Pennsylvania - What to watch in 2026

Last updated: July, 2026

Pennsylvania remains a politically divided state where control of government is split, and that balance plays a central role in shaping women's rights. Abortion remains legal, but protections are established through state law rather than the state constitution, making future policy direction dependent on elections and political control.

Voting policy has also become a major issue heading into the 2026 election. If one party gains unified control of state government, lawmakers could pursue long-debated changes to election laws, including early voting, mail voting, ballot processing, voter registration, and congressional redistricting.

With control of the governor’s office and the legislature at stake in 2026, election results could determine whether existing protections remain in place, are expanded, or face new restrictions.

What’s at stake

Several major areas of women’s rights in Pennsylvania remain unsettled and could shift depending on the outcome of the 2026 elections and future court decisions:

• Access to abortion.
  Abortion remains legal in Pennsylvania, but because protections are set in state law rather than the state constitution, future access will depend on whether the governor continues to block new restrictions and whether the legislature can advance them.
• Voting rules.
  Pennsylvania has expanded mail voting and other forms of voter access in recent years, but many election procedures continue to face legal and political challenges. Future changes will depend on legislative action, court rulings, and whether one party gains unified control of the state government.
• Education policy and gender-related protections.
  Issues involving curriculum, gender identity, parental rights policies, and student protections are largely decided at the state level. Future direction will depend on legislative priorities, gubernatorial leadership, and election outcomes.

What will be on the ballot — and when

Pennsylvania voters will participate in two elections that influence how women’s rights laws are written and enforced. (Note - The May 19 primary is complete.)

General election (November 3, 2026)

• Pennsylvania State Senate (about half the chamber)
• Pennsylvania House of Representatives (all seats)
• Governor
• U.S. House of Representatives

These offices influence which legislative proposals are advanced.

Election resources

The following links provide official information about the ballot, voter registration, and elected representatives:

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania — voter registration, mail voting, polling locations
Ballotpedia — Pennsylvania elections, 2026

Locate your district's representatives

• Find My Legislator - An interactive map and locator tool for the General Assembly members in Pennsylvania
• House of Representatives - The official House directory
• State Senate - The official Senate directory

WRDI provides election context to support an informed understanding of how laws and policies change. The organization does not endorse candidates or parties.