Federal

U.S. Representative, 16th Congressional District

Vote for: 1
Term: 2 years
Candidates: 2
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A member of the U.S. House of Representatives votes on federal laws, taxes and spending on behalf of the district.

All of Erie, Crawford and Mercer counties are in the 16th Congressional District. In Venango County, the 16th District includes the City of Franklin; the boroughs of Barkeyville, Cooperstown, Polk, Sugarcreek and Utica; and the townships of Canal, Frenchcreek, Irwin, Jackson, Mineral, Sandycreek and Victory (precinct 1).

Candidates Compare by issue

Justin Wagner

Democratic

Senior automation engineer · Greenville, Mercer County

The gist

Pledges to hold at least one in-person town hall in the district every month if elected.
Supports 12-year congressional term limits and a ban on members of Congress trading individual stocks.
Calls for closing 2017 tax law loopholes and taxing wealth like wages to fund district infrastructure and jobs.
Opposes raising the Social Security retirement age or cutting benefits; supports lifting the payroll tax cap.
Supports the Medicare for All Act and opposes cuts to Medicare and Medicaid.
Supports raising the federal minimum wage and tying it to inflation.
Supports banning hedge funds and private equity firms from buying single-family homes, and the ROAD to Housing Act.
Opposes school vouchers that reduce public school funding; supports fully funding Title I and special education.
Supports a moratorium on building data centers until they can be made sustainable and safe.
Supports universal background checks and federal red flag laws with judicial due process protections.

More about Justin

View sources (2)

Pledges to hold at least one in-person town hall in the district every month if elected.
Platform - Justin Wagner For Congress
Campaign website · Justin Wagner For Congress · Townhall promise · justinwagnerforcongress.com
“I will hold at least one in-person Townhall in our district every month.”
Supports 12-year congressional term limits and a ban on members of Congress trading individual stocks.
Platform - Justin Wagner For Congress
Campaign website · Justin Wagner For Congress · Defend Democracy … Defend Democracy · justinwagnerforcongress.com
“I will vote to limit service to a maximum of 12 years total—6 terms in the House and 2 terms in the Senate. … Ban Members of Congress from Trading Stocks”
Calls for closing 2017 tax law loopholes and taxing wealth like wages to fund district infrastructure and jobs.
Platform - Justin Wagner For Congress
Campaign website · Justin Wagner For Congress · Make Taxation Fair Again · justinwagnerforcongress.com
“We need to close the 2017 loopholes, tax wealth like we tax hard work, and reinvest that money into PA-16 infrastructure and jobs. … I will vote to pass tax policy that does not allow working-class families to pay a higher tax rate than billionaires.”
Opposes raising the Social Security retirement age or cutting benefits; supports lifting the payroll tax cap.
Platform - Justin Wagner For Congress
Campaign website · Justin Wagner For Congress · Protect and Expand Social Security · justinwagnerforcongress.com
“I will flatly oppose any effort to cut benefits, raise the retirement age, or privatize the system. … lift the payroll tax cap so the wealthiest Americans pay into the system at the same rate as everyone else”
Supports the Medicare for All Act and opposes cuts to Medicare and Medicaid.
Platform - Justin Wagner For Congress
Campaign website · Justin Wagner For Congress · Expand Medicare. Defend Medicaid. · justinwagnerforcongress.com
“I will co-sponsor and vote to pass The Medicare For All Act (H.R. 3069). … I will oppose any cuts to Medicare or Medicaid and fight to strengthen both programs.”
Mike Kelly, Justin Wagner speak with local advocates, voters ahead of November election
News coverage · WJET/WFXP (via Yahoo News) · Aug 22, 2026 · yahoo.com
“Eventually, we do want to move towards a Medicare-for-all system.”
Supports raising the federal minimum wage and tying it to inflation.
Platform - Justin Wagner For Congress
Campaign website · Justin Wagner For Congress · Guarantee a Living Income … Stand with Unions · justinwagnerforcongress.com
“It’s long past time to raise the federal minimum wage — and tie it to inflation … In Congress, I’ll support the PRO Act to protect the right to organize and put real penalties on union-busters.”
Supports banning hedge funds and private equity firms from buying single-family homes, and the ROAD to Housing Act.
Platform - Justin Wagner For Congress
Campaign website · Justin Wagner For Congress · Decisive Action on the Housing Crisis · justinwagnerforcongress.com
“we need to ban hedge funds and private equity firms from buying single-family homes. … I support the passage of The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act”
Opposes school vouchers that reduce public school funding; supports fully funding Title I and special education.
Platform - Justin Wagner For Congress
Campaign website · Justin Wagner For Congress · World-Class Education · justinwagnerforcongress.com
“I do not support school vouchers that take away from public school funding. … I will sponsor and champion legislation to fully fund Title I schools, special education, and preschool programs.”
Supports a moratorium on building data centers until they can be made sustainable and safe.
Platform - Justin Wagner For Congress
Campaign website · Justin Wagner For Congress · Data Centers … Defend Our Air, Water, Land, and Climate · justinwagnerforcongress.com
“Until the technology is readily available to make these facilities sustainable and safe, I will vote for a moratorium on building them. … I'll also fight to protect and strengthen the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act.”
Supports universal background checks and federal red flag laws with judicial due process protections.
Platform - Justin Wagner For Congress
Campaign website · Justin Wagner For Congress · You have a right to bear arms · justinwagnerforcongress.com
“If you buy a firearm, you should pass a background check—plain and simple. … Any federal framework must include strict judicial due process protections”

