2026 Pennsylvania General Election 

Stephanie Berardi

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After earning a Master’s Degree in Sustainability from the University of Pennsylvania, Stephanie made it her mission to work in the environmental sector.

Meet Stephanie

While living in Jenkintown, she became actively involved in her community, serving on the Environmental Advisory Committee, the Steering Committee for Jenkintown 2035, and the Recreation Board.

Stephanie Berardi earned a master's degree in sustainability from the University of Pennsylvania. While living in Jenkintown, she served on the Environmental Advisory Committee, the Steering Committee for Jenkintown 2035, and the Recreation Board.

Seventeen years ago -2009 was the last time PA raised the minimum wage to $7.25 per hour.  People should not have to get  3-4 jobs just to make ends meet. There is no financial way a person making this amount of money can survive without needing some type of assistance.

Issues

Pennsylvania is missing out on revenue that could be received if recreational cannabis was available to adults. Neighboring states have all passed smart legislation.  I will work with both parties to get this passed.

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?
This is an intensive process lasts for months past when it is due. In order to have a balanced budget and support the many programs that are underfunded, we need to create new sources of revenue. The same legislators that have prevented new income streams from happening are all up for re-election. This should be a wake up call to all voters to support leaders that will help the state generate income so we can pass a fair budget on time.

Vote411: Pennsylvania State Representative District 154

I fully support and stand with artists, musicians, performers, dancers and gig workers.  My husband is a full time musician, engineer and producer and I see first hand, the day to day struggles.  From health insurance to income instability its hard when you don't have job protections.  I will work towards finding solutions, so you can continue doing what you love to do.

Advocates for raising Pennsylvania's minimum wage, saying $7.25 an hour does not cover basic living costs.

Supports legalizing recreational cannabis for adults and plans to work across parties to pass legislation.

Calls for new state revenue sources to balance the budget and support underfunded programs.

Plans to pursue solutions to income instability, health insurance, and job protections for gig workers and performing artists.

- Advocates for raising Pennsylvania's minimum wage, saying $7.25 an hour does not cover basic living costs.
- Supports legalizing recreational cannabis for adults and plans to work across parties to pass legislation.
- Calls for new state revenue sources to balance the budget and support underfunded programs.
- Plans to pursue solutions to income instability, health insurance, and job protections for gig workers and performing artists.

Economy

So many of us suffer from mental health issues.  Going to therapy should not have a stigma attached to it.  We need to ensure that everyone has access to getting help when they need it.  Therapy should be a covered benefit across all heath insurance platforms.

Supports requiring therapy coverage in all health insurance plans and expanding access to mental-health care.

- Supports requiring therapy coverage in all health insurance plans and expanding access to mental-health care.

Healthcare

Our schools need funding to make sure they have the resources to provide to students, faculty, and parents.  If a student is struggling, we need to make sure they can be tested to get to the root of what serves them the best. We need to invest in the building structures to make sure they are more energy efficiant and provide a comfortable space for kids to thrive.

What do you see as the most pressing issues facing residents of your district, and how would you address them?
The most pressing issue is the safety and security of our youth in schools. I would work with the Attorney Generals office and Department of Education to ensure that programs such as Safe2Say something is marketed and accessable to all schools.

Supports funding schools, student assessments, and energy-efficient school buildings.

Plans to work with the Pennsylvania Department of Education and Attorney General's office to expand schools' access to Safe2Say Something.

- Supports funding schools, student assessments, and energy-efficient school buildings.
- Plans to work with the Pennsylvania Department of Education and Attorney General's office to expand schools' access to Safe2Say Something.

Education

Climate change is the single biggest threat to everyday life as we know it.  This is what will be the coldest summer on record.  Its only going to get hotter unless we do something now.  I am dedicated to making sure we have clean air, pure drinking water, and land that is not contaminated with toxic chemicals.  I have extensive knowledge on what we can do better in the legislature to help strengthen legislative issues to help reduce risks that can potentially have dangerous consequences.  I will defend Article 1, Section 27 of Pennsylvania's Constitution.

Energy: Solar and wind are viable options to alternative energy, powered by the natural elements.  We need to break through the barriers to make these options more accessible to our communities.

