2026 Candidates Running For The US House of Representatives

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My name is Tina Burns, and I am running for Pennsylvania House of Representatives in the 124th District. I grew up in a lower middle-class family in New Ringgold, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Tamaqua Area High School. I served in the United States Coast Guard, where I learned the importance of leadership, service, and honoring the Constitution.

After my military service, I worked in a wide range of jobs, including truck driver, educator, small business owner, and healthcare professional. I hold a Master of Science degree in Industrial Organizational Psychology from Florida International University and currently work in the healthcare industry. These experiences have shaped me into a practical problem solver who understands how to work with others to get results.

Why I’m Running

I am running for my child, my grandchildren, and for everyone in the 124th District who deserves better representation in Harrisburg. For too long, our communities have been overlooked while politicians put corporate and industry interests ahead of the people they serve.

Our area has struggled for decades, yet billions of taxpayer dollars continue to be handed to profitable industries while families work harder just to get by. I am not bought or paid for by corporations, and I will always put the voices of our small and rural communities first—regardless of party or income. 

It’s time for real change and honest representation. Together, we can Be The Change and put the people of PA-124 first.

Website: https://www.burns4pa.com/

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Michael was born in Ridgewood, NJ, and lived in West Paterson, NJ until the age of five. He and his family then moved to Hopatcong, NJ, where he spent the rest of his childhood. Despite a chronic case of asthma that precluded more strenuous activities, he was involved in numerous extracurricular activities, from drama to music to academic bowl. He lettered in three different sports, sat First Seat All County as a trumpeter, and was the Vice President of the Chess Club. He began working at McDonald's at 15 and had held at least one job continuously

ever since. After graduating high school, Michael went on to Seton Hall University, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude in only three years. There he continued to pursue his interest in music, playing in the Pirates Pep Band and singing in the university choir, all while working full-time. He then attended Rutgers University in Newark, NJ, where he finished his MA in History three weeks before his 23rd birthday, still working a full-time job. After taking a few couple off from school to begin teaching as an Adjunct Professor, Michael began his Ph. D. Studies at Lehigh University in 2008. He continued to piece together a living for himself and his growing family while working toward his degree, adjuncting at multiple schools and working part-time as a kitchen designer. Three children, two advisors, and a pandemic later, Michael received his doctoral degree in History in May 2021. 

Michael came to live in Pennsylvania while attending Lehigh, and moved to Schuylkill Haven in 2019 to move closer to his work as a kitchen designer at MRD Lumber in Bethel. He has since made it his business to become as involved in the community as his busy schedule would allow, joining the Schuylkill County Historical Society, taking an active part in his three boys' extracurricular endeavors, and entering the world of politics through the Schuylkill County Democrats. He is a member of both the Pine Grove and the South Schuylkill Democrat Clubs,

works with the Outreach and Young Democrat committees, and serves as the Secretary of the Schuylkill County Democrats' Executive Committee. It is Michael's great hope that his education, experience,

Why I’m Running

Michael Zvalaren is seeking a seat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. His fervent hope is to bring greater access to social mobility and equality to his neighbors and friends through government action that puts people first. Some goals he has are: to foster a more fertile environment for entrepreneurship in our communities, especially among marginalized groups; to fix our broken education funding system, one where property tax inequity bakes inequality into the infrastructure; to ensure that every student have access to modern texts, nutritious meals,

and the knowledge necessary to go out into the world as critical thinkers; to encourage diversity and innovation in the community, making it a place where our young people choose to stay and raise a family; to codify the rights of women, minorities, and the LGBTQ+ community throughout

Pennsylvania; and to ensure that the votes of Pennsylvanians are both accurately recorded and faithfully reflected in our electoral slate.

Website:  https://www.mzv4123.com/

Facebook:  @mzv4123 

Twitter: @mzv4123 

Instagram:  @mzv4123 

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John Deatrich lives in Palo Alto with his wife, Danielle Deatrich, a Nurse at Penn State Hershey Medical Center. They have six children, 3 boys and 3 girls. One is serving abroad in the Air Force; four are currently enrolled in College and Universities, such as the Savannah College of Art and Design, West Virginia University, and two are attending Penn State University Park. One is a senior at Pottsville High, attends Schuylkill Technology Center, and is planning on attending Penn State Schuylkill. His goal is to become Act 120 Certified and join a local police force.  

Deatrich himself, a graduate of Pottsville Area High School and Schuylkill Technology Center, started out in the family business (Deatrich and Son Automotive). Automotive service and shaping a local dirt track racing career led to the creation of his own racing parts and speed shop business. Deatrich turned his sights to a career in teaching in 2002, he finished his coursework and obtained his teaching credentials from Temple University in 2007 graduating with a 3.78 GPA. He has taught Career and Technical Education at both Schuylkill Technology Center, and is currently teaching at Berks Career and Technology Center.

Professionally, Deatrich considers himself first and foremost an educator. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Deatrich found himself taking on extra roles, such as Chief Negotiator for his local PSEA Local Barging Union. He was also elected as the Office President of the PSEA local union and served as a regional delegate representative for PSEA.

Deatrich served as a labor representative during the creation of the Berks County School Employees Health Consortium. As a labor representative, he helped create a self-contained, self-funded healthcare insurance package for all Berks County school employees. This healthcare package improved benefits while lowering in some cases eliminating co pays that from services and procedures. This lowered costs for all stakeholders and ultimately saving Berks County taxpayers.

For two decades he has been an elected official for the Borough of Palo Alto, serving in many facets of its borough government. First, he was the chair of the finance committee, then many years as the borough’s council president where he was responsible to oversee all committees. In the last 5 years, Deatrich has served as the Mayor of Palo Alto. He has played a key role in negotiating several intermunicipal police agreements with multiple municipalities.  Deatrich, working with his council, has successfully brought the borough’s police coverage into the 21st century. For the first time in borough history, Palo Alto now has 24/7 police coverage.

Deatrich is very proud of the work he and the council have done to combat blight. They have created tough, strict, second to none ordinances against unsavory landlords with undesirable renting practices, and enforceable quality of life ordinances to improve the health and safety of citizens. Deatrich is proud of the key role he played developing and maintaining  partnerships with local business,  and unmatched progressive planning to ensure the future of Palo Alto is secure on all fronts

Deatrich lists personal qualities of importance to himself as, honesty, humility, empathy, and availability. Each one as important as the next, especially in the role of State Representative. 

Website:

https://www.deatrichforstaterep.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1EVdtHNzp9/?mibextid=wwXIfr