2026 Pennsylvania General Election 

Sierra McNeil

My name is Sierra McNeil. I’m a social worker, dog mom and proud homeowner in Strawberry Mansion. I love my neighborhood, my neighbors and the work I do every day.

Meet Sierra

I love my neighborhood, my neighbors and the work I do every day. I earned my Master’s in Social Work from Temple University and started my career in behavioral health helping families in crisis navigate systems that were never built for them.

Sierra McNeil earned a master's degree in social work from Temple University. She is a homeowner in Strawberry Mansion.

As Director of Workforce Development and Philadelphia Connections at FTAC, I’ve led efforts to strengthen Pennsylvania’s behavioral health workforce and build real career pathways.

16. State legislators from Philadelphia represent the densest, most transit-dependent, and most pedestrian-active constituencies in Pennsylvania — yet many colleagues from suburban and rural districts have little exposure to urbanism. How would you build relationships and make the case for pro-transit, pro-housing, and pro-safety policies among legislators from outside our region?
I would like 5th Square members to know that as who has worked in higher education (being an adjunct professor at LaSalle University) I am deeply concerned about our students having proper access to public transportation. I am committed to fighting for SEPTA student fare cards (which serve K-12 students) to be made accessible to our young people for extended hours, on weekends, and throughout the summer.

2026 STATE LEGISLATIVE CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE - Google Forms (PDF)

Sierra McNeil works as director of workforce development and Philadelphia Connections at FTAC. She started her career in behavioral health and has worked as an adjunct professor at La Salle University.

A minimum wage increase in Pennsylvania is long overdue, and of all of our neighboring states, we are the only one who continues to match the federal rate of $7.25 an hour. I will fight for a livable minimum wage that is indexed to account for inflation. As someone who used to work in the service industry, I would eliminate the tipped minimum wage of $2.83 an hour and ensure that workers of all industries make a living wage.

Because We Deserve Better Agenda!

With regards to housing, we want to ensure that long-term residents can afford to stay in Pennsylvania, while also welcoming the population boom we are seeing in some Philly neighborhoods and suburbs. A large investment (like the Governor’s Housing Action Plan) will allow residents to preserve and modernize their homes, and build thousands of more housing units to avoid hitting a projected shortfall of 185,000 homes by 2035. This needs to be partnered with stronger tenant protections to avoid fear of landlord retaliation, and rent stabilization legislation to ensure that rent increases do not outpace the inflation we are seeing during this cost of living crisis.

SEPTA, and public transportation networks across the commonwealth, need reliable funding streams to avoid the risk of line cuts we saw during the last budget process. We need to change the funding formula without hurting everyday working families. I support plans to increase the vehicle rental and lease taxes, which have both not been raised since the early 1990s. We also need to have the courage to amend the PA Constitution to allow for progressive taxation in our commonwealth.

7. HB 1146 would allow local governments to levy their own taxes and fees to fund public transit in their jurisdictions. Do you support this local revenue-enabling legislation?

If yes: what local revenue tools should be permitted? Select all you support: Allowing municipalities to levy their own taxes to support public transit agencies in their jurisdictions protects Philadelphia from future budget impasses and fights in Harrisburg.
Yes, accelerate all three

Said restrictive zoning creates barriers to housing development in Pennsylvania.

Advocates for an inflation-indexed livable minimum wage and eliminating the tipped minimum wage.

Supports stronger tenant protections and rent stabilization to limit rent increases relative to inflation.

Supports increasing taxes on vehicle rentals and leases and amending the Pennsylvania Constitution to allow progressive taxation.

Supports allowing municipalities to levy taxes and fees to fund local public-transit agencies.

- Advocates for an inflation-indexed livable minimum wage and eliminating the tipped minimum wage.
- Supports stronger tenant protections and rent stabilization to limit rent increases relative to inflation.
- Supports increasing taxes on vehicle rentals and leases and amending the Pennsylvania Constitution to allow progressive taxation.
- Supports allowing municipalities to levy taxes and fees to fund local public-transit agencies.

As a future state representative, it will be my responsibility to build systems rooted in care, systems that ensure everyone can access the support they need. Right now, Pennsylvania faces a growing behavioral health workforce shortage. By 2032, we will need at least 12% more social workers and behavioral health professionals to meet the demand in our public systems. Addressing this crisis means creating stronger workforce pipelines, expanding loan forgiveness, supporting supervision through stipends, and removing unnecessary barriers to licensure so more qualified professionals can enter the field and serve our communities.

