Election day is Tuesday, November 4 and voters have a number of important decisions to make.
Voters will decide a number of election races with seats up for grabs in the United States Congress, the Pennsylvania Senate and House of Representatives, as well as the hotly-contested gubernatorial race.
Fifth Congressional District Election
Republican Glenn Thompson is seeking his fourth term in Congress, squaring off against Democrat Kerith Strano Taylor in a fiercely competitive campaign. The fifth congressional district includes all of Centre County and much of the surrounding area.
Both candidates stress the importance of compromise and bipartisanship, and while this can be seen in their polite and respectful debates, they have numerous ideological differences.
Thompson argues against what he calls the negative impacts of overregulation of various industries, including healthcare. He identifies working toward energy security through natural gas, reforming the No Child Left Behind act and creating jobs as key issues of his platform.
Strano Taylor argues that Congress is too deeply entrenched in partisan politics and in need of new, more centrist and bipartisan representation. Her platform includes raising the minimum wage, closing the pay gap between men and women and allowing college students to refinance their student loans.
StateCollege.com has more in-depth profiles of both Thompson and Strano Taylor, which explore their views in greater detail.
Pennsylvania House of Representatives Elections
Incumbent Scott Conklin (D) is seeking his fifth term representing the 77th legislative district, which includes State College Borough as well as Ferguson, Patton and Halfmoon Townships. He is opposed by libertarian candidate and Penn State student Charles Martin.
Conklin spokesperson Tor Michaels says Conklin’s track record includes bills on protecting women and children from abuse, as well as a bill further funding the State College Police Department to offset the costs of crimes related to alcohol. Michaels says Conklin plans to focus on bringing more money back into public schools and higher education if reelected.
Martin believes in limited government interference in the lives of citizens, responsible government spending and transparency in elected officials, according to his website. Martin did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
Kerry Benninghoff (R) is running unopposed for his ninth term in the state house, representing the 171st legislative district. This district currently includes Bellefonte and part of State College, but new district boundaries will take effect on December 1 that will place State College entirely within the 77th District (currently represented by Conklin).
Benninghoff says he hopes his lack of opposition stems from the trust and support of his constituents. Benninghoff says some of his major accomplishments in office include last year’s Act 89 transportation funding bill and a number of bills on protecting children from abuse.
Pennsylvania Senate Election
Jake Corman (R) is running unopposed for his fifth term representing Pennsylvania’s 34th senatorial district, which includes all of Centre County and parts of Huntingdon and Mifflin Counties.
Like Benninghoff, Corman takes his lack of opposition as a vote of confidence from his constituents. He says the Act 89 transportation bill, which is helping fund a number of projects in and around State College, is an important victory of this past term. He is also proud of his efforts to keep the NCAA’s $60 million fine against Penn State within Pennsylvania through an ongoing lawsuit.
Gubernatorial Election
Current Governor Tom Corbett (R) is seeking reelection for a second term. His campaign website identifies small and efficient government, not raising taxes, and strengthening Pennsylvania’s economy through the energy industry as key campaign points.
Challenger Tom Wolf (D) wants to increase funding to higher education and pubic schools, increase economic accountability and sustainable energy funding and create more manufacturing and technology-based jobs in Pennsylvania.
Your polling place depends on your address. You can locate your polling place here.
According the Centre County Elections Office website, you will not need your ID if you have voted in your precinct before. if you haven’t voted at your precinct before, you may be required to produce an ID to vote.
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