C-NET hosted candidates in the 2026 election for interviews conducted by StateCollege.com editor Geoff Rushton. Featured here are interviews with the candidates for Pennsylvania’s 15th Congressional District.
THE RACE
Pennsylvania’s 15th Congressional District includes all of Centre, Armstrong, Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Forest, Jefferson, McKean, Potter, Snyder, Tioga, Union and Warren counties and parts of Indiana, Lycoming and Venango counties. It is Pennsylvania’s largest congressional district in terms of geographical area.
THE INCUMBENT
U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson, R-Howard, is seeking a 10th term in Congress. He currently chairs the House Agricultural Committee and is a senior member of the Education and Labor Committee. Prior to running for Congress, Thompson spent 28 years as a therapist, rehabilitation services manager and a licensed nursing home administrator. He also served on the Bald Eagle Area School Board.
Campaign website: friendsofglennthompson.com
THE CHALLENGER
Democrat Ray Bilger, of College Township, is a U.S Air Force veteran and retired security specialist and intelligence analyst. During his 35-year career, he led teams for the Air Force, National Security Agency and State Department, and from 2015-2017, he was NSA technical director for cyber analysis. Raised in Pleasant Gap, Bilger is a graduate of Bellefonte Area High School.
Campaign website: bilgerforcongress.com
THE ISSUES
In their C-NET interviews, Thompson and Bilger answered questions about affordability, Trump administration trade policies and tariffs, data center development, election administration and law issues, the war with Iran, Medicaid cuts, immigration enforcement, and their top priorities for 2027.
Glenn Thompson:
Ray Bilger:
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. The deadline to register to vote is Monday, Oct. 19 and the deadline to apply for a mail ballot is Tuesday, Oct. 27. For more information, visit centrecountypa.gov/238/Elections-Voter-Registration.
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