Primary Election: May 19, 2026
Our team has researched candidates in key races to provide voters with information on their track records. We primarily consider their words and deeds related to Jewish wellbeing. When candidates associate with the far-left or far-right in ways that undermine democracy or pluralism, we note that as well, because these values are also important to Jewish safety.
We recognize that there are numerous other critical issues at stake in this election. We encourage all voters to consider our findings alongside other resources to understand each candidate as broadly as possible.
These assessments were published on May 3, 2026 based on information then available.
Western Pennsylvania Candidate Evaluations
US House PA-12 – Democratic Primary
Pennsylvania’s 12th congressional district includes part of Allegheny County including Pittsburgh and some of Westmoreland County.
Summer Lee – incumbent
Rep. Summer Lee has served as the U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania’s 12th district since 2023.
While Lee has condemned antisemitism in broad terms, her public posture and political choices create a widening gap with large portions of her district’s Jewish community and allies.
Lee voted against multiple bipartisan resolutions addressing antisemitism in the wake of October 7. Most notably, she opposed the Antisemitism Awareness Act, which passed with broad bipartisan backing (including a majority of Democrats).
Rep. Lee also devotes time to promoting figures who openly support violence and terrorist groups. In recent months, Lee has platformed and amplified Hasan Piker, an online influencer who has drawn criticism for rhetoric many view as invoking antisemitic tropes and conspiracies. Piker has made inflammatory statements – including referring to religious Jews as “inbred,” stating that “America deserved 9/11,” dismissing allegations of sexual violence, and expressing that he prefers Hamas to Israel. Lee granted Piker a friendly, hours-long interview in November 2025 and also campaigned alongside him in April 2026 for a Michigan senate candidate. Rep. Lee’s interactions with Piker normalize and amplify antisemitic, antipluralist, and antidemocratic voices.
Rep. Lee’s own statements reinforce this pattern. Rep. Lee repeated or amplified disputed or false claims about the Israel–Hamas war, such as the war had a “99% civilian casualty rate.” While Rep. Lee has built a significant part of her political identity around opposition to “outside money” and PAC influence in politics, she repeatedly singles out AIPAC, saying, “AIPAC is an existential threat to the Black community and its right to self determination.” However, she benefited from multiple outside PAC networks, including the Working Families Party, Justice Democrats, and PAL PAC.
Rep. Lee is no longer endorsed by JStreet or Jewish Democratic Outreach Pennsylvania (JDOP), who had both endorsed Summer Lee for her first congressional race. She is endorsed by the Working Families Party, the Sunrise Movement, and Bend the Arc.
Will Parker
Will Parker has not held prior political office. Limited information is available about Mr. Parker.
PA Senate, District 42 – Democratic Primary
District 16 includes part Allegheny County including part of Pittsburgh and Mt. Lebanon. As well as Kennedy, Neville, Reserve, Stowe Townships and Avalon, Bellevue, Ben Avon, Carnegie, Crafton, Dormont, Emsworth, Green Tree, Ingram, McKees Rocks, Millvale Boroughs.
Wayne Fontana
Senator Wayne Fontana has represented Pennsylvania’s 42nd District since 2005 and currently serves as Democratic Chair of the Senate Law & Justice Committee. His legislative record includes consistent, long-term support for measures addressing antisemitism, including voting for legislation prohibiting state entities from boycotting or divesting from Israel in 2024 and co-sponsoring Senate Resolution 130, which condemns the June 1, 2025 antisemitic firebombing attack in Boulder and calls for action to address rising antisemitism in Pennsylvania. Senator Fontana is consistently engaged with the Jewish community in his district. Senator Fontana also supported earlier anti-BDS legislation enacted into law in 2016.
Paul Steenkiste
Paul Steenkiste is a software engineer who has not held prior elected office. There is limited publicly available information regarding his positions or past statements, and no documented record on issues related to addressing antisemitism or other Beacon principles.
PA House, District 20 – Democratic Primary
District 20 includes: Part of Allegheny County consisting of part of Pittsburgh (Wards 26 and 27) and the Township of Ross and the Boroughs of Avalon, Bellevue and West View.
Emily Kinkead
Representative Emily Kinkead has served District 20 since 2020. She has supported hate crime legislation and voted for a resolution condemning Hamas following the October 7 attacks. Kinkead’s public statements reflect a commitment to pluralism, often underscoring support for a wide range of communities. After the antisemitic attack on Bondi Beach in Australia, Kinkead said: “I would like to remind our Jewish communities that I stand in solidarity with them, both here in Pittsburgh and around the world.”
