2026 Pennsylvania General Election 

Jamie Walsh

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Jamie was born in Luzerne County and spent his early years as a student in the Lake-Lehman School District prior to moving to Wilkes-Barre, where he attended Kistler Elementary and Meyers Junior/Senior High School.

About Jamie

He graduated from Bartlett High School in 1993 and went on to attend Whitworth College in Spokane, Washington.

Jamie lives in Sweet Valley with his wife, Nancy, and is the proud father of two children, Logan and Ava.

Jamie Walsh was born in Luzerne County. He attended Whitworth College in Spokane, Washington. He lives in Sweet Valley with his wife, Nancy, and their two children.

During his 12 years with the Comfort Company, Jamie was instrumental in building its bottom line from $3 million in sales to over $30 million, while rising to the position of vice president of sales.

Before being elected to the House, Jamie worked in the sales department of American Remodeling and quickly became the company’s top salesman at the age of 19.

Most recently, Jamie was a small business owner in Luzerne County and had a reputation for outstanding customer service and quality of work.

Jamie Walsh most recently owned a small business in Luzerne County. He previously served as vice president of sales at the Comfort Company and worked in the sales department of American Remodeling.

Jamie is currently serving his first term in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives as state representative for the 117th Legislative District, which includes part of Luzerne County.

Jamie currently serves as a state representative in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 117th Legislative District and is serving his first term.

Walsh voted “no” on the $50.8 billion spending plan because it does not stay within the confines of what the state generates each year in terms of revenue. “I cannot support the continued spending beyond our means that will only result in increased taxes in the years ahead,” Walsh said. “This is just bad governance.”

Walsh Votes Against Unsustainable Budget Plan

“Eventually, these budget gimmicks will result in a massive tax increase, and I just know we could do better. Families sit around their table and make difficult budget decisions every day, and the state needs to do the same. I will not vote in favor of a proposal that will lead to massive tax increases in future years,” he said.

“This action imparts an obligation to the Pennsylvania Legislature to codify this relief into state law by passing House Bill 2360, legislation written by Rep. Brenda Pugh that I have signed onto as a co-sponsor. This bill would replace the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit requirements with a more equitable, grant-funded formula. The Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Senate have very few session days remaining before the end of the term. I urge my colleagues in both the House and Senate to act on this opportunity to lift the burden of the Rain Tax from our homeowners and municipalities.”

Walsh Releases Statement Regarding State's Rain Tax

Sen. Jarrett Coleman (R-Bucks/Lehigh) and Rep. Jamie Walsh (R-Luzerne) have introduced a package of bills in the Senate and the House of Representatives to repeal the tax break being given to data centers to locate in Pennsylvania and allowing municipalities to place a moratorium on data center development applications. Senate Bill 1344 and House Bill 2532 would repeal the state Computer Data Center Equipment Exemption program enacted in 2021, which incentivizes data centers to locate in Pennsylvania by exempting computer data center equipment from the Sales and Use Tax when it is sold to, used or consumed in a certified data center by an owner, operator or qualified tenant.

Coleman, Walsh Seek to Combat Data Center Spread

Senate Bill 1344 and House Bill 2532 would repeal the state Computer Data Center Equipment Exemption program enacted in 2021. The bills also direct the resulting revenue to the Motor License Fund for the sole purpose of reducing the Oil Company Franchise Tax, a tax that adds about 58 cents to every gallon of gas and 74 cents to every gallon of diesel fuel purchased in Pennsylvania.

Voted against House Bill 1788, a mass-transit funding measure, citing concerns about spending taxpayer dollars on failing systems.

Walsh on Mass Transportation Bailout

AUGUST 11, 2025

On Aug. 11, the House passed House Bill 1788, a mass transportation bailout, despite my negative vote. We cannot continue to spend taxpayer dollars on broken systems. Enough is enough.

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Voted against the 2026-27 state budget, citing spending beyond recurring revenue and the risk of future tax increases.

Co-sponsored House Bill 2360 to replace Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System permit requirements with a grant-funded formula.

Introduced House Bill 2532 to repeal a tax exemption for data-center equipment and direct resulting revenue toward reducing the Oil Company Franchise Tax.

- Voted against the 2026-27 state budget, citing spending beyond recurring revenue and the risk of future tax increases.
- Co-sponsored House Bill 2360 to replace Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System permit requirements with a grant-funded formula.
- Introduced House Bill 2532 to repeal a tax exemption for data-center equipment and direct resulting revenue toward reducing the Oil Company Franchise Tax.

Economy

State Rep. Jamie Walsh joined colleagues in a letter calling for withdrawal of the Pennsylvania Department of Health's proposed rewrite of communicable and noncommunicable disease regulations. “The proposal from the Department of Health would threaten the rights and privacy of every Pennsylvania resident,” said Walsh. “The people I represent don’t want the government superseding their parental rights when it comes to their children and they don’t want the government having access to their private medical records. These proposed regulations go too far.”

Walsh Joins Colleagues in Fight Against Government Overreach

Walsh said he hopes the Independent Regulatory Review Commission disapproves the Department of Health's proposed changes. “I am hopeful the Independent Regulatory Review Commission, after reviewing our letter and the thousands of complaints they have received from Pennsylvania residents, disapproves the proposed changes,” said Walsh. “These types of sweeping changes should go through the legislative process, where they can be debated in an open forum. I question why this comprehensive overhaul was done without our input when we represent the very people these changes would impact.”

Opposes the Department of Health’s proposed disease-regulation rewrite and calls for its disapproval by the Independent Regulatory Review Commission.

- Opposes the Department of Health’s proposed disease-regulation rewrite and calls for its disapproval by the Independent Regulatory Review Commission.