Mike Kelly

RepublicanIncumbent

U.S. Representative · Butler, Butler County

The gist

Supports the 2025 Working Families Tax Cuts law, including no tax on tips and overtime and a larger senior deduction.In office
Supports making data center companies pay the power costs of serving them; backs an all-of-the-above energy policy.In office
Co-leads the Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act to streamline prior authorization in Medicare Advantage.In office
Introduced a bill giving HUD grant preference to housing projects in Opportunity Zones to expand housing supply.In office
Supports $70 billion in funding for ICE, CBP and other immigration enforcement agencies through 2029.In office
Co-sponsored the SAVE America Act requiring proof of citizenship to register and photo ID to vote.In office
Introduced the bipartisan STEEL Act to strengthen enforcement against foreign steel dumping and duty evasion.In office
Supports federal funding to complete the Gateway 228 road project in southern Butler County.In office
Introduced the bipartisan College Transparency Act to expand information available to families choosing a college.In office

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

More about Mike

View sources (11)

Supports the 2025 Working Families Tax Cuts law, including no tax on tips and overtime and a larger senior deduction.
Kelly highlights Working Families Tax Cuts' success on law's one-year anniversary
Public statement · Office of U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly · Jul 2, 2026 · kelly.house.gov
“including No Tax on Tips and No Tax on Overtime, this law leverages the tax code to work for Americans, not against them … The Working Families Tax Cuts also expanded and made permanent Rep. Kelly's Opportunity Zones legislation”
Supports making data center companies pay the power costs of serving them; backs an all-of-the-above energy policy.
Kelly backs Ratepayer Protection Act, calls for data center companies to pay their own way
Public statement · Office of U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly · Sep 17, 2026 · kelly.house.gov
“Pennsylvania families shouldn't be footing the bill to power data centers”
Rep. Kelly votes for pro-growth, cost-cutting permitting reform legislation
Public statement · Office of U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly · Dec 12, 2025 · kelly.house.gov
“an all-of-the-above energy approach must not forget about all that is below”
Co-leads the Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act to streamline prior authorization in Medicare Advantage.
Kelly, DelBene celebrate Ways & Means Committee's unanimous passage of Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act
Public statement · Office of U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly · Jul 15, 2026 · kelly.house.gov
“This legislation puts patient care and patient outcomes first, and it will greatly modernize and streamline the prior authorization process.”
Introduced a bill giving HUD grant preference to housing projects in Opportunity Zones to expand housing supply.
Kelly, Harder introduce Increasing Housing in Opportunity Zones Act
Public statement · Office of U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly · Mar 5, 2026 · kelly.house.gov
“This new legislation builds upon the successes of Opportunity Zones and leverages the tax code to both expand the housing supply and lower costs.”
Supports $70 billion in funding for ICE, CBP and other immigration enforcement agencies through 2029.
Kelly votes to strengthen U.S. border security, fund CBP and ICE
Public statement · Office of U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly · Jun 9, 2026 · kelly.house.gov
“Republicans will always secure America's borders … This funding allows law enforcement to continue their jobs without partisan politics getting in the way.”
Co-sponsored the SAVE America Act requiring proof of citizenship to register and photo ID to vote.
Kelly votes for SAVE America Act to strengthen America's elections
Public statement · Office of U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly · Feb 11, 2026 · kelly.house.gov
“The SAVE Act ensures only American citizens are allowed to vote in American elections. … Requiring individuals to present an eligible photo identification document before voting.”
Introduced the bipartisan STEEL Act to strengthen enforcement against foreign steel dumping and duty evasion.
Kelly introduces Strengthening Trade Enforcement and Evasion Limitations (STEEL) Act
Public statement · Office of U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly · Dec 8, 2025 · kelly.house.gov
“For years, foreign steel producers have undercut American steel and tube producers by exporting their product at prices below the cost of production.”
Kelly touts STEEL Act during Congressional Steel Caucus hearing with industry leaders
Public statement · Office of U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly · Jan 14, 2026 · kelly.house.gov
“We have a lot of legislation that is signed into law. The problem is the enforcement,”
Supports federal funding to complete the Gateway 228 road project in southern Butler County.
Kelly calls for Butler County Gateway 228 funding request to U.S. Transportation Secretary
Public statement · Office of U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly · Jun 26, 2026 · kelly.house.gov
“completing work along Route 228 is essential for local residents and local businesses”
Introduced the bipartisan College Transparency Act to expand information available to families choosing a college.
Kelly, colleagues introduce College Transparency Act
Public statement · Office of U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly · Jul 29, 2025 · kelly.house.gov
“The College Transparency Act gives parents and students the tools they need to succeed”

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.