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State Senator, 16th District

Vote for
1
Term
4 years
Candidates
2
Election
Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A state senator votes on Pennsylvania laws and the state budget and confirms many of the Governor's appointments.

Lehigh County part: Allentown wards 13 and 18; Heidelberg, Lower Macungie, Lower Milford, Lowhill, Lynn, North Whitehall, Upper Macungie, Upper Milford, Upper Saucon, Washington and Weisenberg townships; part of South Whitehall Township (districts 3, 6 and 8); and Alburtis, Coopersburg, Macungie and Slatington boroughs. The district also includes part of Bucks County.

CandidatesCompare by issue

Taxes & budget

  • Mark PinsleyDemocratic

    • Proposes a standard statewide property assessment process to shift school tax burdens.
    • Proposes stopping legislators' pay and requiring a public draft 60 days ahead when budgets are late.

  • Jarrett ColemanRepublican

    • Pledges to vote only for budgets that spend no more than revenue and grow no faster than inflation.
    • Voted for House Bill 1667 to end the gross receipts tax on electric bills.

Public safety

  • Mark PinsleyDemocratic

    • Calls for short data retention limits if license plate reader cameras are used.

  • Jarrett ColemanRepublican

    No documented position found.

Education

  • Mark PinsleyDemocratic

    No documented position found.

  • Jarrett ColemanRepublican

    • Sponsored Senate Bill 698 requiring school districts to get a public appraisal before buying real estate.In office

Economy & jobs

  • Mark PinsleyDemocratic

    • Proposes raising the state minimum wage to $22 an hour, then indexing it to the cost of living.

  • Jarrett ColemanRepublican

    • Said at a June 2026 rally that skill games are not gambling and should not be taxed or regulated.

Roads & infrastructure

  • Mark PinsleyDemocratic

    • Proposes requiring utilities to justify every rate increase and creating a consumer advocacy office.

  • Jarrett ColemanRepublican

    • Proposes repealing the data center sales tax exemption and sending the revenue to the Motor License Fund.In office

Environment & parks

  • Mark PinsleyDemocratic

    • Supports a statewide moratorium on new hyperscale data centers.

  • Jarrett ColemanRepublican

    • Sponsored Senate Bill 1345 letting municipalities pause new data center applications for up to 18 months.

Health & human services

  • Mark PinsleyDemocratic

    • Proposes capping out-of-pocket costs for drugs like insulin and cutting pharmacy middlemen.

  • Jarrett ColemanRepublican

    • Co-authored Senate Bill 804 to phase out the additive DEHP in IV bags and other medical devices.In office

Government & transparency

  • Mark PinsleyDemocratic

    • Supports more early voting, a paper record for every ballot and routine audits.

  • Jarrett ColemanRepublican

    • Sponsored Senate Bill 313 to set statewide standards for pre-election voting equipment testing.
    • Co-sponsored Senate Bill 1150 requiring public notice of agenda items before local governments act on them.In office

Courts & justice

  • Mark PinsleyDemocratic

    • Supports legalizing, regulating and taxing recreational marijuana for adults 21 and older.

  • Jarrett ColemanRepublican

    No documented position found.

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; 9 issues covered in this race.