Healthcare

HARRISBURG – State Rep. Jamie Walsh (R-Luzerne) is a co-sponsor of a legislative package designed to address the childcare crisis in Pennsylvania. “Simply put, childcare has become unaffordable for most Pennsylvania families,” said Walsh. “As a father and as a member of the House Children and Youth Committee, I understand both the need for childcare and the stress of finding and paying for care. This legislative package provides a multi-pronged approach that is a definite step in the right direction.”

Walsh Supports Legislative Initiative to Make Childcare More Affordable in PA

Walsh is a co-sponsor of a legislative package designed to address the childcare crisis in Pennsylvania. Legislation in the package would seek to do the following:

• Establish a state-funded grant program for start-up childcare providers.
• Establish a state-funded low-interest/forgivable loan program for expansion of childcare facilities.
• Create uniformity on requirements for van or bus drivers for childcare providers.

Walsh on the Importance of Parental Consent

JUNE 10, 2025

I believe we should require explicit parental consent for everything outside the parameters of basic education. This is why I proposed an amendment to House Bill 681 on the floor of the House chamber. Unfortunately, my amendment failed on party lines.

Signed a petition to force a vote on Senate Bill 9, which would prohibit “biological men” from competing in women’s school-sponsored sports.

Walsh on Protecting Women’s Sports

JULY 07, 2025

I signed a discharge petition for House Resolution 281, which aims to force a vote on Senate Bill 9, a measure prohibiting biological men from competing in women's school-sponsored sports. This is a huge win for female athletes and parental rights! I am eager for the opportunity to approve the resolution.

Co-sponsored a childcare legislative package including grants for start-up providers and low-interest or forgivable loans to expand facilities.

Proposed an amendment to House Bill 681 requiring explicit parental consent for matters outside basic education.

- Co-sponsored a childcare legislative package including grants for start-up providers and low-interest or forgivable loans to expand facilities.
- Proposed an amendment to House Bill 681 requiring explicit parental consent for matters outside basic education.

Education

HARRISBURG – State Rep. Jamie Walsh (R-Luzerne) has announced he is a co-sponsor of legislation to protect consumers from rising electricity costs driven by the growing energy demands of large-scale data centers, while strengthening the state’s energy economy.

Walsh Supports Pennsylvania Ratepayer Protection Act to Lower Electricity Costs, Address Data Center Demand

Sen. Jarrett Coleman (R-Bucks/Lehigh) and Rep. Jamie Walsh (R-Luzerne) have introduced a package of bills in the Senate and the House of Representatives to repeal the tax break being given to data centers to locate in Pennsylvania and allowing municipalities to place a moratorium on data center development applications. Senate Bill 1345 and House Bill 2533 would give municipalities the option of placing an 18-month moratorium on both unapproved and new data center applications so they can revise zoning ordinances and establish policies addressing issues like power supply, water consumption, noise and setbacks which they determine protect the community’s interests.

Rep. Jamie Walsh announced he will introduce legislation to exempt Luzerne County from the enhanced vehicle emission inspection and maintenance program. “This legislation would remove an unnecessary financial burden for many area residents,” said Walsh. “Although it was created with good intentions, the program has become antiquated over time with the adoption of improved manufacturing standards and technological advancements that have led to more fuel-efficient and less pollutive vehicles.”

Walsh to Introduce Legislation Exempting Luzerne County From Enhanced Vehicle Emission Inspection and Maintenance Program

Introduced the Commercial Data Center Transparency Act to establish standards for responsible, transparent data-center development with community involvement.

HARRISBURG – State Rep. Jamie Walsh (R-Luzerne) has introduced House Bills 2515 and 2516, known as the Commercial Data Center Transparency Act, to address growing concerns surrounding the rapid expansion of large data centers in Luzerne County and across the Commonwealth. Walsh said his legislative package would establish standards for data-center development to occur responsibly, transparently, and with community involvement.

Walsh Introduces Legislation Addressing Data Center Growth in PA

Walsh said his legislation was intended to establish standards for responsible, transparent data-center development with community involvement. “My legislative package is modeled on proposals from other states, such as Florida, and would establish clear and reasonable standards to ensure data center development in Pennsylvania occurs responsibly, transparently and with real community involvement,” said Walsh. “These proposals are not anti-technology. They are pro-community and pro-taxpayer, grounded in the simple idea that long-term development must serve the public interest and provide real benefits to local communities. As Pennsylvania positions itself in the center of the national AI and data center economy, now is the time to make sure we have the proper guardrails in place to protect our citizens and our communities.”

Co-sponsored legislation intended to protect consumers from electricity-cost increases associated with large data centers’ energy demand.

Introduced House Bill 2533 to let municipalities impose an 18-month pause on data-center applications while revising local policies.

Plans to introduce legislation exempting Luzerne County from the enhanced vehicle-emissions inspection and maintenance program.

- Co-sponsored legislation intended to protect consumers from electricity-cost increases associated with large data centers’ energy demand.
- Introduced House Bill 2533 to let municipalities impose an 18-month pause on data-center applications while revising local policies.
- Plans to introduce legislation exempting Luzerne County from the enhanced vehicle-emissions inspection and maintenance program.

Energy & the Environment

As of October 16, 2026, Jamie Walsh’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Public Safety

Voting & Elections

Jeremy Benscoter

- Your state representative represents the interests of your local district in the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives. The State House of Representatives, along with the State Senate, makes up your state lawmaking body: the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
- Your state representative can author, sponsor, and vote on bills that may become state laws, including introducing tax bills. 
- State representatives and their staff respond to constituent concerns and questions through emails, phone calls, and website announcements. 
- State representatives oversee the executive branch and can vote to overrule a veto by the Governor.  
- They are elected to two-year terms and have a salary of $106,000, with a 1-3% annual increase

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