State

State Senator, 40th 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 Monroe County, plus parts of Lackawanna and Wayne counties.

Candidates Compare by issue

Brian Wrightson

Democratic

Owner, Fire Tower Communications · Archbald, Lackawanna County

The gist

Supports a complete stop on new large-scale data center development in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Calls for state funding and incentives to build housing and offset the cost of rehabilitating aging homes.
Proposes expanding telehealth, protecting rural hospital reimbursement rates and opposing coverage cuts.
Says rural broadband is underfunded; calls for state resources to reach the communities that need them most.
Calls for state policies providing relief on utility, housing, health care and child care costs.
Supports more investment in state economic development programs that finance job creation and retention.
Calls for securing federal funding for flood mitigation and property buyouts and resources for local emergency services.
Says he has never accepted money from corporate PACs or data center developers.

More about Brian

View sources (7)

Supports a complete stop on new large-scale data center development in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Data Centers – My Opponent Got It Wrong From the Start
Campaign website · Friends of Brian Wrightson · wrightsonforsenate.net
“That is why I support a complete stop on new large-scale data center development in NEPA.”
Calls for state funding and incentives to build housing and offset the cost of rehabilitating aging homes.
Why is housing so unaffordable in Northeastern Pennsylvania and which 2026 State Senate candidate has a plan to fix it?
Campaign website · Friends of Brian Wrightson · wrightsonforsenate.net
“large-scale state funding can subsidize new construction, provide tax incentives, and crucially, offset the massive expenses of retrofitting aging homes”
Proposes expanding telehealth, protecting rural hospital reimbursement rates and opposing coverage cuts.
How does Brian Wrightson plan to address healthcare access in rural NEPA?
Campaign website · Friends of Brian Wrightson · wrightsonforsenate.net
“expanding telehealth infrastructure, protecting reimbursement rates for rural hospitals, and pushing back against coverage cuts”
Says rural broadband is underfunded; calls for state resources to reach the communities that need them most.
Why is broadband a top issue for Brian Wrightson's state senate campaign?
Campaign website · Friends of Brian Wrightson · wrightsonforsenate.net
“Rural broadband has been chronically underfunded and deprioritized. … Wrightson will fight to make sure state resources reach the communities that need them most, not just the ones that are the easiest to serve.”
Calls for state policies providing relief on utility, housing, health care and child care costs.
What does affordability mean for families in SD-40 under Brian Wrightson's platform?
Campaign website · Friends of Brian Wrightson · wrightsonforsenate.net
“fight for policies that provide real relief on utilities, housing, healthcare, and childcare”
Supports more investment in state economic development programs that finance job creation and retention.
What is Brian Wrightson's plan for jobs and economic development in Northeastern Pennsylvania?
Campaign website · Friends of Brian Wrightson · wrightsonforsenate.net
“He will advocate for increased investment through state economic development programs that provide financing to businesses committed to creating and retaining jobs”
Calls for securing federal funding for flood mitigation and property buyouts and resources for local emergency services.
Securing NEPA's Future: Brian Wrightson's Hands-On Approach to Emergency Preparedness and Public Safety
Campaign website · Friends of Brian Wrightson · wrightsonforsenate.net
“prioritize securing federal funding for critical flood mitigation, proactively address infrastructure vulnerabilities, and empower local emergency services”
Says he has never accepted money from corporate PACs or data center developers.
Data Centers – My Opponent Got It Wrong From the Start
Campaign website · Friends of Brian Wrightson · wrightsonforsenate.net
“I have never accepted money from corporate PACs. I have never accepted money from data center developers.”

