On November 8, 2022 the following are the Democratic candidates.
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Governor
Josh Shapiro
Lieutenant Governor
Austin Davis
U.S. Senate
John Fetterman
U.S. House
Chrissy Houlahan
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State House
158th: Christina Sappey
Christina Sappey, known to many as Chris, is running to retain her seat as PA State Representative in the 158th Legislative District. She was elected as the first woman and first Democrat to hold that seat in 2018. Christina describes herself as a “solutions- oriented problem solver” and focuses on shared priorities in her role, guided by our Chester County values of tolerance, inclusion and conservation.
Christina believes a better Pennsylvania begins at home. She works hard to build coalitions that create positive change by bringing diverse stakeholder groups together and combining resources. Chris uses this approach in Harrisburg on government reform measures and here at home on infrastructure, municipal and social issues.
She is currently working on issues which particularly affect her district – the negative impacts of climate change on residential and commercial properties, infrastructure improvements to address flooding and encourage a growth economy, 21st century education, sustainable agriculture, land conservation, and access to mental health services. During her second term in office, Christina advocated for and shepherded $40.4m of state grant funding back into the district for education, small business, trails and recreation, conservation, and emergency services.
Christina has a bachelor’s degree from Penn State University and has worked in the private business sector, raised her three children as a stay-at-home parent, and served as Chief of Staff to legislators in the PA House and Senate prior to being elected to represent the 158th. She lives with her husband in West Bradford. In her free time, she enjoys music, being outside in any weather, hiking and gardening.
160th: Cathy Spahr
Cathy Spahr is running for state representative in the 160th Legislative District to defeat the Republican incumbent, Craig Williams. The 160th includes the townships of Pennsbury, Birmingham, Westtown, and Thornbury in Chester County, and the townships of Concord, Chadds Ford, Bethel, Thornbury, and Chester Heights in Delaware County. Although the new state house maps make the district harder for a Democrat to win, she is committed to defeating Representative Williams who has an extreme pro-gun, anti-choice, and anti-environmental voting record. Cathy “knows how to knock on doors and connect with voters” and has had many important endorsements.
Cathy is primarily running on a platform of supporting families through affordable daycare and health care, fighting the opioid crisis, building resilient communities by tackling environmental and economic issues, and public safety.
As a planner in Delaware County, Cathy has several practical suggestions. She would like local governments to have more of a say in statewide projects (such as gas pipelines) that have a significant impact on local communities. In addition, she advocates that county comprehensive plans (required to be done every 10 years) include a stormwater management component, as flooding is becoming a serious and costly issue for local governments as climate change advances. She is acutely aware of environmental issues and initiated a creative campaign to influence the US Congress by “Sending the Lorax to Washington,” and providing every member of Congress with a copy of the Doctor Suess book.
In addition, she would like to require published fee schedules for attorneys and engineers and other third-party consultants required to be hired by municipalities and homeowners when planning building projects, etc. Now these large bills come as an unwelcome surprise.
Cathy currently works as a Senior Transportation Planner in the Delaware County Planning Department. She previously worked as the Codes, Planning and Zoning Administrative Coordinator for Newtown Township. She has an undergrad degree in Environmental Science from Dickinson College and a Masters in Geography and Planning from West Chester University.
Cathy lives in Bethel Township with her partner, twin boys, and dog. She is clearly comfortable with the chaos of a political campaign. When asked about her outside interests, she replies “my hobby is politics.”
