Party: Republican
Place of residence: Ross Township
Education: B.A. political science and Spanish, Westminster College; Duquesne University Kline School of Law

Pa. State House 20th District election: Aguglia v. Kinkead | 90.5 WESA

Party: Republican
Place of residence: Ross Township
Education: B.A. political science and Spanish, Westminster College; Duquesne University Kline School of Law
Current occupation: Senior legal compliance officer

Joseph Aguglia earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science and Spanish from Westminster College. He lives in Ross Township.

Party: Republican
Place of residence: Ross Township
Education: B.A. political science and Spanish, Westminster College; Duquesne University Kline School of Law
Current occupation: Senior legal compliance officer
Related experience: In addition to his current job at a transportation brokerage, Aguglia has worked as an assistant district attorney, and he served as executive director of the Erie County Human Relations Commission, where he investigated incidences of employment, housing, and public accommodation discrimination.

Current occupation: Senior legal compliance officer
Related experience: In addition to his current job at a transportation brokerage, Aguglia has worked as an assistant district attorney, and he served as executive director of the Erie County Human Relations Commission, where he investigated incidences of employment, housing, and public accommodation discrimination.
Supporters/endorsements: Anti-abortion-rights group LifePAC, Republican Lt. Governor nominee Jason Richey

Joseph currently works as a senior legal compliance officer at a transportation brokerage. He previously worked as an assistant district attorney and served as executive director of the Erie County Human Relations Commission.

Aguglia was among a crop of Republican “write-in” candidates who earned their party’s nomination in the primary without registering to have their names printed on the ballot. He ran for commission in Ross, the largest community in the district, last year and lost in the general election, but he is now hoping to topple the incumbent with a campaign that is "committed to safe communities, strong education, and real opportunities for working families."

Joseph previously ran for commission in Ross but lost in the general election.

2026 Pennsylvania General Election 

There have been a number of legislative proposals that would increase revenue for the state, including marijuana legalization, a tax on digital advertisements, and the legalization/taxation of “skill games." Which, if any, of these do you favor, and why?
In light of the recent Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision that coin-operated skill games operate as slot machines/gambling devices and fall under the State Gaming Act, lawmakers are required to pass a tax framework by October 13th. As such, I would propose taxing them at 20% of their gross revenue, so that small businesses hosting the skill games be able to continue to thrive without a higher rate of taxation.
Also, I would propose that 100% of this tax be used in place of property taxes, so that true property tax reform can be achieved so that the elderly and single-income citizens can live in their homes for life.

As such, I would propose taxing them at 20% of their gross revenue, so that small businesses hosting the skill games be able to continue to thrive without a higher rate of taxation.
Also, I would propose that 100% of this tax be used in place of property taxes, so that true property tax reform can be achieved so that the elderly and single-income citizens can live in their homes for life.

What is the biggest LOCAL concern your district has that hasn't been met by action in Harrisburg, and what would you do about it if elected?
Pennsylvania is facing a housing crisis. Pittsburgh has one of the highest foreclosure rates in the country, as one in every 1,900 houses in Allegheny County faces foreclosure. The elderly and single-income citizens have worked their whole lives for their homes. The prospect of facing foreclosure or a tax sale of their homes is extremely disheartening. Therefore, I would propose property tax reform and relief as being the #1 local issue not addressed by Harrisburg.

What do you see as the most pressing issues facing residents of your district, and how would you address them?
Pennsylvania has a housing crisis. Property taxes are sky high due to local municipalities not being able to balance a budget. Many citizens who have worked their whole lives to own their own home now face a sheriff or tax sale of their home. As such, I would advocate for property tax reform.

I would advocate for investigating wasteful government spending, and advocate for a state government subcommittee, comprised of state legislators, to review waste, fraud, and abuse.

Fetanyl, tianeprine(“gas station heroin”) and other drugs are hurting our citizens. As such, I would advocate for state restriction on the sale of gas station heroin, Kratom and any other dangerous drug. I would advocate for mental health, drug, and alcohol counseling.

Voter Guide: Pennsylvania State Representative District 20

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?
The Governor should submit a state budget that is not based on a contingency occurring, as the State Constitution provides that the Governor shall submit a balanced budget. State legislators should not receive their salary until the budget is passed, which certainly would provide enough incentive to pass a timely budget. State legislators should work to spot waste, fraud, and abuse; including any redundancies in spending.

Proposes a 20% tax on gross revenue from skill games and using the revenue to replace property taxes.

Proposes property-tax reform and relief to address housing insecurity and foreclosure risks.

Advocates for a legislative subcommittee to investigate government waste, fraud, and abuse.

