Represent PA announces additional $312,000 investment in women candidates for Pennsylvania state legislature
PHILADELPHIA, September 13, 2024 – Represent PA, the only political organization in Pennsylvania dedicated to electing Democratic women candidates to the Pennsylvania General Assembly, is excited to announce a new investment of $312,000 in its women candidates for the 2024 election cycle. This brings the organization’s total investment in women candidates this election cycle to over $700,000.
This recent investment of $312,000 was raised in just under eight weeks, almost doubling the previous amount of $396,000, which took nearly eight months to raise. This latest round of funds were sent to two new applicants and certain previously endorsed candidates who face some of the toughest races in the state. Previous funding went to more than 50 women candidates, including incumbents.
This rapid fundraising achievement reflects the growing momentum and support for increasing women’s representation in the Pennsylvania State Legislature. It allowed Represent PA to disperse funds in just a few days – representing amounts that could typically take candidates months to raise on their own.
“We are thrilled to see this level of enthusiasm and support for our mission,” said Christine Jacobs, Executive Director of Represent PA. “The incredible speed and success of this latest fundraising effort demonstrates a strong commitment from donors everywhere to elect more women leaders who represent our communities and values.”
Represent PA’s investments support women candidates across Pennsylvania with essential campaign resources, including funding for outreach, advertising and community engagement. This latest round of funding aims to empower more women to run competitive campaigns and to inspire more voters to support them at the polls.
“We believe that diverse leadership leads to better governance,” added Jacobs. “By investing in women candidates, we are investing in the future of Pennsylvania – a future that is fair, equitable and reflective of all of our voices.”
Represent PA remains committed to ensuring that more women can serve in the Pennsylvania State Legislature.
Here are the current candidates who received funding so far this cycle:
| Senate candidate | District & county(ies) |
| Amanda Cappelletti* | 17 (Delaware/Montgomery) |
| Carolyn Comitta* | 19 (Chester) |
| Patty Kim | 15 (Dauphin) |
| Kate Lennen | 47 (Beaver, Butler, Lawrence) |
| Nicole Ruscitto | 37 (Allegheny) |
| Judy Schwank* | 11 (Berks) |
*Incumbent
| House candidate | District & county(ies) |
| Sara Agerton | 88 (Cumberland) |
| Jessica Benham* | 36 (Allegheny) |
| Lisa Borowski* | 168 (Delaware) |
| Eleanor Breslin | 143 (Bucks) |
| Tina Burns | 124 (Berks, Schuylkill) |
| Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz* | 129 (Berks) |
| Missy Cerrato* | 151 (Montgomery) |
| Vera Cole | 145 (Bucks) |
| Gina H. Curry* | 164 (Delaware) |
| Mary Jo Daley* | 148 (Montgomery) |
| Tina Davis* | 141 (Bucks) |
| Elizabeth Fiedler* | 184 (Philadelphia) |
| Danielle Friel Otten* | 155 (Chester) |
| Angela Girol | 39 (Allegheny, Washington) |
| Roni Green* | 190 (Philadelphia) |
| Nancy Guenst* | 152 (Montgomery) |
| Hadley Haas | 44 (Allegheny) |
| Liz Hanbidge* | 61 (Montgomery) |
| Carol Hill-Evans* | 95 (York) |
| Kristine Howard* | 167 (Chester) |
| Mary Isaacson* | 175 (Philadelphia) |
| Kenya Johns** | 14 (Beaver) |
| Carol Kazeem* | 159 (Delaware) |
| Emily Kinkead* | 20 (Allegheny) |
| Megan Kocher | 119 (Luzerne) |
| Leanne Krueger* | 161 (Delaware) |
| Fern Leard | 120 (Luzerne) |
| Maureen Madden* | 115 (Monroe) |
| Denise Maris | 76 (Clinton, Union) |
| La’Tasha Mayes* | 24 (Allegheny) |
| Lynne McCleary | 98 (Lancaster) |
| Joanna McClinton* | 191 (Delaware, Philadelphia) |
| Jeanne McNeill* | 133 (Lehigh) |
| Elizabeth Moro | 160 (Chester, Delaware) |
| Jennifer O’Mara* | 165 (Delaware) |
| Anna Payne | 142 (Bucks) |
| Lindsay Powell* | 21 (Allegheny) |
| Tarah Probst* | 189 (Monroe, Pike) |
| Stefanie Rafes | 187 (Lehigh) |
| Rayne Reitnauer | 130 (Berks) |
| Nikki Rivera** | 96 (Lancaster) |
| Cherri Rogers | 58 (Westmoreland) |
| Meriam Sabih | 131 (Lehigh, Northampton, Montgomery) |
| Abigail Salisbury* | 34 (Allegheny) |
| Christina Sappey* | 158 (Chester) |
| Melissa Shusterman* | 157 (Chester) |
| Mandy Steele* | 33 (Allegheny) |
| Anna Thomas | 137 (Northampton) |
| Regina Young* | 185 (Delaware, Philadelphia) |
| Margaret Zelenak | 59 (Westmoreland) |
*Incumbent; **New applicant
Represent PA
Getting its start in 2014, Represent PA helps progressive women claim their seat at the table. Represent PA focuses on investing in strong democratic women candidates for the Pennsylvania House and Senate, leading the way in PA for women to create a reflective Democracy. We are building our “mutual fund” for elections – raising money, analyzing races and candidates – to invest where we can challenge the status quo. Today, Represent PA focuses on paving the way for progressive women so that tomorrow those voices will shape the government in Harrisburg and Washington. To learn more about Represent PA, visit RepresentPA.org, find us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or follow us on X (Twitter).
Media Contact
Heidi Siegel
Communication Chair
+1 215 287 2677
siegelh@comcast.net
