State Senator, 4th District · 2026 General Election

Todd Johnson

Republican

Ward leader and block captain · Germantown, Philadelphia

The gist

Supports school choice, including a private and charter school selection program funded by reallocating money.
Says Philadelphia schools need more oversight of how funding is spent rather than more money.
Calls for closer oversight of SEPTA's structure and how its funding is used, rather than more money.
Supports more natural gas drilling and fracking to lower utility bills, if it is safe.
Favors more police presence and community policing.
Says acknowledging the complexity of the abortion issue serves the American people and unborn life.

More about Todd

View sources (1)

Supports school choice, including a private and charter school selection program funded by reallocating money.
Meet the candidates: Republican Todd Johnson runs against Art Haywood
News coverage · The Chestnut Hill Local · Jun 3, 2026 · chestnuthilllocal.com
“Johnson says school choice is a solution for parents seeking a better education for their children. … a private and charter school selection program can be funded through "oversight and adjusting and allocating how the money is spent.”
Says Philadelphia schools need more oversight of how funding is spent rather than more money.
Meet the candidates: Republican Todd Johnson runs against Art Haywood
News coverage · The Chestnut Hill Local · Jun 3, 2026 · chestnuthilllocal.com
“the product that we're giving out still hasn't justified that we just keep throwing money”
Calls for closer oversight of SEPTA's structure and how its funding is used, rather than more money.
Meet the candidates: Republican Todd Johnson runs against Art Haywood
News coverage · The Chestnut Hill Local · Jun 3, 2026 · chestnuthilllocal.com
“we need to look at the structure of how SEPTA is set up”
Supports more natural gas drilling and fracking to lower utility bills, if it is safe.
Meet the candidates: Republican Todd Johnson runs against Art Haywood
News coverage · The Chestnut Hill Local · Jun 3, 2026 · chestnuthilllocal.com
“On affordability, Johnson targeted utility bills, and says an increase in drilling and fracking is the solution. … if it's safe and it's going to help lower costs, which we know it does, then I'm all for it.”
Favors more police presence and community policing.
Meet the candidates: Republican Todd Johnson runs against Art Haywood
News coverage · The Chestnut Hill Local · Jun 3, 2026 · chestnuthilllocal.com
“On the issue of public safety, Johnson favored an increase in police presence and community policing.”
Says acknowledging the complexity of the abortion issue serves the American people and unborn life.
Meet the candidates: Republican Todd Johnson runs against Art Haywood
News coverage · The Chestnut Hill Local · Jun 3, 2026 · chestnuthilllocal.com
“acknowledging the complexity of the abortion issue is both a service to the American people and, most significantly, unborn life.”

Art Haywood

DemocraticIncumbent

State senator; lawyer

The gist

Calls for raising the minimum wage to at least $15 an hour and for statewide paid family leave.
Supports renewing renewable-energy incentives so utilities must buy more solar and wind power.
Supports pre-canvassing mail ballots 5 days early, drop boxes in all counties and ending mail-ballot date rules.
Says the legislature should regulate data centers' water and power impacts even though it affects local control.
Wants further state restrictions on ICE and has held weekly vigils outside the Philadelphia ICE office.
Voted against eliminating the gross receipts tax on electric and water utilities, citing lost state revenue.In office
Voted against a Senate bill imposing mandatory minimum sentences on people present at a murder.In office
Plans legislation requiring AI companies to report how they identify, mitigate and govern major risks.In office

In office = from the candidate's own official statements or legislation as an officeholder, not their campaign.

More about Art

View sources (4)

Calls for raising the minimum wage to at least $15 an hour and for statewide paid family leave.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Pennsylvania State Senator District 4
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania · onyourballot.vote411.org
“raising pay and the minimum wage to at least $15 per hour”
Meet the candidates: Haywood focuses on 'dignity for all'
News coverage · The Chestnut Hill Local · May 13, 2026 · chestnuthilllocal.com
“Number two, we get paid family leave.”
Supports renewing renewable-energy incentives so utilities must buy more solar and wind power.
Meet the candidates: Haywood focuses on 'dignity for all'
News coverage · The Chestnut Hill Local · May 13, 2026 · chestnuthilllocal.com
“We need to renew them so that electric companies are required to buy more solar and more wind.”
Supports pre-canvassing mail ballots 5 days early, drop boxes in all counties and ending mail-ballot date rules.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Pennsylvania State Senator District 4
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania · onyourballot.vote411.org
“pre canvassing of mail in ballots starting 5 days before election day to speed mail ballot counting … eliminate mail voting date requirements”
Says the legislature should regulate data centers' water and power impacts even though it affects local control.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Pennsylvania State Senator District 4
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Yes, the state legislature should act even though state regulation would impact local governments.”
Wants further state restrictions on ICE and has held weekly vigils outside the Philadelphia ICE office.
Meet the candidates: Haywood focuses on 'dignity for all'
News coverage · The Chestnut Hill Local · May 13, 2026 · chestnuthilllocal.com
“We would need to flip the Senate in order to get legislation to have further restrictions on ICE.”
Voted against eliminating the gross receipts tax on electric and water utilities, citing lost state revenue.
Senator Haywood Issues Statements Explaining His No Votes on Utility Tax Repeal and Mandatory Sentencing Bill
Public statement · Office of Sen. Art Haywood · Jul 1, 2026 · senatorhaywood.com
“Robbing the state of over a billion dollars for education, healthcare, and safety will hurt us all.”
Voted against a Senate bill imposing mandatory minimum sentences on people present at a murder.
Senator Haywood Issues Statements Explaining His No Votes on Utility Tax Repeal and Mandatory Sentencing Bill
Public statement · Office of Sen. Art Haywood · Jul 1, 2026 · senatorhaywood.com
“Zero responsibility should not result in 10 years behind bars. That's wrong, which is why I voted no.”
Plans legislation requiring AI companies to report how they identify, mitigate and govern major risks.
As AI Leaders Warn of Alarming Risks, Senator Haywood Announces Plans for Pennsylvania AI Safety Legislation
Public statement · Office of Sen. Art Haywood · Sep 15, 2026 · senatorhaywood.com
“require AI companies to report how they identify, mitigate, and govern substantial risks”