Running to represent Berks in Harrisburg

2 contested primary races

The decision of two state legislators not to seek another term in Berks County will mean voters will get to pick new faces as candidates to represent them in Harrisburg on both sides of the ticket in the upcoming April 23 primary.

In 2024, all 203 state House seats and half of the state Senate seats in Pennsylvania are up for election.

In Berks, that means there will be eight House seats and two Senate seats on ballots. However, only two races will be contested.

Only one of those contested races is for a seat being left vacant by a retiring legislator.

Democrats in the 126th Legislative District will get to pick from among three candidates to succeed Rep. Mark Rozzi. The Muhlenberg Township lawmaker announced last fall that he would not seek reelection to his House seat. The district covers Lower Alsace and Muhlenberg townships, Laureldale, Mount Penn and St. Lawrence, and parts of Exeter Township and Reading.

The other contested race is on the Republican side.

Two candidates are running in the 11th Senatorial District to face Democratic incumbent Judy Schwank in the general election. The district includes 23 municipalities in Berks, stretching from Spring Township in the southwest through Reading to Maxatawny Township in the northeast.

The races to replace the second retiring legislator are uncontested. In the 5th Legislative District, one Democrat and one Republican are running to replace Rep. Barry Jozwiak.

Here’s a complete list of who’s running in each of the legislative districts that cover parts of Berks.

Incumbents are denoted by an asterisk.

5th Legislative District

DEMOCRAT

Heather Hanna

Republican

Eric Weaknecht 99th

Legislative District

REPUBLICAN

*David Zimmerman

124th Legislative District

DEMOCRAT

Tina Burns

REPUBLICAN

*Jamie Barton

126th Legislative District

DEMOCRATS

Joshua Caltagirone

Winston Dilone

Jacklyn Rusnock

REPUBLICAN

James Oswald

127th Legislative District

DEMOCRAT

*Manny Guzman

128th Legislative District

REPUBLICAN

*Mark Gillen

129th Legislative District

DEMOCRAT

*Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz

130th Legislative District

DEMOCRAT

Rayne Reitnauer

REPUBLICAN

*David Maloney

11th Senatorial District

DEMOCRAT

*Judy Schwank

REPUBLICANS

Lisha Rowe

Miguel Vasquez

13th Senatorial District

REPUBLICAN

*Scott Martin