PA House, District 23 – Democratic Primary
District 23 includes: Part of Allegheny County consisting of part of Pittsburgh (Wards 4, 5, 7, 14 and 15) which contain the neighborhoods of Oakland, Shadyside, Squirrel Hill, Greenfield, Swisshelm Park and Regent Square.
Dan Frankel
Representative Dan Frankel has served Pennsylvania’s 23rd district since 1999. He has consistently stood up for pluralism in Pennsylvania, sponsoring a series of anti–hate crime bills designed to protect residents across all races, religions, and identities. Rep. Frankel has been a leading voice opposing extremism. He has been clear on BDS, stating that its “disingenuous demands lay the groundwork to delegitimize Israel and isolate Jews everywhere.” Frankel has also spoken out when he views rhetoric as harmful to Jewish constituents, including criticizing Rep. Summer Lee’s hurtful October 7, 2024 statement and raising concern about her recent campaigning with an influencer known for antisemitic and extremist rhetoric, warning that “dehumanizing language creates an environment where hatred is emboldened and violence becomes more likely,” and urging her to withdraw from the event. He is Co-Chair of the Jewish Legislative Caucus and recently helped secure $1.3 million in security grants for local faith and community organizations.
PA House, District 27 – Democratic Primary
District 27 includes: Part of Allegheny County consisting of part of Pittsburgh (Wards 19 & 20), Scott Township and Crafton, Green Tree, Heidelberg, Ingram, Rosslyn Farms and Thornburg Borough.
Dan Deasy
Dan Deasy has served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives since 2008. He has consistently voted in support of resolutions opposing BDS, backing Israel’s security and condemning Hamas, as well as resolutions recognizing Jewish History Month and Jewish Day Schools Week in Pennsylvania. Representative Deasy’s record reflects long-standing allyship with the Jewish community.
PA House, District 30 – Democratic Primary
District 30 includes: Part of Allegheny County consisting of Hampton, Kilbuck, McCandless and Ohio Townships and Ben Avon, Ben Avon Heights, Emsworth and Franklin Park Townships.
Arvind Venkat
Arvind Venkat has served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives since 2023. He has supported resolutions affirming Israel’s right to self-defense and recognizing Jewish communal life, including legislation designating Jewish Day Schools Week in Pennsylvania and legislation promoting screening for Gaucher’s disease, which disproportionately affects Jewish infants. Dr. Venkat is a member of the Jewish Legislative Caucus alongside a range of bipartisan and identity-based caucuses and has spoken about pluralism as a core democratic value, stating that “diversity…reflects the strength of Pennsylvania.” He has also engaged directly with Jewish constituents and organizations in his district.
PA House, District 32 – Democratic Primary
District 32 includes: Part of Allegheny County consisting of Penn Hills Township and Oakmont, Plum and Verona Boroughs.
Joe McAndrew
Representative Joe McAndrew has represented the 32nd Legislative District since 2024 and has previously worked for Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17). Representative McAndrew voted in favor of a Pennsylvania House Resolution condemning the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7, 2023 and has actively engaged with the Jewish community during his time in office. When asked by Beacon about how elected officials should respond to antisemitism/antizionism being voiced by colleagues, he said: “If there is a marginalization of the Jewish community, we should take steps to show that the party is united in pushing back against hate.” Representative McAndrew opposes the BDS movement.
PA House, District 33 – Democratic Primary
District 33 includes: Part of Allegheny County consisting of East Deer, Fawn, Frazer, Harmar, Harrison, Indiana, O’Hara, Springdale Townships and Aspinwall, Blawnox, Brackenridge, Cheswick, Fox Chapel, Sharpsburg, Springdale and Tarentum.
Mandy Steele
Representative Mandy Steele has served Pennsylvania’s 33rd District since 2022, following prior service as a local elected official and community leader. She has supported resolutions condemning the October 7 Hamas attacks, voted to recognize Jewish Day Schools Week, and is a member of the Jewish Legislative Caucus. Steele has engaged with the Jewish community in her district, including attending local hostage vigils and holiday gatherings. After the Bondi Beach shooting in December 2025, she delayed her departure for a legislative session to join her community Menorah lighting, saying “It is important to me to stand with my Jewish friends as they continue to endure persecution and terror here and around the world.”
PA House, District 34 – Democratic Primary
District 34 includes: Part of Allegheny County consisting of part of Pittsburgh (Wards 13 & 14), Wilkins Township, Braddock, Braddock Hills, Chalfant, Churchill, East Pittsburgh, Edgewood, Forest Hills, North Braddock, Rankin, Swissvale and Wilkinsburg Boroughs.
