Hugh attended Northern Chester County Vo-Tech before graduating from Penn State University in 1983.

Hugh is a veteran, arborist, husband, father, grandfather, and lifelong worker who has spent decades serving others, building relationships, and helping communities grow stronger.

Meet Hugh | Hugh Darlington for PA House 98

Hugh Darlington attended Northern Chester County Vo-Tech and graduated from Penn State University in 1983. He is a husband, father, and grandfather.

Service in the Navy

Hugh served in the United States Navy from 1977 to 1983, where he learned discipline, teamwork, and the importance of putting something bigger than yourself first.

After his military service, Hugh built a long career in arboriculture and environmental stewardship. Working outdoors for decades gave him a deep appreciation for the land, agriculture, conservation, clean water, and the responsibility communities have to future generations.

Hugh Darlington served in the U.S. Navy from 1977 to 1983. He later worked in arboriculture and environmental stewardship.

2026 Pennsylvania General Election 

What do you see as the most pressing issues facing residents of your district, and how would you address them?
Affordability is a key driver of issues faced by many in our district. How to afford rent or a mortgage, utilities, healthcare, gas in the car, childcare and groceries are questions keeping many awake at night. A good start would be to raise the minimum wage as proposed by Governor Shapiro. We need public education that is adequately funded and offer the best resources for our children and more oversight of private and charter schools.

Pennsylvania State Representative District 98 — VOTE411 Voter Guide

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?
I believe there should be a direct adverse effect on the senators and representatives for each day the budget is extended past the June 30th deadline. Recess free negotiations should continue uninterrupted in Harrisburg until an acceptable compromise is reached.

Supports raising Pennsylvania's minimum wage, as proposed by Governor Shapiro.

Calls for consequences for state legislators when the budget misses its June 30 deadline and uninterrupted negotiations until a compromise is reached.

- Supports raising Pennsylvania's minimum wage, as proposed by Governor Shapiro.
- Calls for consequences for state legislators when the budget misses its June 30 deadline and uninterrupted negotiations until a compromise is reached.

Economy

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

Healthcare

What do you see as the most pressing issues facing residents of your district, and how would you address them?
A good start would be to raise the minimum wage as proposed by Governor Shapiro. We need public education that is adequately funded and offer the best resources for our children and more oversight of private and charter schools. We need strong public schools and equal emphasis on career and technology education as well as 4yr college for the best path forward of our children’s future.

What do you see as the most pressing issues facing residents of your district, and how would you address them?
We need public education that is adequately funded and offer the best resources for our children and more oversight of private and charter schools. We need strong public schools and equal emphasis on career and technology education as well as 4yr college for the best path forward of our children’s future. An educated population draws and supports industry with good paying jobs attracting employees, who make their homes here and patronize businesses here.

Strong Public Schools & Career Pathways

Strong schools help build strong communities. Hugh believes every student deserves a fair shot and multiple pathways to success.

Not every student needs the same path to succeed. Some students may choose college, while others may pursue apprenticeships, military service, agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing, small business, or the skilled trades.

Priorities | Hugh Darlington for PA House 98

Supports adequately funding public education, providing resources for children, and increasing oversight of private and charter schools.

Supports strong public schools and equal emphasis on career and technical education and four-year college pathways.

- Supports adequately funding public education, providing resources for children, and increasing oversight of private and charter schools.
- Supports strong public schools and equal emphasis on career and technical education and four-year college pathways.

Education

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 added expense of data center operations should be borne fully by the data center owner/operator. The MPC code states that localities are best served when decisions are specific to area impacted.

The state could set minimum guidelines not exceeding the lowest threshold of any municipality.

Protecting clean water, healthy soil, farmland, and open spaces helps strengthen communities, support agriculture, preserve Pennsylvania's natural beauty, and improve quality of life.

Hugh supports practical, balanced approaches that respect agriculture, workers, businesses, and the environment while protecting the resources future generations will depend on.

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)?
Questions of quality of life, noise, water and electric usage and environmental impact continue unanswered. Promises for local workforce needs are not substantiated. Each data center should be responsible for the cost of zoning, planning, development, and construction.

