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Pennsylvania State Senator District 38

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 Senate consists of 50 members, representing one district each, with an equal number of constituents. Senators must be at least 25 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 Senate develops budget packages, makes taxation decisions, allocates spending, and passes laws (including redistricting in collaboration with the House of Representatives). In addition, the Senate tries officials impeached by the House and authorizes executive appointments. Senators serve on various policy committees that may propose legislation.Term: 4 years Salary: $113,591Vote for ONE.

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  • Candidate picture

    Lindsey Williams
    (Dem)

  • Candidate picture

    Thomas West
    (Rep)

Biographical Information

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 Allegheny
Occupation Attorney / Legislator
Education Dickinson College, Duquesne University Law
Qualifications I have a depth of knowledge and experience in this position backed by a record I am very proud of.
Campaign Website http://lindseyforpa.com
As a State Senator, I have prioritized the rights of workers, making government more accessible and transparent, investing in students and first responders, lowering everyday costs for families, and holding corporations accountable for driving up prices on utilities and groceries. I am working towards a transparent system that fully and fairly funds our children’s education and ensures that every student has a safe and welcoming learning environment. I have championed investments in infrastructure, water and sewer projects, community pools and parks, and cultural arts institutions. I am seeking another term in office because there is so much more to do to advance these issues and I would like to continue that work.
I have long been an advocate for expanding pre-canvassing of mail in ballots as just one of the things we can do to increase the faith the public has in our elections. I maintain that our elections continue to be free, fair, and safe, despite the rhetoric of recent years. I will be introducing a package of legislation to strengthen, protect, and modernize Pennsylvania’s Election Code. This package includes targeted reforms designed to increase transparency, combat false information, and support the people who keep our elections secure. You can learn mor about that bill package here: https://senatorlindseywilliams.com/senator-lindsey-m-williams-to-introduce-election-security-legislation/
One of my primary projects in Harrisburg has been to bring transparency to the voters. The budget process is usually anything but transparent and I will continue my advocacy efforts - like my demystifying Harrisburg series - to shed light on it and show people how they can engage with the budget process. I would like to see the four caucuses and the administration meet earlier and more frequently in the budget negotiation process. It is my hope that we can flip the state senate this year and rather than delaying the budget for political reasons, we can build an on-time budget that works for the people of Pennsylvania and invests in education, infrastructure, and healthcare.
The state should enact laws to set the standards and uphold the constitutional right of all Pennsylvanians to clean air and pure water in the development of data centers. That legislation should be done in a way that does not undermine or circumvent a local zoning process. I have a data center going into a community in my district and one challenge we are seeing is that it directly borders another municipality, which has had no direct input on the data center. I have authored legislation, SB 724, that requires a robust community benefits agreement with input from neighboring communities, requires data centers to pay their fair share for infrastructure upgrades, to pay into consumer assistance programs, and prioritizes renewable energy.
County Allegheny
Occupation Business Owner
Education BS in Communications
Qualifications Thomas West brings real world experience as a long time news producer and small business owner. Thomas understands accountability, communication, budgeting, job creation and the challenges families face -- and is focused on practical solutions for the community.
Campaign Website http://westforpa.com
The biggest issues facing our district are affordability, public safety, and economic opportunity. Families are being squeezed by higher costs for groceries, utilities, housing, and health care, while small businesses face growing pressure too. I would focus on practical solutions: responsible spending, support for family-sustaining jobs, workforce development, infrastructure, and policies that help small businesses grow. State government should focus less on political theater and more on delivering results people can actually feel in their daily lives.
I support a commonsense approach to elections: make it easier for eligible citizens to vote and harder for anyone to undermine confidence in the process. I support better training and recruitment for poll workers, and more consistent election rules across counties. I also support reasonable safeguards that protect ballot integrity without making voting harder for lawful voters. I would be open to allowing earlier pre-canvassing of mail in ballots if there was a mechanism in place that could ensure the security and integrity of that process. Election laws should improve access, strengthen confidence, and help election officials do their jobs efficiently and fairly.
Pennsylvania’s budget process is too often delayed by last-minute negotiations and political gridlock. That creates uncertainty for schools, local governments, nonprofits, employers, and taxpayers. I support a more transparent and disciplined process, including earlier negotiations, clear deadlines, and stronger accountability when leaders fail to act on time. I am also open to structural reforms, including discussion of a biennial budget cycle. Families and businesses have to plan responsibly and meet deadlines, and state government should be expected to do the same.
Yes, I support reasonable state standards addressing the impact of large data centers on water use, energy demand, and infrastructure. Pennsylvania should set clear baseline protections so growth does not come at the expense of communities or ratepayers. At the same time, the state should not erase local control. Municipalities must retain meaningful authority under the Municipal Planning Code to address zoning, siting, traffic, noise, and compatibility with surrounding uses. The right approach is a balance of statewide safeguards and local decision-making.