Abigail Salisbury
Representative Abigail Salisbury has served in the Pennsylvania House since 2023. She has been an active advocate on issues affecting the Jewish community, including co-sponsoring legislation creating Pennsylvania’s Jewish American Heritage Month, condemning the October 7 attacks, and advancing hate crime legislation. Salisbury has consistently spoken out against antisemitism, including calling out rhetoric within her own party and engaging directly with institutions on concerns about campus climate and public discourse, writing that “if Jews aren’t safe, none of us can be safe.” She is a member of the Jewish Legislative Caucus and was the primary sponsor of legislation promoting screening for Gaucher’s disease, which disproportionately affects Jewish infants. Her record reflects a strong commitment to pluralism and democratic norms, including advocating for the ability of all religious communities to fully participate in civic life and speaking out against rhetoric and behavior that threaten the safety and inclusion of any minority group.
PA House, District 36 – Democratic Primary
District 36 includes: Part of Allegheny County consisting of part of Pittsburgh (Wards 16, 17, 18 & 19) and Brentwood and Mount Oliver Boroughs.
Jessica Benham
Representative Jessica Benham has served District 36 since 2020. She has supported hate crime legislation and voted for a resolution supporting Israel following the October 7 attacks. Benham’s public statements emphasize pluralism, frequently highlighting support for diverse communities, and she has taken value-based nuanced positions on complex issues. On political violence, she said, “While I have profound disagreements with Charlie Kirk and the views he promotes…Political violence, no matter who the target is, makes all of us less safe.” On the Israel–Hamas war, she expressed support for the return of Israeli hostages and humanitarian relief in Gaza. In response to the Bondi Beach shooting she stated, “This antisemitic violence is an attack on our shared humanity.”
PA House, District 45 – Democratic Primary
District 45 includes part Allegheny County including Collier, Kennedy, Neville, Robinson and Stowe Townships, Bridgeville, Carnegie, Coraopolis, McKees Rocks and Pennsbury Village Boroughs.
Brittany Bloam
Brittany Bloam is an attorney who has not held prior public office. In response to a Beacon Coalition question about BDS (the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement), Bloam said she would need to become more familiar with the issue but does not believe it would be appropriate to enact policies that single out one country. She is endorsed by Representative Anita Kulik, who previously held this seat, as well as the Working Families Party.
Patrick Catena
Councilman Patrick Catena has represented District 4 on Allegheny County Council since 2017 and has served as Council President since 2020. On Council, he voted against the 2024 ceasefire resolution proposed by Councilwoman Bethany Hallam, saying “This is a subject that is truly divisive.”
The Allegheny County Democratic Committee & Pennsylvania State Democratic Committee
What are they?
These are the official local and state organizations of the Democratic party, responsible for endorsing candidates, driving voter outreach and helping with campaign efforts.
Why does it matter?
The people who are elected to hold these seats have direct influence over candidate endorsements and party direction. Endorsed candidates often go on to win county and state-wide elections.
It is critical that these seats are held by people who will support civic-minded, results-driven leaders – and who are willing to draw clear lines when it comes to countering antisemitism, and standing up for democracy and pluralism.
What can you do?
These races are local. The candidates are accessible.
Before you vote, take a few minutes to learn who is on your ballot and where they stand. If you see a name you are unfamiliar with, reach out and ask questions about the candidates and issues that are important to you.
The only way to shape our politics is to participate in it.
Find your sample ballot here if you have questions about the committee members on your ballot please email [email protected]
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Eastern Pennsylvania Candidate Evaluations
US House PA-3 – Democratic Primary
Pennsylvania’s 3rd congressional district includes several areas in Philadelphia including West Philadelphia, Center City and North Philadelphia.
Sharif Street
Sharif Street has served as a Pennsylvania State Senator since 2016 and previously chaired the Pennsylvania Democratic Party. He has supported legislation to protect religious institutions following acts of vandalism, warning that such incidents are “meant to intimidate entire religious groups” and require a stronger government response. Street has opposed BDS efforts (though he was absent from a December 2024 Senate vote on related legislation) and has drawn clear lines around extremism; following a Philadelphia protest that included calls for intifada, he stated that “anyone calling for violence in the streets of Philadelphia is not advancing peace” and warned of “the dangers of inciting violence,” citing attacks such as the hate crime shootings at the Tree of Life synagogue, a Black South Carolina Church, and the firebombing of Governor Shapiro’s home. On the two-year anniversary of October 7th, he posted “This solemn day also reminds us of our shared responsibility to protect every community from hate. Antisemitism has no place in Pennsylvania or anywhere. Neither does Islamophobia. We must reject all forms of bigotry.” Street is endorsed by many labor unions, clergy groups and local Democratic organizations.
