Centre County Sample Ballot & Voter Guide 2026
Who is running for Pennsylvania House and more, and where they stand on schools, the budget and housing.
By address
These seats are elected by district; only the district covering your address is on your ballot.
Centre County is split across 3 Pennsylvania House districts.
Find your districts by addressPennsylvania House: 3 districtsDistricts 77, 82, 171
Pennsylvania House District 77H. Scott Conklin (D) · Michelle Schellberg (R)
H. Scott Conklin
H. Scott Conklin is the Democratic state representative for Pennsylvania House District 77, per the Pennsylvania General Assembly's official website. Conklin works as a legislator, per the same source. Conklin serves on the House Commerce Committee, per the Pennsylvania General Assembly. No campaign website was found as of September 25, 2026.
Michelle Schellberg
Top priorities
From the campaign site
- fiscal responsibility and lower tax rates
- expanding parental choice and student access to quality schools
- support for law enforcement and first responders
About Michelle Schellberg
Michelle Schellberg is a mother, grandmother and multi-generational Centre County resident, per her campaign site. She is the Republican nominee challenging the incumbent in the 77th District.
H. Scott Conklin (Democratic), Michelle Schellberg (Republican) meet on the November 3 ballot. The seat is open: Rep. Scott Conklin (Democratic), the sitting member per the General Assembly's roster, is not on the November ballot. H. Scott Conklin was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Michelle Schellberg was unopposed in the Republican primary. Pennsylvania nominates by plurality (no runoffs); unopposed nominees still print. The field matches the Department of State's general-election candidate listing (pavoterservices.pa.gov, read October 20, 2026). This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
Full race pagePennsylvania House District 82Paul Takac (D) · Kirsten McTernan (R)
Paul Takac
Top priorities
From the campaign site
- fully and fairly funding public education at all levels
- reducing taxes and the cost of living for working families and seniors
- ensuring access to affordable, high quality health care
About Paul Takac
Paul Takac has served two terms in the Pennsylvania House representing State College and part of Centre County and was appointed to the State Board of Higher Education, per his campaign site. He lists his occupation as account executive and holds degrees from the State University of New York at Buffalo, Southern Methodist University, and Maryland University of Integrative Health, per the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
Kirsten McTernan
Top priorities
From the campaign site
- supporting teachers, upholding parental rights, and expanding educational choice
- supporting small businesses and job creation
- preserving farmland and responsible land use
About Kirsten McTernan
Kirsten McTernan's campaign site sets out her platform on health freedom, privacy, small-business regulation, data center development, education and natural resources and carries no biography as of September 25, 2026.
Paul Takac (Democratic), Kirsten McTernan (Republican) meet on the November 3 ballot; Paul Takac is the sitting member, per the General Assembly's roster. Paul Takac was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Kirsten McTernan was unopposed in the Republican primary. Pennsylvania nominates by plurality (no runoffs); unopposed nominees still print. The field matches the Department of State's general-election candidate listing (pavoterservices.pa.gov, read October 20, 2026). This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
Full race pagePennsylvania House District 171John Zangari (D) · Kerry A. Benninghoff (R)
John Zangari
Top priorities
From the campaign site
- My number one focus is making life in Pennsylvania more affordable, so working people can get ahead, not just get by
- Harrisburg has to start treating taxpayer dollars like they matter, cutting programs that do not deliver results and rooting out waste
About John Zangari
John Zangari works as an Administrative and Facilities Assistant in Penn State's Department of Sociology and Criminology and previously served as a Lehigh County corrections officer, per statecollege.com. He is a Democratic candidate for the 171st District, which covers parts of Centre and Mifflin counties, per his campaign site.
Kerry A. Benninghoff
Top priorities
From the campaign site
- Cancer research and other healthcare initiatives
- An educational system that leads to good-paying careers
- Support for seniors
About Kerry A. Benninghoff
Kerry A. Benninghoff is the Republican state representative for Pennsylvania House District 171, per the Pennsylvania General Assembly's official website. Benninghoff works as a legislator, per the same source. Benninghoff serves on the House Transportation Committee, which Benninghoff chairs, per the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Benninghoff is running for re-election, per the campaign site.
John Zangari (Democratic), Kerry A. Benninghoff (Republican) meet on the November 3 ballot; Kerry A. Benninghoff is the sitting member, per the General Assembly's roster. John Zangari was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Kerry A. Benninghoff was unopposed in the Republican primary. Pennsylvania nominates by plurality (no runoffs); unopposed nominees still print. The field matches the Department of State's general-election candidate listing (pavoterservices.pa.gov, read October 20, 2026). This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
Full race pageVoting info and more
Voting info and more
Verify your ballot with the official election office.
Cross-check every race and candidate with the official election office. Official sources are the final word.
Pennsylvania's May 19 primary nominated by plurality (no runoffs); unopposed nominees still print, and independent and minor-party candidates who filed nomination papers by August 3 appear on the Department of State's general-election candidate listing, which these races follow (read October 20, 2026). County and municipal officers are elected in odd years, so this page carries the state Senate and House seats for the county plus any certified ballot questions.
Who is on the ballot in Centre County, Pennsylvania on November 3, 2026?
Centre County sample ballot 2026: see where the pennsylvania house candidates stand on schools, budget and transparency and housing and affordability. Every candidate profile on this page names the official filing or campaign source it came from.
When is the 2026 general election in Pennsylvania?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Pennsylvania are listed on the Pennsylvania election hub. Pennsylvania election hub →
How do I see my exact Centre County ballot?
Enter your ZIP code in the lookup for the statewide and congressional races on every ballot in the county, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location. Look up your ballot →