Place of residence: Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County
Education: B.A., English, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania
Current occupation: Human services

Pa. State House 57th District election: Nelson v. Francis | 90.5 WESA

Party: Democratic
Place of residence: Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County
Education: B.A., English, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania

Rob Francis has a bachelor's degree in English from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. He lives in Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County.

Biographical Information
COUNTY
Westmoreland
OCCUPATION
Program Manager (group home for individuals with autism)
EDUCATION
B.A., English & Political Science

Pennsylvania State Representative District 57 — VOTE411 Voter Guide

Current occupation: Human services
Related experience: Westmoreland County Democratic Committee (2026-present); program manager, special needs group home (2024-2026); Erie County poll worker (2022-2024); counselor/advocate for survivors of domestic violence and abuse, (2021-2023); youth counselor, foster placement and juvenile probation adolescents (2021-2022); volunteer, National Society of Leadership & Success; and student president, EUP (2017-2019)

Rob Francis works as a program manager at a group home for individuals with autism. He previously worked as a counselor and advocate for survivors of domestic violence and abuse and as a youth counselor for adolescents in foster placement and for those on juvenile probation.

Pennsylvania State Representative District 57 - VOTE411.org

Francis' run for Pennsylvania State Representative in District 57 is his first run for elected office.

2026 Pennsylvania General Election 

Housing is also a significant issue. I would support and introduce legislation that caps rent costs, expands the rights and protections of tenants, assists individuals in purchasing a home, and provides local means to house and otherwise support unhoused individuals. The general cost of living also remains unlivable, and we need vigorous legislation that will increase labor wages, bolster local economies, and support the rights and protections of workers in all settings and fields.

I would support and introduce legislation that caps rent costs, expands the rights and protections of tenants, assists individuals in purchasing a home, and provides local means to house and otherwise support unhoused individuals. The general cost of living also remains unlivable, and we need vigorous legislation that will increase labor wages, bolster local economies, and support the rights and protections of workers in all settings and fields.

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?
Legalizing cannabis would bring significant income to our state, as we’ve seen in many other states. Independent and state estimates suggest we could earn $100 million in the first year alone, and Gov. Shapiro’s proposal for 26% sales tax could bring in $200 million annually after becoming established. I also support a tax on digital advertisements for large corporations and tech companies.

Legalizing cannabis would bring significant income to our state, as we’ve seen in many other states. Independent and state estimates suggest we could earn $100 million in the first year alone, and Gov. Shapiro’s proposal for 26% sales tax could bring in $200 million annually after becoming established. I also support a tax on digital advertisements for large corporations and tech companies. Big businesses flood our screens with ads and profit off of Pennsylvania consumers.

They should contribute their fair share to the state. We must update our tax laws to match the modern economy, including digital markets.

Locally, one concern that has regularly been brought to my attention is transportation options for those with mobility limitations or who are unable to transport themselves — particularly in accessing otherwise available medical treatments. If elected, I would address these concerns by reviewing state and local funding allocations for transport.
I’d work with county and state officials to determine what resources are needed to expand local and publicly funded transport while also ensuring that transport is physically and practically accessible.

There is a lot of back-and-forth with the extensive budget process, and this has led to regularly missed deadlines, exacerbated partisan conflicts, and the growing inability to balance our structural deficit. The only people that suffer for this incompetency are the taxpayers. Examining the budget proposal/approval window, enacting stopgaps to offset gridlocks, expediting the hearing process, and holding officials accountable for missed deadlines (rather than punishing citizens and public services) are a few actions I would take to address this ongoing issue.

Proposes capping rents, expanding tenant protections, assisting homebuyers, and giving local communities resources to support unhoused residents.

Calls for legislation to increase wages, strengthen local economies, and protect workers' rights.

Supports legalizing cannabis and taxing digital advertisements by large corporations and technology companies.

Plans to work with county and state officials to expand accessible, publicly funded local transportation.

Proposes budget-process reforms, including temporary measures to address gridlock, faster hearings, and accountability for officials who miss deadlines.

- Proposes capping rents, expanding tenant protections, assisting homebuyers, and giving local communities resources to support unhoused residents.
- Calls for legislation to increase wages, strengthen local economies, and protect workers' rights.
- Supports legalizing cannabis and taxing digital advertisements by large corporations and technology companies.
- Plans to work with county and state officials to expand accessible, publicly funded local transportation.
- Proposes budget-process reforms, including temporary measures to address gridlock, faster hearings, and accountability for officials who miss deadlines.

