Written by Rachel Gass – 11/5/2026
November’s midterm election results come at a pivotal moment as the country struggles over how to respond to climate change, an unprecedented rise in energy costs, and data center development. Here’s a brief overview of the races affecting Pennsylvania and the candidate-elects’ stances on clean energy and energy affordability.
Pennsylvania Races
Prior to this election, Pennsylvania experienced a split state legislature, with Democrats holding a narrow majority in the State House and Republicans controlling the State Senate. This split often contributed to gridlock on policies for both parties, including clean energy legislation, grid reliability, and energy affordability.
Pennsylvania Democrats flipped the State Senate for the first time in nearly 50 years, achieving a “trifecta” of control of the executive and legislature that could improve Governor Shapiro’s ability to pass legislation on some of his top priorities, including his Lightning Plan to lower energy costs and boost renewables and GRID standards to regulate data center development.
Pennsylvania State Senate
6th Senate District: Eileen Hartnett Albillar (D) defeated incumbent Sen. Frank Farry (R)
Hartnett Albillar is the first Democrat to win the Senate seat in the 6th District in over three decades. Hartnett Albillar has said her priorities include expanding Pennsylvania’s energy supply, modernizing grid infrastructure, ensuring energy affordability, and regulating data center development. She had been endorsed by the Sierra Club, Climate Cabinet, League of Conservation Voters, and the Jane Fonda Climate Action PAC.
24th Senate District: Chris Thomas (D) defeated incumbent Sen. Tracy Pennycuick (R)
First-time candidate Chris Thomas has stated he supports Governor Shapiro’s GRID plan to regulate data centers, including utility bill protections, a ban on NDAs, local control, and environmental protections. Thomas was endorsed by Climate Cabinet.
The 24th District is the site of two proposed 2.8- and 1.8-million-square foot data centers.
Pennsylvania State House
142nd House District: Kristin Egan (D) defeated incumbent Rep. Joe Hogan (R)
Kristin Egan ran on a platform of affordability and was endorsed by the Sierra Club and Climate Cabinet. Egan currently serves on the school board and has prior experience as a public-school teacher and union leader.
144th House District: Rep. Brian Munroe (D) defeated Mike Murpy (R)
Representative Brian Munroe secured his third term in the Bucks County seat. His platform includes supporting green jobs, environmental protections, and guardrails on data center development. Munroe was endorsed by the Sierra Club, Climate Cabinet, Conservation Voters of PA, and Clean Water Action.
160th House District: Elizabeth Moro (D) defeated incumbent Rep. Craig Williams (R)
Elizabeth Moro beat incumbent Craig Williams, who served on the Technology & Utilities and Energy Committees and previously as assistant general counsel for PECO. Moro has called for a moratorium on data centers, and her platform includes supporting clean energy, requiring transparency in utility rate cases, and strengthening rebates on energy-efficient upgrades. She was endorsed by the Sierra Club Pennsylvania.
Federal Races
At the national level, Democrats won the U.S. House and Senate, taking full control of Congress. Pennsylvania was regarded as having more competitive U.S. House races than any other state. Democrats swept the Commonwealth’s four most closely watched congressional races, defeating Republican incumbents in each.
U.S. House of Representatives
1st Congressional District: Bob Harvie (D) defeated incumbent Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R)
Bob Harvie defeated Representative Brian Fitzpatrick, who had represented the district, which covers all of Bucks County and a portion of Montgomery County, since 2017. Harvie’s priorities include reining in data center development, investing in clean energy infrastructure, and lowering energy costs. He previously served on the Bucks County Board of Commissioners.
3rd Congressional District: Rep. Chris Rabb (D) defeated Dennis Mahoney (I)
Chris Rabb is a five-term state representative elected to the U.S. House. His platform included a just transition to 100% renewable energy, modernized energy grids, and a data center moratorium. Rabb was endorsed by the Sunrise Movement, Friends of the Earth Action, Food & Water Action, the Jane Fonda Climate PAC, Oil Change Action, Climate Hawks Vote and the Sustainable Energy & Environment Coalition PAC.
7th Congressional District: Bob Brooks (D) defeated incumbent Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R)
Bob Brooks defeated incumbent Ryan Mackenzie on a platform of investing in clean energy projects and jobs, tackling the climate crisis, and protecting local control over data centers. He is a labor leader and retired firefighter.
8th Congressional District: Paige Cognetti (D) defeated incumbent Rep. Bob Bresnahan (R)
Paige Cognetti has called for eliminating tax exemptions afforded to data center developers and reining in rising utility prices. Cognetti has served as the mayor of Scranton, an area which faces a high rate of data center proposals, since 2020.
10th Congressional District: Janelle Stelson (D) defeated incumbent Rep. Scott Perry (R)
Janelle Stelson defeated seven-term representative Scott Perry in the Harrisburg area. Stelson’s platform includes stricter rules for utility rate increases and data centers.
What Comes Next
While we cannot predict exact legislative outcomes of the 120th United States Congress, historical track records and candidate platforms suggest an influx of leadership open to advancing legislation that supports clean energy development, data center regulation, and energy affordability state- and nation-wide.
As always, The Energy Co-op encourages its members to be active members of their community and contact their legislators about the policies they want to see in the coming years. Together, we can keep advocating for clean energy progress.
