2026 Pennsylvania General Election 

Chris Johnson

I am Chris Johnson, a 33-year-old public education advocate and civic leader. I was born and raised in the Yorktown neighborhood of
North Philadelphia, and I have resided in West Mt. Airy since 2019. I initially moved into the neighborhood primarily because I was
fortunate enough to obtain a tiny-one-bedroom that I could hardly afford while working on a modest public service salary. Over time, I’ve
come to enjoy the diverse and welcoming spirit of my fellow neighbors and I deeply value the public and common goods we proudly
share.

2026 STATE LEGISLATIVE CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE

Johnson attended St. Joseph’s Preparatory School before earning a bachelor’s degree in political science from Oakwood University, in Huntsville, Alabama. Johnson said the university’s motto, “Enter to learn, depart to serve,” resonated with him.

Meet the candidates: Mt. Airy’s Chris Johnson runs for Pa. House seat

Following this, Johnson took a role as a regional representative in U.S. Sen. Bob Casey’s Philadelphia office, where he worked for three years. During that time, Johnson earned a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Pennsylvania’s Fels Institute of Government.

“My mother, who raised me and my three siblings with the help of my grandmother and my village, also raised us in a household built on faith and service,” Johnson said. “I was born and raised Adventist and believing that we have a responsibility as a people to help make sure that we can create a world that’s more fair and more just and more compassionate for people.”

Chris Johnson is originally from the Yorktown neighborhood of North Philadelphia. He earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Oakwood University and a master's degree in public administration from the University of Pennsylvania's Fels Institute of Government. He has lived in West Mt. Airy since 2019 and was raised in the Adventist faith.

Open seat in 200th District draws three candidates for primary

I am a passionate advocate for public education, and I am fighting to build a government that puts working families first. I currently serve as the director of state and government relations for the School District of Philadelphia. I previously served as a Philadelphia regional representative for U.S. Senator Bob Casey and district office director for Pennsylvania Speaker Joanna McClinton.

Chris Johnson - Chestnut Hill Local Election Questionnaire

I currently serve as the director of state and government relations for the School District of Philadelphia. I previously served as a Philadelphia regional representative for U.S. Senator Bob Casey and district office director for Pennsylvania Speaker Joanna McClinton. I am running to strengthen our public schools by fighting for fair funding for public education, investing in public transit, expanding access to economic opportunity for all, and protecting our civil rights and basic freedoms here in Pennsylvania.

Chris Johnson currently works as the director of state and government relations for the School District of Philadelphia. He previously served as a Philadelphia regional representative for U.S. Senator Bob Casey and as district office director for Pennsylvania Speaker Joanna McClinton.

The state legislature can take meaningful steps to address the housing shortage and improve affordability by increasing investment, modernizing policy, and supporting local solutions. First, we should expand funding for affordable housing programs to help build and preserve units for working families. We also need to incentivize equitable development by offering tax credits and streamlining state-level regulations that slow down construction.

In addition, the legislature can support municipalities by enabling more flexible zoning and encouraging mixed-income development. Addressing housing affordability also means strengthening tenant protections, preventing displacement, and investing in home repair programs so existing housing stock remains safe and livable.

MAKE PA MORE AFFORDABLE

If you work full-time, you should be able to support yourself and your family with dignity. Chris will fight to finally raise the minimum wage in Pennsylvania to a livable wage.

Home | Chris Johnson for PA House 200

In addition to public education, transit, and public safety, I would focus on lowering the cost of living for working families. That includes advancing a livable minimum wage, strengthening consumer protections to combat price gouging, and ensuring utilities and essential services remain affordable and reliable.

Supports union jobs and workforce development, and calls for corporations and wealthy people to pay their fair share.

Proposes expanding affordable-housing funding, development tax credits, flexible zoning, tenant protections, and home-repair programs.

Supports raising Pennsylvania's minimum wage to a livable wage.

Advocates for consumer protections against price gouging and affordable, reliable utilities and essential services.

- Proposes expanding affordable-housing funding, development tax credits, flexible zoning, tenant protections, and home-repair programs.
- Supports raising Pennsylvania's minimum wage to a livable wage.
- Advocates for consumer protections against price gouging and affordable, reliable utilities and essential services.

I would also prioritize expanding access to healthcare by strengthening the Pennie exchange. Addressing mental health and addiction would be a key part of that effort, with increased investment in community-based care and treatment services.

