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State Senator, 28th 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.

Southern and eastern York County: Chanceford, Codorus, East Hopewell, Fawn, Heidelberg, Hellam, Hopewell, Jackson, Lower Chanceford, Lower Windsor, Manheim, North Codorus, North Hopewell, Paradise, Peach Bottom, Penn, Shrewsbury, Springettsbury, Spring Garden, Springfield, West Manheim, Windsor and York townships, and Cross Roads, Dallastown, Delta, East Prospect, Fawn Grove, Felton, Glen Rock, Hallam, Hanover, Jacobus, Jefferson, Loganville, New Freedom, New Salem, North York, Railroad, Red Lion, Seven Valleys, Shrewsbury, Spring Grove, Stewartstown, Windsor, Winterstown, Wrightsville, Yoe and Yorkana boroughs.

CandidatesCompare by issue

Taxes & budget

  • Thomas JohnsonDemocratic

    • Calls for reassessing the state budget and restructuring pay "from the bottom up."

  • Kristin Phillips-HillRepublican

    • Called the 2026-27 state budget imperfect but backed it for continuing tax cuts and blocking tax hikes.In office

Education

  • Thomas JohnsonDemocratic

    No documented position found.

  • Kristin Phillips-HillRepublican

    • Sponsored SB 378 setting rules for how schools and vendors collect, use and share student data.In office
    • Co-introduced a Senate-passed bill designating school and college sports teams by biological sex.In office

Housing

  • Thomas JohnsonDemocratic

    • Names rising utility bills and rent and housing costs as the district's most pressing issues.

  • Kristin Phillips-HillRepublican

    No documented position found.

Economy & jobs

  • Thomas JohnsonDemocratic

    • Calls for tackling the rising cost of living, citing high utility bills.

  • Kristin Phillips-HillRepublican

    • Backed permit reform with decision deadlines, deeming permits approved if the state fails to act in time.In office

Roads & infrastructure

  • Thomas JohnsonDemocratic

    No documented position found.

  • Kristin Phillips-HillRepublican

    • Proposes siting new transmission lines along highway rights-of-way and away from preserved farmland.In office

Environment & parks

  • Thomas JohnsonDemocratic

    • Says he has no position yet on data center regulation and would seek a committee to study it.

  • Kristin Phillips-HillRepublican

    No documented position found.

Health & human services

Government & transparency

  • Thomas JohnsonDemocratic

    • Calls for transparency about the policies being made in Harrisburg.
    • Supports more data security for voting systems and more security at polling places.

  • Kristin Phillips-HillRepublican

    • Plans legislation requiring state agencies to assess their programs for improper payments.In office
    • Proposes requiring Senate confirmation of the Human Relations Commission's executive director.In office

Courts & justice

  • Thomas JohnsonDemocratic

    No documented position found.

  • Kristin Phillips-HillRepublican

    • Supports the Senate-passed second-degree murder sentencing bills; opposed the House-amended version.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; 9 issues covered in this race.