The Gist
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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).

CandidatesCompare by issue

Taxes & budget

  • Justin WagnerDemocratic

    • Calls for closing 2017 tax law loopholes and taxing wealth like wages to fund district infrastructure and jobs.

  • Mike KellyRepublican

    • Supports the 2025 Working Families Tax Cuts law, including no tax on tips and overtime and a larger senior deduction.In office

Public safety

  • Justin WagnerDemocratic

    • Supports universal background checks and federal red flag laws with judicial due process protections.

  • Mike KellyRepublican

    • Supports $70 billion in funding for ICE, CBP and other immigration enforcement agencies through 2029.In office

Education

  • Justin WagnerDemocratic

    • Opposes school vouchers that reduce public school funding; supports fully funding Title I and special education.

  • Mike KellyRepublican

    • Introduced the bipartisan College Transparency Act to expand information available to families choosing a college.In office

Housing

  • Justin WagnerDemocratic

    • Supports banning hedge funds and private equity firms from buying single-family homes, and the ROAD to Housing Act.

  • Mike KellyRepublican

    • Introduced a bill giving HUD grant preference to housing projects in Opportunity Zones to expand housing supply.In office

Economy & jobs

  • Justin WagnerDemocratic

    • Supports raising the federal minimum wage and tying it to inflation.

  • Mike KellyRepublican

    • Introduced the bipartisan STEEL Act to strengthen enforcement against foreign steel dumping and duty evasion.In office

Roads & infrastructure

  • Justin WagnerDemocratic

    No documented position found.

  • Mike KellyRepublican

    • Supports federal funding to complete the Gateway 228 road project in southern Butler County.In office

Environment & parks

  • Justin WagnerDemocratic

    • Supports a moratorium on building data centers until they can be made sustainable and safe.

  • Mike KellyRepublican

    • Supports making data center companies pay the power costs of serving them; backs an all-of-the-above energy policy.In office

Health & human services

  • Justin WagnerDemocratic

    • 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.

  • Mike KellyRepublican

    • Co-leads the Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act to streamline prior authorization in Medicare Advantage.In office

Government & transparency

  • Justin WagnerDemocratic

    • 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.

  • Mike KellyRepublican

    • Co-sponsored the SAVE America Act requiring proof of citizenship to register and photo ID to vote.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.