Republican Candace Cabanas is facing off against Democrat Jim Prokopiak in a closely watched Feb. 13 special election to fill a state representative seat for House District 140 in Bucks County.
The outcome of the race will determine control of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, which is currently evenly split 101-101 between Democrats and Republicans.
Prokopiak is an attorney who is a member of the Pennsbury Board of School Directors and who also serves on the Bucks County Redevelopment Authority. He previously served as Falls Township Supervisor. Prokopiak said if elected he will prioritize reproductive rights, education funding, and increasing access to affordable housing and living-wage jobs.
The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee announced on Tuesday it made a $50,000 investment into the Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus ahead of the special election in support of Prokopiak. Planned Parenthood PA PAC has also endorsed Prokopiak.
Cabanas, a resident of Falls Township, has experience in the healthcare and hospitality sectors, and previously served as a representative to the Republican Committee of Lancaster County before she moved to Bucks County.
Cabanas has pledged to pursue family-sustaining employment opportunities, to fight against inflation, and to work toward lowering taxes. If elected, she said she will also prioritize public safety by supporting police, firefighters, and first responders. In addition, she supports policies that make healthcare accessible and affordable, as well as policies that support high-quality public education funding.
Cabanas picked up a major endorsement on Wednesday from PMA PAC, the political action committee of the Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association. PMA is the nonprofit trade association representing the $101.95 billion manufacturing sector in Pennsylvania.
“Ms. Cabanas has demonstrated a commitment to focusing on pro-growth policies that are needed to make it the smart business decision for employers to locate, hire, and expand in Pennsylvania,” said Carl A. Marrara, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association.
“Job creators in the 140th district need reliable and affordable access to energy, sensible and predictable taxation, practical regulatory reform, and a prepared and available workforce to be competitive, drive down inflationary forces, and attract new business investment to our commonwealth,” Marrara added. “Democratic Party leadership in the Pennsylvania House has failed to govern on these important topics, but with the successful election of Ms. Cabanas, new leadership in Harrisburg can accomplish these objectives.”
The special election will fill a vacant seat that was previously held by Democrat John Galloway, who resigned after he was elected as a district judge. His resignation in mid-December resulted in an evenly divided House.