About 1 in 4 Pennsylvanians get health coverage through Medicaid, so the quickest way to expand access for behavioral health services would be to increase reimbursement rates. This would allow for residents to get the care they need without the cost being out of reach.

But with the Trump Administration initiating Medicaid cuts and attacking the Affordable Care Act, Pennsylvania needs to provide a better safeguard. This is why I am in support of our Commonwealth having a “Medicare for All” model that guarantees healthcare for all its residents. This will save the underinsured, those who are in between jobs, and so many more. It will also help level disparities and inequalities in our healthcare system, especially with regard to behavioral health.

Advocates for behavioral-health workforce pipelines, loan forgiveness, supervision stipends, and fewer licensure barriers.

Supports increasing Medicaid reimbursement rates to expand access to behavioral-health services.

Supports a state-level “Medicare for All” model guaranteeing healthcare for Pennsylvania residents.

- Advocates for behavioral-health workforce pipelines, loan forgiveness, supervision stipends, and fewer licensure barriers.
- Supports increasing Medicaid reimbursement rates to expand access to behavioral-health services.
- Supports a state-level “Medicare for All” model guaranteeing healthcare for Pennsylvania residents.

Funding Schools

Fully funding our schools means holding the state accountable to implementing Pennsylvania’s fair funding formula and ensuring every district receives the resources it deserves. But funding is about more than budgets, it’s about giving teachers the support they need to focus on teaching and ensuring students have access to counselors and social workers who can address their mental health needs.

This is done by working with fellow representatives in Harrisburg to advocate for increased funding while ensuring that public dollars stay in public schools, meaning I will not vote for private school vouchers or tax credit programs.

Maintenance, infrastructural improvements, and utilities are main reasons for why it is so costly to operate school districts. This is why I will fight for more immediate investing for infrastructural improvements to school facilities before repair costs increase in years to come. I also hope to help expand the Solar for Schools Program to help districts save on energy costs and potentially invest those funds into more counselors and other staff our students need to be successful.

Advocates for implementing Pennsylvania's fair funding formula to fully fund public schools.

Pledges not to vote for private-school vouchers or tax-credit programs and to advocate for increased public-school funding.

Advocates for school-facility improvements and expanding the Solar for Schools Program.

- Advocates for implementing Pennsylvania's fair funding formula to fully fund public schools.
- Pledges not to vote for private-school vouchers or tax-credit programs and to advocate for increased public-school funding.
- Advocates for school-facility improvements and expanding the Solar for Schools Program.

Part of the solution includes finding renewed funding for the PA Whole-Home Repairs Program to help more residents afford to update and protect their homes. Additional funding statewide would really benefit counties like Philadelphia, who have exhausted the initial funding they were allocated in 2023 due to high demand for the program.

I would also work with colleagues in Harrisburg to find grant money for homeowners to be able to electrify their homes, and move away from fossil fuel appliances like gas stoves and furnaces. While working on this, I would support colleagues advocating for easier access to solar energy, either by having panels installed on top of homes or allowing for neighbors to set up a community solar project.

Fossil Fuel/ Renewable Energy

Transitioning from harmful fossil fuels to renewable energy requires courage. Pennsylvania must lead a responsible shift toward sustainable energy sources, like solar, that protects our environment and our future. This transition is not only about combating climate change, it’s also about creating opportunity and supporting resilient communities.

This would be a huge step in moving Pennsylvania towards a green economy and put us back on track to our original climate goals of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. We also need to return to our Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) commitments, which were forfeited during the last budget impasse. This interstate cap-and-trade program would regulate the amount of carbon that companies in Pennsylvania are allowed to emit.

PA is unfortunately experiencing a boom in the development of data centers without many standards or regulations set for them. These centers are terrible for the environment due to their high rate of water consumption and use of fossil fuels for energy generation. They also worsen the affordability crisis working families are experiencing, as they are left footing the bill for the grid infrastructure upgrades these centers require. I support mandating that data centers in our commonwealth operate on renewable energy, like wind and solar. In agreement with calls from other bold House Democrats, I would support legislation that requires these centers to pay into low-income energy assistance programs, like LIHEAP.

These facilities can place significant demands on local infrastructure and natural resources, so statewide guidelines can help ensure sustainable development, environmental protection, and responsible energy planning. At the same time, state policy should complement local authority under the Municipal Planning Code. Municipalities understand their communities’ needs and should retain the ability to set zoning, land use, and planning ordinances. The state’s role should be to provide guardrails and consistency, while still preserving local control and community input in development.

VOTE411 candidate guide: Pennsylvania State Representative, District 195

Supports renewed funding for the Pennsylvania Whole-Home Repairs Program.