Rosemary Brown

RepublicanIncumbent

State senator · Middle Smithfield Township, Monroe County

The gist

Supports a temporary statewide moratorium on hyperscale data centers; offered a 3-year moratorium amendment.
Proposes requiring independent water impact studies before data center applications.In office
Proposes a one-year wait before a former municipal elected official can take a paid job with that municipality.In office
Sponsored SB 998, a grant program to expand nursing school capacity; it passed the Senate in April 2026.In office
Co-sponsored SB 1284, setting a 20-year minimum for attempted murder of a police officer causing serious injury.In office
Sponsored Greg Moyer's Law (Act 17 of 2026), requiring AEDs at all PIAA-sanctioned athletic events and practices.In office
Sponsored SB 979, barring property reassessment for home improvements worth up to 20% of assessed value.In office
Supports state investment in child care, including Child Care Works and Pre-K Counts, as a workforce issue.In office

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

More about Rosemary

View sources (8)

Supports a temporary statewide moratorium on hyperscale data centers; offered a 3-year moratorium amendment.
Brown Announces "Residents First" Legislative Package Addressing Data Center Development, Expresses Support for Moratorium
Public statement · Office of Sen. Rosemary Brown · Feb 24, 2026 · senatorbrown40.com
“everyone should be focused on doing things right. For that reason, I support a temporary moratorium.”
Committee votes on Sen. Brown's statewide data center moratorium amendment
News coverage · Times Leader · Jun 30, 2026 · timesleader.com
“offered an amendment to establish a three-year statewide moratorium on the construction of hyper-scale data centers”
Proposes requiring independent water impact studies before data center applications.
Brown Announces "Residents First" Legislative Package Addressing Data Center Development, Expresses Support for Moratorium
Public statement · Office of Sen. Rosemary Brown · Feb 24, 2026 · senatorbrown40.com
“Mandate an independent, third-party water impact study and analysis at least 30 days prior to any formal application”
Proposes a one-year wait before a former municipal elected official can take a paid job with that municipality.
Brown to Introduce Legislation Strengthening Local Government Transparency and Accountability
Public statement · Office of Sen. Rosemary Brown · Jan 15, 2026 · senatorbrown40.com
“require a one-year waiting period before a municipal elected official may apply for or accept a compensated position within the same municipality”
Sponsored SB 998, a grant program to expand nursing school capacity; it passed the Senate in April 2026.
Brown's Bill to Expand Nursing Education and Relieve Workforce Shortage Passes Senate
Public statement · Office of Sen. Rosemary Brown · Apr 21, 2026 · senatorbrown40.com
“would establish the Nurse Education Capacity Expansion Grant Program, aimed at increasing the number of qualified nursing students”
Co-sponsored SB 1284, setting a 20-year minimum for attempted murder of a police officer causing serious injury.
Sens. Baker, Brown Highlight Legislation to Strengthen Penalties for Attempted Murder of Law Enforcement Officers
Public statement · Office of Sen. Rosemary Brown · May 4, 2026 · senatorbrown40.com
“establishing a 20-year mandatory minimum sentence and allowing for a maximum penalty of up to life in prison”
Sponsored Greg Moyer's Law (Act 17 of 2026), requiring AEDs at all PIAA-sanctioned athletic events and practices.
Brown Announces Enactment of Greg Moyer's Law
Public statement · Office of Sen. Rosemary Brown · May 13, 2026 · senatorbrown40.com
“will require automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to be present at all PIAA-sanctioned athletic events and practices”
Sponsored SB 979, barring property reassessment for home improvements worth up to 20% of assessed value.
Brown Advances Legislation to Encourage Home Investment Without Tax Penalty
Public statement · Office of Sen. Rosemary Brown · Nov 19, 2025 · senatorbrown40.com
“Senate Bill 979 would prohibit a reassessment if the value of improvements is equal to or less than 20% of the home’s current assessed value.”
Supports state investment in child care, including Child Care Works and Pre-K Counts, as a workforce issue.
Brown Advocates for Child Care in State Budget to Support Working Families
Public statement · Office of Sen. Rosemary Brown · May 1, 2025 · senatorbrown40.com
“Access to affordable, high-quality child care is not a partisan issue; it’s a workforce issue, an economic issue and a family issue”

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.