Calls for balanced state budgets, withholding legislators’ pay until budgets pass, and reviewing spending redundancies.

- Proposes a 20% tax on gross revenue from skill games and using the revenue to replace property taxes.
- Proposes property-tax reform and relief to address housing insecurity and foreclosure risks.
- Advocates for a legislative subcommittee to investigate government waste, fraud, and abuse.
- Calls for balanced state budgets, withholding legislators’ pay until budgets pass, and reviewing spending redundancies.

Economy

Advocates for mental-health, drug, and alcohol counseling.

- Advocates for mental-health, drug, and alcohol counseling.

Healthcare

Excellent education

Champion strong public schools, career and technical education, and opportunities that prepare students for the future.

PRIORITIES for House District 20

Supporters of private schools have urged the state to expand a tax break that allows businesses to deduct contributions they make to those schools. Critics say private schools should provide more details about tuition costs and the family income of students that benefit from such support. Where do you fall on these questions, and on how the state should fund grade-school education generally?
The Educational Improvement Tax Credit allows individuals and businesses to receive a Pennsylvania state tax credit of up to 90% of their tax liability. This program provides tuition assistance to low-income households to send their children to the school of their choice. We need multiple educational pathways to accommodate student needs. It is not one-size-fits-all. As such, I am not in favor of cutting funding for EITC, or putting up excessive barriers to funding.

Advocates for strong public schools and career and technical education.

Opposes cutting Educational Improvement Tax Credit funding or adding what he considers excessive funding barriers.

- Advocates for strong public schools and career and technical education.
- Opposes cutting Educational Improvement Tax Credit funding or adding what he considers excessive funding barriers.

Education

The growth of data centers has attracted controversy across the state, yet lawmakers have so far struggled to devise legislation to address it. Are there legislative measures you support to address data center concerns, such as local or statewide construction moratoriums or efforts to require more transparency/limit resource use by the centers?
I am in favor of significant safeguards of our citizens. I am in favor of developers of data centers meeting municipal approval, and those developers requesting over 15 megawatts of power or more must build or buy their own energy supplies so as to not impact citizens with increased rate costs. Developers must pay for their own usage, not our citizens.

The Public Utility Commission (PUC) must oversee data centers, and data centers must provide monthly water and energy usage details to the PUC. These safeguards are essential to our citizens, so that they do not ever face energy rate increases or grid issues due to data centers.

Supports municipal approval for data centers and requiring larger projects to provide their own energy supplies.

Calls for Public Utility Commission oversight of data centers and monthly reporting of their water and energy use.

- Supports municipal approval for data centers and requiring larger projects to provide their own energy supplies.
- Calls for Public Utility Commission oversight of data centers and monthly reporting of their water and energy use.

Energy & the Environment

Control of state government has been divided for years. Assuming your party doesn’t win a “trifecta” by winning both chambers of the legislature and the governor’s office, what’s an important piece of legislation you could see working with the other party to pass? Conversely, if your party does win a trifecta, what should its top legislative priority be?
An important piece of bipartisan legislation that can be passed is legislation banning the sale of opioids. One such measure is House Bill 377, which bans the sale of gas station heroin, called tianeptine. I would also propose banning the sale of Kratom, as the Post-Gazette has reported that Kratom deaths continue to increase in Allegheny County.

Proposes banning tianeptine and kratom sales, including through House Bill 377’s prohibition on tianeptine.

- Proposes banning tianeptine and kratom sales, including through House Bill 377’s prohibition on tianeptine.

Public Safety

What changes, if any, would you support to enable better access, ensure security, and support the processes of our elections?
I have previously served as Judge of Elections for my precinct. As such, I am in favor of requiring identification at the polls prior to voting. I am also in favor of touch screen voting rather than “fill in the oval” voting, which would then provide an accommodation to disabled citizens enabling an easier voting process. Finally, I believe that voting information should be readily available to individuals that English is not their first language.

Supports requiring identification at polling places before voting.

Supports touchscreen voting rather than paper ballot marking to make voting easier for disabled voters.

Believes voting information should be readily available to people whose first language is not English.

- Supports requiring identification at polling places before voting.
- Supports touchscreen voting rather than paper ballot marking to make voting easier for disabled voters.
- Believes voting information should be readily available to people whose first language is not English.

Voting & Elections

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Joseph Aguglia

- Proposes property-tax reform and relief to address housing insecurity and foreclosure risks.
- Advocates for a legislative subcommittee to investigate government waste, fraud, and abuse.
- Calls for balanced state budgets, withholding legislators’ pay until budgets pass, and reviewing spending redundancies.

Edward Krutsch

Buket Urgen

Emily Kinkead

- 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