Supports grants for home electrification and easier access to rooftop and community solar energy.

Advocates for Pennsylvania to shift from fossil fuels toward sustainable energy sources, including solar.

Supports returning to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, an interstate program regulating companies' carbon emissions.

Supports requiring data centers to use renewable energy and contribute to low-income energy-assistance programs.

Supports statewide data-center development guidelines while preserving local land-use authority and community input.

- Supports renewed funding for the Pennsylvania Whole-Home Repairs Program.
- Supports grants for home electrification and easier access to rooftop and community solar energy.
- Advocates for Pennsylvania to shift from fossil fuels toward sustainable energy sources, including solar.
- Supports returning to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, an interstate program regulating companies' carbon emissions.
- Supports requiring data centers to use renewable energy and contribute to low-income energy-assistance programs.
- Supports statewide data-center development guidelines while preserving local land-use authority and community input.

Public safety concerns can include mass incarceration, traffic fatalities, or ICE terrorizing our communities. While the challenges may look different, the solution must begin with prevention. We cannot police our way out of every problem. True public safety means investing in the conditions that allow communities to thrive with safe streets, youth programs, well-resourced neighborhoods, and opportunities that reduce violence before it begins. When we focus on prevention, we create safer blocks, stronger communities, and a district where everyone can feel secure.

Our prison system should not be how we deal with our residents suffering from drug addiction or behavioral health conditions. As president of NASW PA, I was part of the advocacy group for the implementation of the 988 crisis hotline in our commonwealth.

This connects callers experiencing suicidal thoughts, or any behavioral or mental health need to crisis response professionals who can provide them with adequate resources. I also believe that we need to expand successful models like the Bucks County Co-Responder Program, which allows for a social worker to be paired with a police officer when responding to these matters to help divert people away from the criminal justice system in order to receive proper care.

I commend the work that Philadelphia City Council has done with their ICE Out legislation, and the work of activists across the 195th who have made our communities safer by conducting “Know Your Rights” trainings. We have more work to do at the state level. Upon entering Harrisburg, I will fight for legislation that prohibits ICE from making arrests on or near commonwealth owned facilities, ends data sharing between the PA Department of Corrections and federal immigration agencies, and ensures that all local law enforcement agencies end any 287(g) agreements with ICE.

Yes — land use should not be used to block harm reduction facilities
No — municipalities should retain this authority
Other:
As a social worker, I can say that safe injection/overdose prevention sites do work and significantly help reduce drug-related deaths.

Advocates for violence prevention through safe streets, youth programs, well-resourced neighborhoods, and opportunity.

Believes prisons should not be used to address drug addiction or behavioral-health conditions.

Supports expanding co-responder programs that pair social workers with police officers during behavioral-health responses.

Advocates for limiting state and local cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, including ending 287(g) agreements.

Supports preventing land-use rules from blocking harm-reduction facilities, including overdose-prevention sites.

- Advocates for violence prevention through safe streets, youth programs, well-resourced neighborhoods, and opportunity.
- Believes prisons should not be used to address drug addiction or behavioral-health conditions.
- Supports expanding co-responder programs that pair social workers with police officers during behavioral-health responses.
- Advocates for limiting state and local cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, including ending 287(g) agreements.
- Supports preventing land-use rules from blocking harm-reduction facilities, including overdose-prevention sites.

What changes, if any, would you support to enable better access, ensure security, and support the processes of our elections?
I support policies that both expand access to voting and strengthen trust in our elections. That includes expanding early voting, making vote-by-mail more accessible, and ensuring polling locations are adequately staffed and resourced so every voter can participate without barriers. Protecting elections also means combating misinformation and ensuring transparency so voters have confidence that their voices are heard and counted. Our democracy works best when voting is secure, accessible, and trusted by the public.

Supports expanding early voting and vote-by-mail access and adequately staffing polling locations.

Supports combating election misinformation and ensuring transparency in election administration.

- Supports expanding early voting and vote-by-mail access and adequately staffing polling locations.
- Supports combating election misinformation and ensuring transparency in election administration.

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My name is Sierra McNeil. I’m a social worker, dog mom and proud homeowner in Strawberry Mansion. I love my neighborhood, my neighbors and the work I do every day. I earned my Master’s in Social Work from Temple University and started my career in behavioral health helping families in crisis navigate systems that were never built for them.

Meet Sierra | Sierra for PA

My name is Sierra McNeil. I’m a social worker, dog mom and proud homeowner in Strawberry Mansion. I love my neighborhood, my neighbors and the work I do every day. I earned my Master’s in Social Work from Temple University and started my career in behavioral health helping families in crisis navigate systems that were never built for them. That work taught me how decisions made in Harrisburg directly shape people’s access to care, stability and dignity.

Sierra McNeil is a homeowner in Strawberry Mansion. She earned a master's degree in social work from Temple University.

As Director of Workforce Development and Philadelphia Connections at FTAC, I’ve led efforts to strengthen Pennsylvania’s behavioral health workforce and build real career pathways. I’ve worked to make sure Black residents in clinical training are supported and stay here in Pennsylvania so communities of color have access to clinicians who reflect them and understand their experiences.

Sierra currently works as director of workforce development and Philadelphia Connections at FTAC. She started her career in behavioral health, helping families in crisis navigate systems.

A minimum wage increase in Pennsylvania is long overdue, and of all of our neighboring states, we are the only one who continues to match the federal rate of $7.25 an hour. I will fight  for a livable minimum wage that is indexed to account for inflation. As someone who used to work in the service industry, I would eliminate the tipped minimum wage of $2.83 an hour and ensure  that workers of all industries make a living wage.

Because We Deserve Better Agenda | Sierra for PA

Advocates for a minimum wage indexed to inflation and eliminating Pennsylvania’s tipped minimum wage.

Supports stronger tenant protections and rent-stabilization legislation tied to inflation.

Supports increasing vehicle rental and lease taxes and amending Pennsylvania’s Constitution to allow progressive taxation.

- Advocates for a minimum wage indexed to inflation and eliminating Pennsylvania’s tipped minimum wage.
- Supports stronger tenant protections and rent-stabilization legislation tied to inflation.
- Supports increasing vehicle rental and lease taxes and amending Pennsylvania’s Constitution to allow progressive taxation.

Economy

Access to Behavioral Health

As a future state representative, it will be my responsibility to build systems rooted in care, systems that ensure everyone can access the support they need. Right now, Pennsylvania faces a growing behavioral health workforce shortage. By 2032, we will need at least 12% more social workers and behavioral health professionals to meet the demand in our public systems. Addressing this crisis means creating stronger workforce pipelines, expanding loan forgiveness, supporting supervision through stipends, and removing unnecessary barriers to licensure so more qualified professionals can enter the field and serve our communities.

I have experience fighting for this already. As President of the PA Chapter for the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), I have helped advocate for bipartisan support for HB 554 (SB 583). This bill would allow the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to join the Social Work Licensure Compact, and would therefore lessen the barrier for social workers from out of state to work in Pennsylvania.

Proposes behavioral-health workforce investments, including loan forgiveness, supervision stipends, and fewer licensure barriers.

Supports a Pennsylvania “Medicare for All” model that guarantees healthcare for all residents.

- Proposes behavioral-health workforce investments, including loan forgiveness, supervision stipends, and fewer licensure barriers.
- Supports increasing Medicaid reimbursement rates to expand access to behavioral-health services.
- Supports a Pennsylvania “Medicare for All” model that guarantees healthcare for all residents.

Healthcare

Supports implementing Pennsylvania’s fair funding formula and increasing resources for public schools, counselors, and social workers.

Opposes private-school vouchers and tax-credit programs, saying public dollars should stay in public schools.

Plans to pursue school-facility investments and expand the Solar for Schools Program.

- Supports implementing Pennsylvania’s fair funding formula and increasing resources for public schools, counselors, and social workers.
- Opposes private-school vouchers and tax-credit programs, saying public dollars should stay in public schools.
- Plans to pursue school-facility investments and expand the Solar for Schools Program.

Education

Climate justice starts at home. As a state representative, I believe our policies must ensure families live in safe and healthy housing. Too many homes in our communities suffer from poor maintenance, mold, and outdated infrastructure that worsen chronic illnesses like asthma and heart disease. These conditions disproportionately impact low-income, and Black and brown neighborhoods. Investing in home repairs, energy efficiency, and healthy housing initiatives not only protects our environment, but also improves public health and strengthens the stability of our communities.

I would also work with colleagues in Harrisburg to find grant money for homeowners to be able to electrify their homes, and move away from fossil fuel appliances like gas stoves and furnaces. While working on this, I would support colleagues advocating for easier access to solar energy, either by having panels installed on top of homes or allowing for neighbors to set up a community solar project. This would be a massive job creator for the commonwealth, getting us closer to a green economy while paving the way for new apprenticeship programs. It would also bring down utility costs for Pennsylvanians, and be fundamental in tackling our affordability crisis.

