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.
Taxes & budget
Hugh DarlingtonDemocratic
- Says legislators should not be paid while the state budget is past its June 30 deadline.
Nicky WoodsRepublican
- Supports lowering taxes, cutting wasteful spending and keeping state costs from shifting onto property taxes.
Joshua DeeringIndependent
- Supports property tax reform paired with school tax reform; opposes shifting state costs onto municipalities.
- Calls for more transparency in the state budget process and realistic revenue projections.
Public safety
Hugh DarlingtonDemocratic
No documented position found.
Nicky WoodsRepublican
- 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.
Joshua DeeringIndependent
No documented position found.
Education
Hugh DarlingtonDemocratic
- 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.
Nicky WoodsRepublican
- Supports parental rights and school choice, including private, charter, cyber and homeschool options.
Joshua DeeringIndependent
No documented position found.
Economy & jobs
Hugh DarlingtonDemocratic
- Supports raising the minimum wage as proposed by Gov. Shapiro to address affordability.
Nicky WoodsRepublican
- 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.
Joshua DeeringIndependent
- Supports growth that balances farming with the area's quality of life.
Roads & infrastructure
Hugh DarlingtonDemocratic
No documented position found.
Nicky WoodsRepublican
No documented position found.
Joshua DeeringIndependent
- Supports delaying data center development until municipalities can update their zoning laws.
Environment & parks
Hugh DarlingtonDemocratic
- 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.
Nicky WoodsRepublican
No documented position found.
Joshua DeeringIndependent
No documented position found.
Health & human services
Hugh DarlingtonDemocratic
No documented position found.
Nicky WoodsRepublican
- Opposes elective abortion except to save the mother's life and opposes public funds for abortion providers.
Joshua DeeringIndependent
No documented position found.
Government & transparency
Hugh DarlingtonDemocratic
- 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.
Nicky WoodsRepublican
- Supports limiting executive power and increasing government transparency and accountability.
- Supports requiring photo identification to vote.
Joshua DeeringIndependent
- Supports open primaries so all registered voters can vote in primary elections.
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.