Economy

What do you see as the most pressing issues facing residents of your district, and how would you address them?
Access to quality healthcare that is affordable and accessible is a top priority. I am a strong advocate of Medicare For All and will support/introduce legislation that guarantees both healthcare and the means to obtain it for all in our commonwealth.

If my party does win a trifecta, then we need to immediately pass HB 2763, which would establish a state-run single-payer healthcare system with Pennsylvania residents paying no out-of-pocket costs. After this, we need to immediately move to address the affordability crisis, the climate crisis, and put restrictions on AI data centers.

Advocates for Medicare for All and passage of House Bill 2763 to establish a state-run single-payer health care system.

- Advocates for Medicare for All and passage of House Bill 2763 to establish a state-run single-payer health care system.

Healthcare

While I admire the philanthropic aspect of expanding the tax credit for businesses, my concern is its potential to detract state revenue from funding public schools. With the possible exception of special needs schools, taxpayer dollars should fund public schools; and private schools, if not freely available to the public, should be required to source their own funding. Education and the resources to obtain it should be equitable.

Education and the resources to obtain it should be equitable.
If private and/or religious education institutions want public funding, then they should be held to the same transparent scrutiny, standards and oversight as public schools.

Supports directing taxpayer funding to public schools, with a possible exception for special-needs schools.

Supports requiring private and religious schools receiving public funds to meet public-school transparency, standards, and oversight requirements.

- Supports directing taxpayer funding to public schools, with a possible exception for special-needs schools.
- Supports requiring private and religious schools receiving public funds to meet public-school transparency, standards, and oversight requirements.

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 support a statewide moratorium on AI data center development until we can establish legislation that provides reasonable parameters and oversight of community-data collection and storage. The type of data collected by AI data centers — and how that data is used — needs to be subject to intense ethical scrutiny, regulation, and oversight.

The negative environmental impact and increased energy costs are a major point of concern; we need measures to ensure data centers will provide their own energy and water supplies and follow strict environmental regulations. I support Gov. Shapiro’s recent action to rein in AI data centers as a great first step, but more needs to be done.

Supports a statewide moratorium on artificial intelligence data-center development until data collection and storage rules are established.

Calls for data centers to provide their own energy and water supplies and comply with strict environmental regulations.

- Supports a statewide moratorium on artificial intelligence data-center development until data collection and storage rules are established.
- Calls for data centers to provide their own energy and water supplies and comply with strict environmental regulations.

Energy & the Environment

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

Public Safety

What changes, if any, would you support to enable better access, ensure security, and support the processes of our elections?
I would introduce/support legislation to require automatic voter registration upon becoming legal age. I also support providing drop boxes for mail-in ballots at easily accessible areas throughout the commonwealth, per needs of the local area.

I also support providing drop boxes for mail-in ballots at easily accessible areas throughout the commonwealth, per needs of the local area. Making voting more remotely accessible is also a measure I would support, providing significant safeguards were in place; if we can file taxes, process medical and financial information, and complete other state and federally required forms online, then we can do it for voting.

Making voting more remotely accessible is also a measure I would support, providing significant safeguards were in place; if we can file taxes, process medical and financial information, and complete other state and federally required forms online, then we can do it for voting. Elections must be kept free and fair; as such, I would introduce/support legislation that limit the contribution abilities of Super PACs, close the loopholes around corporate PACs, and enforce a campaign contribution limit.

Proposes automatic voter registration when residents reach legal voting age and accessible mail-ballot drop boxes tailored to local needs.

Supports making remote voting more accessible if significant safeguards are in place.

Proposes limiting contributions to super political action committees, closing corporate political action committee loopholes, and enforcing campaign contribution limits.

- Proposes automatic voter registration when residents reach legal voting age and accessible mail-ballot drop boxes tailored to local needs.
- Supports making remote voting more accessible if significant safeguards are in place.
- Proposes limiting contributions to super political action committees, closing corporate political action committee loopholes, and enforcing campaign contribution limits.

Voting & Elections

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Rob Francis

- Supports requiring private and religious schools receiving public funds to meet public-school transparency, standards, and oversight requirements.

Edward Krutsch

Buket Urgen

Eric Nelson

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- 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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