Environment

Recycling: One persons trash is another's treasure.  Commodities like cardboard, metals can help generate income for small towns and businesses when the infrastructure is there to support the collection of these materials.  We can innovate what we do with our trash to make it work for us.  Single stream recycling might be convenient, but we pay more to have it sorted.  Having dedicated collections for cardboard, glass or metals which can be sold back in bulk, can generate income and reduce hauling fee's.

Preserving Natural Lands: Pennsylvania is home to a vast landscape of natural beauty.  We need to protect our land from data centers, warehouses and legacy pollution.  We need laws that protect our pollinators and incentivize planting native species, wildflower pollinator gardens, and trees.

Foodwaste- is something we can mitigate to reduce the amount of methane that is trapped in our landfills.  Awarding contracts to composters, we can divert more than 28 percent of what we toss to creating beneficial soil.  This seems like such a simple solution.  Let's get the conversation going.

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)?
The water-energy nexus along with land use all fall under Article 1, section 27 of Pennsylvania's constitution. Land and water are finite resources that should be protected at all costs. The state legislature has a responsibility to pause data center development, conduct studies to learn more about their impacts, and ultimately veto them if they become a threat to our natural resources.

Prioritizes reducing climate-related risks and protecting clean air, drinking water, and land from toxic contamination.

Advocates for making solar and wind energy more accessible to communities.

Advocates for dedicated recycling collections for cardboard, glass, and metals to reduce hauling costs and generate revenue.

Calls for laws protecting pollinators and incentives for native plants, wildflower gardens, and trees.

Proposes awarding contracts to composters to divert food waste from landfills and produce soil.

Calls for pausing data-center development, studying its impacts, and vetoing projects that threaten natural resources.

- Prioritizes reducing climate-related risks and protecting clean air, drinking water, and land from toxic contamination.
- Advocates for making solar and wind energy more accessible to communities.
- Advocates for dedicated recycling collections for cardboard, glass, and metals to reduce hauling costs and generate revenue.
- Calls for laws protecting pollinators and incentives for native plants, wildflower gardens, and trees.
- Proposes awarding contracts to composters to divert food waste from landfills and produce soil.
- Calls for pausing data-center development, studying its impacts, and vetoing projects that threaten natural resources.

Energy & the Environment

The most important job in our communities, is the work that our first responders do. THEY are always there when you need them the most.  THEY are the first line of defense to make sure we   stay safe from harm.  Emergency responders are essential workers that dedicate their lives to helping others, no matter what time of day or night they are needed.  That's why I will fight to make sure they get the funding that they need to support the work that they do. Firefighters should NEVER go out there and fight a fire without getting compensated for the work that they do. Emergency Responders should never go without overtime pay when they are called into action. That's why i will fight to make sure they have the resources and compensation that they deserve.

Pledges to seek funding, compensation, and overtime pay for firefighters and emergency responders.

- Pledges to seek funding, compensation, and overtime pay for firefighters and emergency responders.

Public Safety

Gerrymandering is wrong plain and simple.  Redistricting boundaries to give one party or another an advantage over an election cycle should never be decided by a politician.  This hurts voters by making it harder to elect their preferred candidates. Everyone's voices should be heard. I support Fair Districts and having a nonpartisan commission in place to ensure that there are fair voting districts and boundaries drawn.

What changes, if any, would you support to enable better access, ensure security, and support the processes of our elections?
I would support open primaries. We don't have a democracy unless all voters have a choice. Closed primaries prevent voters that don't identify with a party from having a voice at the table.

New legislation often sits in a committee and often never makes it to the top of an agenda in order to get out of the committee for a vote.  Having smart legislative procedures in place to ensure that the majority leader doesn't have full control over what bills are considered and which ones never brought up to the committee are needed.  This is too much power for one legislator to have and creates an imbalance when it comes to getting smart legislation past.  I've seen this time and time again where bills have to be reintroduced every year because they sit in the committee and never makes it to the floor for a vote.  Creating legislation takes an enormous amount of time and resources. We need a better system in place to balance the power of these committees.

Supports a nonpartisan commission to draw fair voting districts and boundaries.

Supports open primaries to allow voters unaffiliated with a party to participate.

Calls for legislative procedures that limit majority leaders' control over bills considered by committees.

- Supports a nonpartisan commission to draw fair voting districts and boundaries.
- Supports open primaries to allow voters unaffiliated with a party to participate.
- Calls for legislative procedures that limit majority leaders' control over bills considered by committees.

Voting & Elections

Napoleon Nelson

- 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

Your representative and state lawmaker in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives