Election 2026: Republican Kristin Marcell Running For State Representative

Candidates running in the Nov. 3 general election are providing background about themselves and their positions on the issues to voters in these profiles, which will run in Patch when they are received.

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — Republican Kristin Marcell is running for re-election as state representative in Pennsylvania's 178th House District. She is facing a challenge from Democrat Monica Weninger.

Biological Information

Name: Kristin Marcell

Town of Residence: Wrightstown

Position Sought: PA State Representative, 178th district

Party Affiliation: Republican

Family: I am a proud mom of two children who attend the Council Rock School District. As a native of Bucks County, our family is proud to call this community home.

Education: Graduate of Penn State University (BA Political Science) and George Washington University (Master's in Public Policy)

Occupation: State Representative/Communications

Questions

1. Why are you running for state office?

I ran for office as a Bucks County native, a working mom, and someone who had served on my local school board. I ran for office because I understood the challenges our families face and wanted to do something about them. Today, I am no less committed to that goal – and am proud to have a record that shows I am getting bipartisan results for my community by bringing common sense and consensus building to Harrisburg.

On issues big and small – from expanding workforce opportunities to improving medical care and transparency in nursing home, addressing porch piracy to fighting the scourge of xylazine, helping families save for college to delivering record funding for local schools – I have been successful in working through divided government to achieve positive outcomes. I am running for re-election because there is still more work to do – on affordability, growing our economy and helping job creators, ensuring fiscal accountability in government, and much more.

2. Where do you stand on energy production in the state?

Pennsylvania should embrace an all-of-the-above energy strategy that prioritizes affordability, reliability, and energy independence. Our state has abundant natural gas resources, and we should develop those resources responsibly while also supporting both established and emerging energy technologies. Unleashing Pennsylvania’s energy potential will result in a stronger economy, more jobs, and less expensive utility costs for consumers. Reliable electricity is essential for families, small businesses, and manufacturers across the state.

I opposed Pennsylvania’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) because I believe policies that increase energy costs put an unnecessary burden on consumers and employers. Instead, we should focus on expanding reliable energy production, modernizing infrastructure, and reforming permitting processes so responsible projects can move forward without unnecessary delays. We can protect our environment while ensuring Pennsylvania has the dependable, affordable energy needed to attract investment, create good-paying jobs, and remain economically competitive.

3. What can be done to curb the increased cost of utilities?

We must make sure that if data centers come to a community, they produce their own energy at their own cost. Billion-dollar corporations can afford their energy bills, and we shouldn’t be subsidizing that. More systemically, so much of utility costs are driven by supply and demand, yet too often government tries to limit supply to meet other goals while forgetting about the impact on real people. That is one reason PA removed itself from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and the disastrous impact it would have had on energy consumers.

What we need is to increase reliable energy production infrastructure, streamline the regulatory process so it meets both the goals of protecting the public/environment and allowing energy producers the ability to do their jobs, and avoid policies that add costs for families and businesses.

I also support common sense, targeted tax relief, including tax holidays that temporarily eliminate taxes passed on to consumers for essential expenses such as gasoline and household energy, as well as a larger, bipartisan energy tax cut bill that would ensure savings reach consumers.

4. Where do you stand on taxes and the state budget?

Pennsylvania needs a responsible state budget that prioritizes essential services, protects taxpayers, and does not spend more than families can afford. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I scrutinize spending proposals and advocate for fiscal discipline, government efficiency, and long-term financial stability. We also need greater transparency and accountability about how public money is allocated and spent – because without accountability we open ourselves to greater instances of waste, fraud, or mismanagement.

My priorities include education, public safety, and services that help our communities succeed. We should make government more efficient before asking taxpayers to pay more, preserve reserves for future economic challenges, and ensure every dollar is used responsibly. Families must balance their budgets, and state government should be held to the same standard.

The 178th House District includes Upper Southampton, Warwick and Wrightstown townships and much of Northampton Township.