Supports allowing harm-reduction facilities despite local land-use restrictions, while involving stakeholders and communities in overdose-prevention efforts.

Prioritizes expanding healthcare access through the Pennie health insurance exchange and investing in community-based mental-health and addiction treatment.

- Prioritizes expanding healthcare access through the Pennie health insurance exchange and investing in community-based mental-health and addiction treatment.

At the same time, we need greater transparency and accountability across all publicly funded schools, including charter and cyber charter schools, to ensure taxpayer dollars are being used effectively.

We should also invest in modernizing school facilities, supporting and retaining high-quality educators, and expanding career and technical education opportunities. The goal is a funding system that is truly equitable, sustainable, and aligned with our constitutional obligation to provide a thorough and efficient system of public education for every student.

Proposes increasing annual school-funding supplements and directing more funding to districts with the greatest need.

Supports greater transparency and accountability at charter and online charter schools receiving public funding.

Supports modernizing school facilities, retaining educators, and expanding career and technical education opportunities.

- Supports greater transparency and accountability at charter and online charter schools receiving public funding.
- Supports modernizing school facilities, retaining educators, and expanding career and technical education opportunities.

I am opposed to the negative externalities that an expanded I-95 and I-676 would bring to Philadelphia. However, I support rehabilitation of I-95 for transit safety purposes.

Opposes expanding Interstate 95 and Interstate 676 in Philadelphia, but supports rehabilitating Interstate 95 for transit safety.

- Opposes expanding Interstate 95 and Interstate 676 in Philadelphia, but supports rehabilitating Interstate 95 for transit safety.

4. How best can the state spend money for crime prevention and abatement?
The most effective way for the state to spend money on crime prevention is to invest in strategies that address the root causes of crime, while supporting evidence-based public safety strategies. That starts with fully funding public education, eliminating blight from overlooked communities, expanding after-school and mentorship programs, and investing in workforce development so young people have clear pathways to opportunity.

Finally, we should expand diversion programs that steer individuals — especially young people — away from the justice system and toward support services. A balanced approach that combines prevention, intervention, and smart policing will reduce crime while strengthening trust and long-term community stability.

Any legislation to protect Philadelphia bike-riders will earn my support, especially common-sense reforms such as HB 291.

Supports community-based violence-prevention programs, including violence-interruption and outreach initiatives led by local organizations.

Prioritizes crime prevention through education, blight reduction, after-school and mentorship programs, workforce development, and evidence-based public-safety strategies.

Supports expanding diversion programs that direct people, especially young people, away from the justice system and toward support services.

Supports House Bill (HB) 291 and other legislation to protect Philadelphia bicycle riders.

- Prioritizes crime prevention through education, blight reduction, after-school and mentorship programs, workforce development, and evidence-based public-safety strategies.
- Supports expanding diversion programs that direct people, especially young people, away from the justice system and toward support services.
- Supports House Bill (HB) 291 and other legislation to protect Philadelphia bicycle riders.

Prioritizes protecting civil and voting rights.

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Finally, I would work to build an economy that works for everyone by supporting good-paying union jobs, investing in workforce development, and ensuring corporations and the ultrawealthy pay their fair share. These priorities are all connected — when we invest in people, protect consumers, and expand opportunity, we create stronger, safer, and more resilient communities across Pennsylvania.

Economy

Yes — land use should not be used to block harm reduction facilities
No — municipalities should retain this authority
Other:
We should be in the business of preventing overdoses, but it is critical that we work with all stakeholders and partners to ensure that all communities, not just the few already impacted by the overdose crisis, pitch into harm reduction.

Healthcare

The formula must do more to close the adequacy gap identified by the courts and ensure that every student, regardless of ZIP code, has access to a high-quality education.

I would accelerate the state’s commitment to fully funding public schools by increasing the annual adequacy supplement and directing more resources to the districts with the greatest need.

Education

Energy & the Environment

We should also prioritize community-based violence prevention programs that have proven results, including interruption and outreach initiatives led by trusted local organizations.

Investing in mental health services and addiction treatment is also critical, as many communities are dealing with challenges that intersect with public safety.

Public Safety

Johnson said it is crucial to unite his district over key priorities, like funding public education, aiming to ensure safety and accessibility on SEPTA, protecting civil and voting rights, and raising the minimum wage in Pennsylvania.

Three Democrats are competing to replace Pa. Rep. Chris Rabb in Mount Airy

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