Pennsylvania State Representative District 96
Description of office: The General Assembly is the legislative branch of government in Pennsylvania. It is composed of two houses: the Senate is the upper house, and the House of Representatives is the lower house. A majority vote in both houses is necessary to pass a law. The PA House of Representatives consists of 203 members representing one district each, with an equal number of constituents. Representatives must be at least 21 years old, have been a citizen and a resident of the state four years and a resident of their respective districts one year before their election, and shall reside in their respective districts during their terms of service. The House develops budget packages, makes taxation decisions, allocates spending, and passes laws (including redistricting in collaboration with the Senate). The House also has the exclusive authority to impeach public officials. Representatives also serve on various policy committees that may propose legislation.Term: 2 yearsSalary: $113,591Vote for ONE.Note: On Democratic and Republican primary ballots, voters will also choose members of the State and County Committees. We do not list these candidates on Vote411. For information on these candidates, we suggest you contact your local Democratic or Republican Party committee.
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Nikki Rivera
(Dem)
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Babita Rusyn
(Rep)
What do you see as the most pressing issues facing residents of your district, and how would you address them?
What changes, if any, would you support to enable better access, ensure security, and support the processes of our elections?
What are your thoughts on the state budget process? What changes, if any, would you support so that the budget is enacted in a timely manner?
Should the state legislature enact laws concerning the impacts on water, energy, or land use from the development and operation of data centers? Would state regulation of data center development and operation interfere with the authority of municipalities to establish ordinances under the MPC (Municipal Planning Code)?
County
Lancaster
Occupation
Incumbent: PA House of Representatives, House District 96 (Lancaster City, Manheim Township, East Petersburg Borough)
Education
B.A. (Spanish), University of Pittsburgh, 1994. Teaching certificate, Shippensburg University, 1995
Qualifications
High School Spanish Teacher from 1995-2024. School Board Director from 2016-2024 (5 years as board president). Representative for House District 96 from November 2024 - present.
Affordability is one of the most pressing issues facing residents of House District 96. The cost of living is increasing at a rapid pace - gas prices are soaring, food prices continue to climb, utilities leap in cost by double-digit percentages each year, and wages aren't keeping up with the cost of housing. Health insurance, which should cover physical and mental health, is becoming increasingly unaffordable for the average family. Improvements to public transportation are desperately needed in order to keep Lancastrians connected to employment opportunities and minimize traffic congestion on our streets - not to mention to alleviate the expense of owning and maintaining a vehicle. Fair funding for PA public schools is high priority.
As Secretary Al Schmidt of the PA Department of State reported in February 2026 during a budget hearing in the House of Representatives, Pennsylvania's elections are fair, safe, and secure. I support mail-in ballot voting and in-person voting on election day. I would support measures to change Pennsylvania's Primary Election to be open to all voters in order to increase voter participation rather than just those registered Republican or Democrat. And, I support same-day voter registration efforts.
As a former school board director, I find the June 30 due date for the State budget to be passed to be misaligned with when school district budgets must be submitted. I'd prefer to see our State budget passed by April 30 each year so that school districts, municipalities, and counties have factual budget information available to them prior to proposing any tax increases on residents. And, all state entities deserve to have the state budget passed on time and be free from the hardships endured as a result of a late budget being passed. Having to shutter organizations and reduce staffing and programs due to the government's inability to negotiate and pass a budget should never be the reality for our Commonwealth.
Regulations, policies, and guardrails are often necessary to implement in order to ensure that all residents know and understand a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA). Data centers and any comparable entities that consume excessive amounts of water and electricity should develop and operate under guardrails that prevent residents from paying astronomical utility rates. I support legislation that helps municipalities and developers communicate clearly about the community, economic, and environmental benefits and/or disadvantages of having a data center open in a municipality. An out-of-town industry moving into a new region must be a good neighbor as it settles into its physical space. I support legislation that promotes understanding.
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