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State Senator, 26th 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.

Delaware County only: Aldan, Clifton Heights, East Lansdowne, Glenolden, Lansdowne, Media, Millbourne, Morton, Prospect Park, Ridley Park, Rutledge and Swarthmore boroughs, and Marple, Newtown, Ridley, Springfield, Upper Darby and Upper Providence townships.

CandidatesCompare by issue

Taxes & budget

  • Gail ScottRepublican

    • Criticizes the county's 47% tax increase and rising electricity costs, saying change is needed.

  • Tim KearneyDemocratic

    • Calls for taxing gas drillers, closing the Delaware loophole and repealing the Uniformity Clause for fairer taxes.

Public safety

  • Gail ScottRepublican

    No documented position found.

  • Tim KearneyDemocratic

    • Supports universal background checks for all gun sales and a ban on assault weapons such as the AR-15.
    • Sponsored Abby's Law (SB 1008) setting statewide e-scooter rules, including a minimum riding age of 16.In office

Education

  • Gail ScottRepublican

    No documented position found.

  • Tim KearneyDemocratic

    • Calls for sending all school funding through the Fair Funding Formula and a Marcellus Shale extraction tax for schools.

Environment & parks

  • Gail ScottRepublican

    No documented position found.

  • Tim KearneyDemocratic

    • Supports state laws on data center impacts so ratepayers don't face higher utility rates.

Health & human services

  • Gail ScottRepublican

    No documented position found.

  • Tim KearneyDemocratic

    • Supports health care system oversight legislation and work to reopen closed hospitals in Delaware County.

Government & transparency

  • Gail ScottRepublican

    • Pledges to put residents' interests first and the needs of Harrisburg lobbyists last.

  • Tim KearneyDemocratic

    • Supports allowing counties to pre-canvass mail ballots for 5 days before Election Day.
    • Proposes removing corporations' power to spend on Pennsylvania election and ballot-question activity.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; 6 issues covered in this race.