data center development until municipalities can update their zoning laws.

More about Joshua

View sources (1)

Supports property tax reform paired with school tax reform; opposes shifting state costs onto municipalities.
Pennsylvania State Representative District 98 — candidate responses
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters Education Fund (VOTE411) · Most pressing issues … Most pressing issues · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I support property tax reform but this goes hand in hand with school tax reform … oppose policies that simply shift the costs to local municipalities”
Supports growth that balances farming with the area's quality of life.
Pennsylvania State Representative District 98 — candidate responses
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters Education Fund (VOTE411) · Most pressing issues · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I support responsible growth which needs to balance our agricultural profession and quality of life for the area”
Supports open primaries so all registered voters can vote in primary elections.
Pennsylvania State Representative District 98 — candidate responses
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters Education Fund (VOTE411) · Election changes · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I believe in and would support open primaries”
Calls for more transparency in the state budget process and realistic revenue projections.
Pennsylvania State Representative District 98 — candidate responses
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters Education Fund (VOTE411) · State budget process … State budget process · onyourballot.vote411.org
“more transperancy in the budget process … Use realistic revenue projections based on previous years”
Supports delaying data center development until municipalities can update their zoning laws.
Pennsylvania State Representative District 98 — candidate responses
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters Education Fund (VOTE411) · Data centers … Data centers · onyourballot.vote411.org
“delay data center development until local municpalities have time to update their zoning laws … Residents should not subsidize it”

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.