The added expense of data center operations should be borne fully by the data center owner/operator.

Supports local decision-making on data-center development and state minimum guidelines no higher than the lowest municipal threshold.

Supports protecting clean water, soil, farmland, and open spaces through approaches that balance environmental protection with agriculture, workers, and businesses.

Supports requiring data-center owners and operators to pay the costs of their zoning, planning, development, construction, and operations.

- Supports local decision-making on data-center development and state minimum guidelines no higher than the lowest municipal threshold.
- Supports protecting clean water, soil, farmland, and open spaces through approaches that balance environmental protection with agriculture, workers, and businesses.
- Supports requiring data-center owners and operators to pay the costs of their zoning, planning, development, construction, and operations.

Energy & the Environment

Public Safety

What changes, if any, would you support to enable better access, ensure security, and support the processes of our elections?
I have served as a majority inspector for several election cycles and in my experience, I believe elections in PA are secure.

What changes, if any, would you support to enable better access, ensure security, and support the processes of our elections?
I support the use of drop boxes with their number and placement appropriate to the population and independent/third party voter participation in PA primaries. I am firmly against the proposed federal SAVE Act.

What changes, if any, would you support to enable better access, ensure security, and support the processes of our elections?
I am firmly against the proposed federal SAVE Act. I am behind the initiative championed by Fair Districts PA to establish an independent redistricting commission with a clear public process and clear prioritized map standards.

What changes, if any, would you support to enable better access, ensure security, and support the processes of our elections?
I have served as a majority inspector for several election cycles and in my experience, I believe elections in PA are secure. I support the use of mail in ballots and pre-canvassing to enhance election day efficiency.

What changes, if any, would you support to enable better access, ensure security, and support the processes of our elections?
I support the use of mail in ballots and pre-canvassing to enhance election day efficiency. I believe that voters can and should be notified earlier than election day to correct mistakes on a mail-in ballot received before election day.

What changes, if any, would you support to enable better access, ensure security, and support the processes of our elections?
I believe that voters can and should be notified earlier than election day to correct mistakes on a mail-in ballot received before election day. I support the use of drop boxes with their number and placement appropriate to the population and independent/third party voter participation in PA primaries.

Believes Pennsylvania elections are secure, based on experience serving as a majority inspector during several election cycles.

Supports an independent redistricting commission with a public process and prioritized map standards.

Supports mail-in ballots and processing mail-in ballots before Election Day to improve Election Day efficiency.

Supports notifying voters before Election Day so they can correct mistakes on mail-in ballots received before Election Day.

Supports ballot drop boxes with numbers and placements appropriate to local population, and allowing independent and third-party voters in Pennsylvania primaries.

- Believes Pennsylvania elections are secure, based on experience serving as a majority inspector during several election cycles.
- Opposes the proposed federal SAVE Act.
- Supports an independent redistricting commission with a public process and prioritized map standards.
- Supports mail-in ballots and processing mail-in ballots before Election Day to improve Election Day efficiency.
- Supports notifying voters before Election Day so they can correct mistakes on mail-in ballots received before Election Day.
- Supports ballot drop boxes with numbers and placements appropriate to local population, and allowing independent and third-party voters in Pennsylvania primaries.

Voting & Elections

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube

TikTok

LinkedIn

Hugh Darlington

- Supports protecting clean water, soil, farmland, and open spaces through approaches that balance environmental protection with agriculture, workers, and businesses.
- Supports requiring data-center owners and operators to pay the costs of their zoning, planning, development, construction, and operations.

- Supports mail-in ballots and processing mail-in ballots before Election Day to improve Election Day efficiency.
- Supports notifying voters before Election Day so they can correct mistakes on mail-in ballots received before Election Day.
- Supports ballot drop boxes with numbers and placements appropriate to local population, and allowing independent and third-party voters in Pennsylvania primaries.

Edward Krutsch

Buket Urgen

Joshua Deering

Nicky Woods

- 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