Ala Stanford
Dr. Ala Stanford is a pediatric surgeon who previously served as the regional director for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under President Biden. After a Philadelphia rally in February 2026 that called for intifada, Stanford said: “I condemn the rally in Rittenhouse Sq which glorified Hamas, a terrorist organization & featured vile antisemitism. Everyone has a right to protest & speak their minds freely, but hatred & calling for violence has no place in Philadelphia.” Stanford has emphasized the importance of rejecting rhetoric that harms other minority groups.
Chris Rabb
Chris Rabb is a five-term Pennsylvania State Representative. Rabb has centered his campaign on Palestinian advocacy, including calling Israel’s actions in Gaza a “genocide,” signing on to a Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) led ceasefire campaign, opposing anti-BDS legislation, and appearing at pro-Palestinian encampments; he has said that criticism of such positions can “weaponize antisemitism” and is “born largely out of racism.” Rabb has voted in favor of resolutions condemning the October 7 Hamas attacks, as well as hate crimes legislation, and has publicly condemned antisemitic violence. Following the 2025 terror attack on the Bondi Beach Chanukah celebration in which 15 were murdered, Rabb reposted a video promoting a conspiracy theory that the attack was a “false flag” carried out by “Zionists.” Rabb’s endorsements include the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and Rep. Summer Lee.
PA House, District 148 – Democratic Primary
District 148 includes part of Montgomery County including Lower Merion Township, Narberth Borough and Whitemarsh Township as well as the Colonial & Lower Merion School Districts.
Andrea Deutsch
Andrea Deutsch has served as Mayor of Narberth and as a borough councilmember, and has emphasized her role as the first Jewish mayor of the borough. Following antisemitic “Free Gaza” graffiti targeting a Jewish-owned business, Deutsch stated that “we condemn and reject all forms of antisemitism and will not tolerate acts of hatred,” and participated in a community rally in support of the business. In response to a Beacon Coalition question on BDS, Deutsch states that she “strongly oppose[s] the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement,” saying that it “goes beyond legitimate policy criticism…blatantly crossing into antisemitism,” and warning that its tactics “have real local consequences by targeting Jewish organizations and fostering a climate where Jewish communities feel singled out and unsafe.” She has said she would “ensure public resources are never used to advance discriminatory boycotts.” Deutsch has also addressed the responsibility of elected officials in engaging with controversial platforms, stating when elected officials amplify such harmful voices, “fellow Democrats should respond with clarity and consistency…reaffirming shared values, and calling out the risk of normalizing rhetoric that harms Jewish communities.” Her public record reflects a consistent commitment to pluralism, including engagement across diverse communities and an emphasis on inclusion in both rhetoric and practice.
Megan Griffin-Shelley
Megan Griffin-Shelley is a Whitemarsh Township Supervisor and former chief of staff to State Representative Nancy Guenst. Following the Bondi Beach shootings in December 2025, she stated, “Before I light the menorah with my partner’s family tonight, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the deeply disturbing antisemitic attacks that recently took place in Australia.” In response to Beacon Coalition’s questionnaire, Griffin-Shelley emphasized that “everyone has a responsibility to confront and call out antisemitic and antizionist messaging,” adding that elected officials have “an added responsibility to use our platform to call out antisemitism in all its forms, including and especially when it appears within our own political spaces.” Griffin-Shelley does not support BDS, supports the IHRA definition of antisemitism, and supports increased funding for security at synagogues and community institutions and ensuring that “schools, public institutions, and government staff have the tools to recognize and respond to antisemitism.” Griffin-Shelley is endorsed by retiring Representative Mary Jo Daley.
Jason Landau Goodman
Jason Landau Goodman is an environmental attorney and LGBTQ advocate who has held advisory and leadership roles in state government and nonprofit policy work, including serving on Governor Tom Wolf’s LGBTQ Workgroup and Governor Josh Shapiro’s transition team. He has demonstrated sustained engagement with Jewish communal life, including leadership in Jewish campus organizations and advocacy for Holocaust and genocide education in Pennsylvania schools. When anti-Israel protests broke out at an LGBTQ conference in 2016, Goodman said: “None of us are going to solve the Middle East crisis or Israeli-Palestinian conflict in a few hours at a conference…I would’ve loved to have seen us talk about a service project where we are helping send resources to people who are in need, whether Israeli or Palestinian.” Goodman’s record reflects a focus on bipartisan legislative coalition-building and pluralism, particularly through his work founding the Pennsylvania Youth Congress.
