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State Senator, 20th 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.

All of Pike, Susquehanna and Wyoming counties; the northern and eastern part of Wayne County (Berlin, Buckingham, Clinton, Damascus, Dyberry, Lebanon, Manchester, Mount Pleasant, Oregon, Palmyra, Paupack, Preston and Scott townships and Bethany, Hawley and Starrucca boroughs); and part of Luzerne County.

CandidatesCompare by issue

Taxes & budget

  • Jackie BakerDemocratic

    • Calls for lower taxes on low- and middle-income households and higher taxes on the wealthiest and corporations.

  • Lisa BakerRepublican

    • Supported the 2026-27 budget deal that raised no taxes and made no Rainy Day Fund withdrawals.In office
    • Voted for HB 1667 to cut electric-bill and school-supply taxes, expand EITC and end a data center tax break.In office

Public safety

  • Jackie BakerDemocratic

    No documented position found.

  • Lisa BakerRepublican

    • Sponsored SB 65 to lengthen school bus stopping distance and add penalties for repeat violators.In office
    • Calls for uniform statewide firearm laws over local ordinances, as in Senate-passed SB 822.In office

Education

  • Jackie BakerDemocratic

    • Calls for fully funding public schools and finding new revenue to reduce reliance on property taxes.

  • Lisa BakerRepublican

    No documented position found.

Housing

  • Jackie BakerDemocratic

    No documented position found.

  • Lisa BakerRepublican

    • Supported Senate bills to streamline housing permits and approvals while keeping local oversight.In office

Economy & jobs

  • Jackie BakerDemocratic

    • Supports raising Pennsylvania's minimum wage, which she notes the Legislature hasn't raised in 20 years.

  • Lisa BakerRepublican

    No documented position found.

Roads & infrastructure

  • Jackie BakerDemocratic

    • Calls for expanding public transit systems and increasing transit funding.

  • Lisa BakerRepublican

    • Opposes the proposed Shawnee-Walker transmission line in Pike County and the use of eminent domain for it.In office

Environment & parks

  • Jackie BakerDemocratic

    • Supports expanding renewable energy to address electricity costs and backs a state 'green amendment'.

  • Lisa BakerRepublican

    No documented position found.

Health & human services

  • Jackie BakerDemocratic

    • Calls for affordable healthcare for all and a state plan to rebuild the public health workforce.
    • Supports abortion rights, ending violence against women and family leave.

  • Lisa BakerRepublican

    • Sponsored SB 1454 to let small rural hospitals convert to federally designated Rural Emergency Hospitals.In office

Government & transparency

  • Jackie BakerDemocratic

    • Supports no-excuse mail voting and an independent citizens' redistricting commission.

  • Lisa BakerRepublican

    No documented position found.

Courts & justice

  • Jackie BakerDemocratic

    No documented position found.

  • Lisa BakerRepublican

    • Sponsored SB 1400 to rewrite second-degree murder sentencing after the state Supreme Court's Lee ruling.In office

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.