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)?
These facilities can place significant demands on local infrastructure and natural resources, so statewide guidelines can help ensure sustainable development, environmental protection, and responsible energy planning. At the same time, state policy should complement local authority under the Municipal Planning Code. Municipalities understand their communities’ needs and should retain the ability to set zoning, land use, and planning ordinances.

Vote411: Pennsylvania State Representative, District 195

These facilities can place significant demands on local infrastructure and natural resources, so statewide guidelines can help ensure sustainable development, environmental protection, and responsible energy planning. At the same time, state policy should complement local authority under the Municipal Planning Code. Municipalities understand their communities’ needs and should retain the ability to set zoning, land use, and planning ordinances. The state’s role should be to provide guardrails and consistency, while still preserving local control and community input in development dec

Supports renewed funding for the Pennsylvania Whole-Home Repairs Program and investments in energy efficiency and healthy housing.

Plans to seek grants for home electrification and supports expanded access to rooftop and community solar projects.

Supports requiring data centers to use renewable energy and contribute to Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program funding.

Supports statewide data-center guidelines while preserving municipal authority over zoning, land use, and planning ordinances.

Calls for Pennsylvania to return to its Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative commitments.

- Supports renewed funding for the Pennsylvania Whole-Home Repairs Program and investments in energy efficiency and healthy housing.
- Plans to seek grants for home electrification and supports expanded access to rooftop and community solar projects.
- Supports requiring data centers to use renewable energy and contribute to Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program funding.
- Supports statewide data-center guidelines while preserving municipal authority over zoning, land use, and planning ordinances.
- Calls for Pennsylvania to return to its Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative commitments.

Energy & the Environment

Prevention in Public Safety

Public safety concerns can include mass incarceration, traffic fatalities, or ICE terrorizing our communities. While the challenges may look different, the solution must begin with prevention. We cannot police our way out of every problem. True public safety means investing in the conditions that allow communities to thrive with safe streets, youth programs, well-resourced neighborhoods, and opportunities that reduce violence before it begins. When we focus on prevention, we create safer blocks, stronger communities, and a district where everyone can feel secure.

Our prison system should not be how we deal with our residents suffering from drug addiction or behavioral health conditions. As president of NASW PA, I was part of the advocacy group for the implementation of the 988 crisis hotline in our commonwealth. This connects callers experiencing suicidal thoughts, or any behavioral or mental health need to crisis response professionals who can provide them with adequate resources. I also believe that we need to expand successful models like the Bucks County Co-Responder Program, which allows for a social worker to be paired with a police officer when responding to these matters to help divert people away from the criminal justice system in order to receive proper care.

Plans to pursue legislation limiting Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests near state facilities, interagency data sharing, and 287(g) agreements.

We have more work to do at the state level. Upon entering Harrisburg, I will fight for legislation that prohibits ICE from making arrests on or near commonwealth owned facilities, ends data sharing between the PA Department of Corrections and federal immigration agencies, and ensures that all local law enforcement agencies end any 287(g) agreements with ICE.

Prioritizes public-safety prevention through youth programs, well-resourced neighborhoods, and opportunities intended to reduce violence.

Supports expanding co-responder programs that pair social workers with police officers for behavioral-health and drug-related calls.

- Prioritizes public-safety prevention through youth programs, well-resourced neighborhoods, and opportunities intended to reduce violence.
- Supports expanding co-responder programs that pair social workers with police officers for behavioral-health and drug-related calls.

Public Safety

I support policies that both expand access to voting and strengthen trust in our elections. That includes expanding early voting, making vote-by-mail more accessible, and ensuring polling locations are adequately staffed and resourced so every voter can participate without barriers. Protecting elections also means combating misinformation and ensuring transparency so voters have confidence that their voices are heard and counted. Our democracy works best when voting is secure, accessible, and trusted by the public.

The state budget process should be transparent, collaborative, and focused on Pennsylvanians’ needs. Delays often result from closed-door negotiations and last-minute decisions. I support earlier talks, clearer timelines, and greater transparency so lawmakers and the public understand proposals. Improved communication between the House, Senate, and Governor’s office can help avoid gridlock. Above all, the budget must reflect our priorities, education, healthcare, infrastructure, workforce development and provide stable funding for schools, providers, and communities.

Supports expanding early voting and vote-by-mail access and adequately staffing and resourcing polling locations.

Supports earlier state-budget negotiations, clearer timelines, and greater transparency about proposals.

- Supports expanding early voting and vote-by-mail access and adequately staffing and resourcing polling locations.
- Supports earlier state-budget negotiations, clearer timelines, and greater transparency about proposals.

Voting & Elections

- 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