Voter guide to Pennsylvania State House 25th District election: Markosek v. Ritter
What's at stake: The Democratic-leaning 25th House District includes eastern Allegheny County communities including North Versailles Township, Monroeville, East McKeesport, Pitcairn, Turtle Creek, Wall, Wilmerding, and portions of Plum and Trafford. Incumbent Rep. Brandon Markosek, a conservative Democrat who all but inherited the seat from his father Joseph Markosek, is running for reelection. He faces Republican John Ritter, who has unsuccessfully run for the seat in the past. Democrats currently hold a slim majority in the lower chamber.
District map:
Brandon MarkosekIncumbent Democrat Brandon Markosek was elected to the office in 2018 when his father, Joseph Markosek, stepped down after more than a quarter-century in the same seat. Like his father, Markosek is among the more conservative members of the county's Democratic delegation. Prior to becoming a state legislator, Markosek worked as a community outreach representative for state Sen. Jim Brewster. He says his priorities include economic development, senior care, education, public safety, veteran services and infrastructure.
: Democratic Place of residence: Monroeville : B.S., Duquesne University; M.P.A., University of Pittsburgh Current occupation: Pennsylvania House of Representatives (2019-present) Related experience: Pennsylvania House of Representatives (2019–present) Supporters/endorsements: Allegheny/Fayette Central Labor Council AFL-CIO, SEIU PA State Council, LiUNA Pennsylvania (Laborers' International Union of North America), Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #91, and others : Website | Facebook | Instagram
Total Fundraising (reported as of 9/30/24): $31,403 (2023 ending cash balance: $50,940) $10,275
WESA Candidate Survey
House Democrats have continued to bring down the corporate net income tax and allow small businesses to subtract net operating losses. In recent state budgets that I have supported, we have created new ways to fund infrastructure (roads, bridges, sewers) as well as large new investments in public transit. Solving our economic issues in PA will take a wide range of ideas and investing in the ones above our a few ways that I support advancing our economic performance.
Last year the Supreme Court said that we do not fund our public schools adequately. This year's state budget made historic investments in public education. I will continue to support budgets that make increases to our public schools without having the burden fall on the local taxpayer.
It is time for Pennsylvania to follow our surrounding states. As was mentioned, there are a number of different models involving how to implement legalization. I believe we should use existing state stores, which have mastery in guaranteeing the quality of the product while making sure that underage folks cannot procure access to the product. This is a major source of revenue that Pennsylvania is losing out on to our surrounding states.
Arguments over voting provisions — such as mail-in balloting, "drop boxes" and voter verification requirements — have become a part of the electoral landscape. How well do you think our election systems work now, and what if any changes to our state voting laws would you support?
Our elections are one hundred percent safe and secure. I am the prime sponsor of legislation in the House to allow high school students age 16-17 to pre-register to vote. I am also in favor of early in-person voting and same-day registration.
State government should not come between a woman and her doctor. I support proposed legislation by my Democratic colleagues in the House to enshrine reproductive rights into our State Constitution.
John RitterRitter, currently the vice president of the board of directors for the Gateway School District, has run for this state House seat multiple times. Ritter lost the 2020 race to Markosek by a 58-to-42 margin. Another attempt to win the seat in 2022 failed during the primaries. Ritter has a background in health care and first won election to the Gateway School Board about nine years ago.
: Republican Place of residence: n/a : B.S., Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania; B.S., Indiana University of Pennsylvania; M.S., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Current occupation: Independent health care I.T. consultant Related experience: Gateway School Board (2015–present) Supporters/endorsements: None currently available : Facebook | LinkedIn
Total Fundraising (reported as of 9/30/24):
