2020 Election Guide: Pennsylvania*

*Specifically, western Pennsylvania: US House PA-18, State House PA-23, State Senate PA-43

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past year or two, you probably know what 11/3/2020 means this year. (Or likely for many of you, hopefully all, much much earlier) Yes, it is a major election year. No, not just major, likely life-changing election year. And it’s not just for the leader and vision of the country, but also the thousands of downstream races on the state and local level, with the results that can even more directly impact our livelihoods. No one is (or should be) left behind because this election (and really, all elections) are personal. And especially to note that it is a privilege to live in a country with elections - a country where one has the privilege of speaking up and speaking out in shaping our lives and our futures.

From the funding and allocation decisions to local school board, sewage, and fire departments to proposition / referendum items brought on by citizens’ engagement in the political process, downstream races are key drivers along the way with those election results having direct impact on our everyday lives. However, many times those elections and issues are often the least covered and understood by laypeople.

As such, I did some research and delved into each of the races relevant for me in Pennsylvania and my districts, from presidential to downstream ballots, and assessed the candidates’ positions on various issues to help me cast make my final ballot decision.

This guide is intended to be more informative than prescriptive of the issues and direction of voting, as this is meant to help me summarize and better understand the candidates and issues at-hand. I tried to summarize each of the candidates’ positions as fact-based (“on-the-paper”) and as objectively as possible. I do not disclose my ultimate views / how I will be voting, nor endorse any candidate or policy positions for the purpose of this guide.

I include all of the sources / links that I used to compile this guide as I highly recommend doing your own supplemental reading / research in addition to this guide so to better understand how the candidates / positions best relate to you.

Hope you find this guide helpful with your election decision! Happy voting!