County
Philadelphia
Occupation
Pennsylvania State Representative
Education
B.A. University of Virginia
Qualifications
Morgan Cephas was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2016, representing West Philadelphia. A lifelong public servant, she focuses on improving public safety, healthcare access, education, and job opportunities. In the legislature, she has led efforts to address maternal mortalit
The most pressing issue facing residents of this district is affordability. Too many people are struggling with the rising cost of housing, groceries, healthcare, and everyday essentials, while wages have not kept pace and remain stagnant.
To address affordability, I would focus on increasing the supply of housing while protecting tenants from unfair rent increases. I would also support policies that lower everyday costs, such as expanding access to affordable healthcare, reducing utility expenses, and investing in public transportation to ease commuting costs. At the same time, we need to strengthen economic opportunities by creating good-paying jobs, and ensuring workers earn fair wages which includes increasing the minimum wage
In Pennsylvania, I would support practical, bipartisan changes that expand access to voting while strengthening security and confidence in our elections.
First, on access, I would support commonsense updates like early in-person voting, clearer, more consistent rules for mail-in ballots and automatic voter registration for individuals turning 18 years old. Lastly, on election administration, I would support better funding and training for local election operators. Overall, the goal is simple which is to make it easier for eligible voters to participate, harder for anything to go wrong, and clearer for everyone to understand and trust the process.
The state budget process should be transparent, disciplined, and responsive to the people it serves. I would support several key changes to improve both the process and the outcome. First, we need to expand the conversation to include meaningful community input with public hearings which would include community voices, local leaders and area stakeholders. Second, there must be real accountability for getting the job done on time which means withholding the pay of elected officials if a budget is not passed by the deadline. Third, we need a stronger commitment to balanced budgeting means aligning spending with realistic revenue projections, avoiding one-time fixes that focuses on long term fixes for working families.
Yes—state legislatures can and have enacted laws addressing water, energy, and land-use impacts of data centers. Recently the House passed House Bill 1834, which if enacted, would force data centers to pay the full cost of the infrastructure needed to serve them, so that other customers, especially residential ratepayers, are not subsidizing data center demand. Such regulation would not necessarily interfere with municipal authority under the MPC, as long as it sets baseline standards and preserves local zoning and planning powers.
County
Philadelphia
Occupation
Executive Director
Education
Bachelors of Art in Government and Political Affairs
Qualifications
Certified Arraignment Court Magistrate, educator, education advocate, author, Juvenile Justice non-profit Executive Director, political strategist
One of the most pressing issues facing residents of the 192nd Legislative District is access to resources. While many programs exist, too many constituents are unaware of them or struggle to connect with elected officials. Calls and emails often go unanswered, creating frustration and mistrust.
As State Representative, I will lead a responsive, hands-on office that meets people where they are. My team and I will actively engage the community through regular town halls, outreach events, and by bringing resources directly into neighborhoods. I am committed to ensuring every resident feels heard, supported, and connected to the services they need to thrive.
Elections in Philadelphia are secure, and our commissioners have been responsive and accessible to the community. To further strengthen our system, I support expanding language access at the polls. Many eligible voters, particularly those for whom English is not their first language face challenges understanding ballots, especially complex questions.
We must ensure our elections are fully accessible by providing clear translations, multilingual poll workers, and voter education materials in multiple languages. Strengthening language access will reduce confusion, increase participation, and ensure every voter can confidently and securely make their voice heard.
The late state budget is often the result of a divided legislature and a lack of bipartisan cooperation. I would support reforms that encourage transparency and collaboration so that budgets are enacted on time. I am particularly concerned about decreases in corporate taxes and would want a clear explanation of how these decisions impact funding for essential programs. A timely, responsible budget should prioritize investing in our communities, supporting education, healthcare, and public safety, while ensuring accountability to Pennsylvania residents.
Yes, the state legislature should enact laws addressing the impacts of data center development and operation. While municipalities have authority under the MPC, statewide standards can ensure environmental, energy, and social impacts are responsibly managed. Data centers consume massive energy, use significant water, generate heat, and produce e-waste, all of which can strain local resources and ecosystems. State regulation can set minimum standards for sustainability, public safety, and cybersecurity while allowing municipalities to address local land-use concerns.
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