Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2026 - Jennifer O'Mara, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 165
The control of the Pennsylvania state legislature is split between a Republican majority in the Senate and a Democratic majority in the House of Representatives. But the majority in the House is extremely slim - currently 102 to 100, with one vacancy. In order to maintain their majority, strong Democratic candidates need to run across the state to capture more seats. One such strong candidate is Jennifer O’Mara (she/her), is a millennial representative who is the first Democrat to hold her seat. Jenn is passionate about protecting the environment, the LGBTQIA community, a woman’s right to choose, the right to vote, and the strength of unions and working people in Pennsylvania.
Where are you based?
Springfield, Delaware County, PA.
What is your position/what position are you running for?
Pennsylvania State Representative for the 165th Legislative District
How would you briefly summarize your platform?
I am a results-driven legislator focused on supporting and defending our families, our children, and our democracy. I believe that the government should be a force for good that leverages our resources to support and uplift everyone in our community–from the bottom up.
What inspired you to run?
I ran for office because I believed I had a voice and perspective as a young, working class woman that was deeply needed in Harrisburg. I lost my father to gun-suicide at 13 years old, and that experience deeply shaped my life. As a first generation college student and someone who worked multiple jobs and lived paycheck to paycheck for years prior to being elected, I deeply understand the issues that working families face and I wanted to do something to make life better for us. I continue to run for re-election because I have accomplished some of my goals, but there is too much left to finish, including raising the minimum wage, implementing paid family leave, and protecting women’s reproductive freedom in our state.
What change are you hoping to bring to your district and country?
I want to change the idea that people have about the government working for only a select few and not for all of us. There was a long-standing notion in my community that you had to be registered with a specific political party in order to get a job or have your trash picked up. When I first got elected, people would actually show up to my office and try to present their voter registration cards. I have made my professional motto “working for you from Delco to Harrisburg.” I fundamentally believe that it is my job to work for all of my residents and deliver results that benefit everyone, regardless of their political affiliation.
How long have you been in office? What do you consider to be your major accomplishments so far?
I was first elected in 2018. One of my major accomplishments is expanding worker’s compensation benefits for mental health injuries for first responders. Act 121 of 2024 was signed into law by Governor Shapiro and passed both chambers with near unanimous support. It became effective October of 2025. In addition to this, I’ve also had other bills become law, including the disclosure of all fees by colleges and universities for a student’s tuition, expanding donations to the Veterans Trust Fund, and establishing grant programing to help fight hunger on college campuses. Additionally, I was named one of America’s most accessible legislators in 2019 by the Town Hall Project.
What do you feel are the most important issues right now, why, and how do you plan to tackle them?
Affordability is the biggest issue facing families right now. I hear it from my constituents all the time in a variety of ways — concerns about utility prices, property taxes, gas prices, grocery prices, low wages, etc. One of my recent pieces of legislation that passed the PA House is the Family Care Act. This would require employers to provide 12 weeks of paid family leave for eligible reasons such as birth or adoption of a child, a sick spouse or family member, or a personal illness. We shouldn’t force people to choose between their job and having a child or taking care of a family member. In addition, it’s well past time for PA to raise the minimum wage. We still follow the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. I also recently pushed back with my Southeast Delegation colleagues against PECO, a utility company, filing for a rate increase, which would have been their third in six years. Thanks to our opposition and the public outcry, PECO withdrew that application.
America is extremely divided these days. How would you hope to bridge that divide with your constituents to better unite Americans?
I genuinely believe there is more that unites us than divides us, but we tend to focus on what divides us. When I was first elected into office, I was the first Democrat to represent my district in over 40 years. I knew the only way to win the trust of my constituents was to make myself as accessible as possible, and to hear them out even if we disagreed. In my first term, I held events every month around the district, from senior breakfasts to town halls to shred events. I made myself one of the most accessible state Representatives in the nation. Once people realize you genuinely want to listen to them and help them, the conversation changes.
How do you see your unique identity and background to be an asset to you in office?
I attribute my life experiences to helping shape me into a person that is humble, hard-working, and honest. When you look at how politicians are viewed in polling by the average American, you can understand how those traits are deeply needed. I do not come from a wealthy background; I am not a person of privilege trying to pretend to be someone who “gets it.” I actually get it. I work hard and show up for my community and I believe it is a large reason why I continue to win by large margins and earn the support of people from all political backgrounds in my district.
What is your motto in life?
Work hard, be nice.
Where can we find out more about you?
voteomara.com and repomara.com
Facebook: JennOMara4PA
Instagram: jennomara
X: JennOMara4PA
The control of the Pennsylvania state legislature is split between a Republican majority in the Senate and a Democratic majority in the House of Representatives. But the majority in the House is extremely slim - currently 102 to 100, with one vacancy. In order to maintain their majority, strong Democratic candidates need to run across the state to capture more seats. One such strong candidate is Jennifer O’Mara (she/her), is a millennial representative who is the first Democrat to hold her seat. Jenn is passionate about protecting the environment, the LGBTQIA community, a woman’s right to choose, the right to vote, and the strength of unions and working people in Pennsylvania.