Leo Solga
Leo Solga is a recent University of Pennsylvania graduate who served as Speaker of the Undergraduate Assembly and has worked as a researcher focused on Pennsylvania’s judicial system. He has not previously held elected office, and there is limited public record of engagement with issues related to antisemitism or the Jewish community. In response to a Beacon Coalition questionnaire, Solga described efforts to include Jewish and Israel-affiliated student groups in student government, including meeting with leaders from Penn Hillel and the Penn Israel Public Affairs Committee to better understand how Jewish students could be “included and supported.” On BDS, Solga said: “I oppose all attempts to dismantle the State of Israel and end Jewish national self-determination,” and that he would “oppose any legislation that directly targets our Jewish community, Jewish organizations, or Jewish-owned businesses.”
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Lehigh Valley Candidate Evaluations
PA Senate, District 16 – Democratic Primary
District 16 includes parts of Bucks and Lehigh counties.
In Bucks County the district includes Bedminster, Bridgeton, Durham, East Rockhill, Haycock, Hilltown, Milford, Nockamixon, Richland, Springfield, Tinicum and West Rockhill Townships and Dublin, Perkasie, Quakertown, Richlandtown, Riegelsville, Sellersville, Silverdale, Telford Boroughs and Trumbauersville.
In Lehigh County the district includes Allentown, Heidelberg, Lower Macungie, Lower Milford, Lowhill, Lynn, North Whitehall, South Whitehall, Upper Macungie, Upper Milford, Upper Saucon, Washington and Weisenberg Townships and Alburtis, Coopersburg, Macungie and Slatington Boroughs.
Bradley Merkl-Gump
Bradley Merkl-Gump is a public school teacher and Pennridge School Board member whose campaign is centered on strengthening public education. He first ran for school board in 2023 in response to a wave of controversial policies in the district, including book bans and curriculum changes. Merkl-Gump has emphasized civic engagement and bi-partisan coalition-building. There is limited public record of engagement with issues related to antisemitism or the Jewish community beyond general holiday acknowledgments. He is endorsed by State Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa and State Representative Mike Schlossberg, both members of the Pennsylvania Jewish Legislative Caucus and longstanding allies of the Jewish community.
Mark Pinsley
Mark Pinsley is the Lehigh County Controller who has become an increasingly vocal figure on the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. While he has spoken against antisemitism and described himself as supportive of both Israeli and Palestinian lives, his public record reflects a concerning pattern of rhetoric and activity. Pinsley has referred to Israel’s war in Gaza as a “genocide,” attended and promoted events with pro-Palestinian advocacy groups that characterize Israel as a “colonial apartheid” state, and participated in a rally in the days following the October 7 attacks where chants included “from the river to the sea.” At the same time, there is little evidence of engagement with the mainstream Jewish community, such as participation in hostage vigils or memorial events. His past statements include criticizing “Zionists and anti-Palestinian zealots” as dominating the political system contribute to a narrative that many view as demonizing the majority of Jews who identify with Zionism. Pinsley is also endorsed by the Lehigh Valley chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, an organization whose activism often combines anti-capitalist ideology with antagonism toward Zionism.
PA House, District 22 – Democratic Primary
District 22 includes part of Lehigh County including Allentown (Wards 1, 4-11, 14 & 15) and Salisbury Township.
Ce-Ce Gerlach
Ce-Ce Gerlach is currently an at-large member of Allentown City Council and previously served on the Allentown School Board. She is endorsed by the Lehigh Valley Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), an organization that operates as a separate political party and actively supports BDS and other anti-Israel advocacy efforts. DSA opposes “Democrats, capitalists and Republicans” stating that “relying on the Democrats to defeat Republicans isn’t working” and that its members are “running socialists for elected office.”
Ana Tiburcio
Representative Ana Tiburcio has served the 22nd district since winning a special election in February 2026 and was previously a member of the Allentown School Board. Tiburcio has worked to teach community leaders Spanish so they can better communicate with constituents and reduce language barriers, supporting broader participation in civic life across communities with different backgrounds and identities. Tiburcio is endorsed by Allentown School Board President Andrene Brown-Nowell and Representative Mike Schlossberg, a member of the Jewish Legislative Caucus.
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