Jessica Benham
Pennsylvania State Representative, District 36 since 2020. Ran in 3 elections between 2020 and 2024, winning 3. Re-elected in 2026. Next on the ballot in 2028.
Pennsylvania State Representative, District 36Born 1990Disability rights activist
- In office
- 6 yrs
- Since 2020
- Bills became law
- 2
- 10 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 0.0%
- Chamber median 0.0%
- With party
- 100%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +55.4
- Won 2026
- Next election
- 2028
- Nov 7, 2028
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Aging and Older Adult Services
- Consumer Protection, Technology and Utilities
- Health
- Human Services
- Liquor Control
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
Became law Oct 2026
Became law May 2026
In committee Oct 2026
In committee Oct 2025
Introduced Mar 2026
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Benham sits in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Benham is closer to the center than 14% of the chamber's Democrats.
Closest: José Giral, Malcolm Kenyatta, Regina Young
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 5:00 PM ET
With Benham’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Democrats100%
- Cosponsorships of the other party's bills14%
Black tick: the average of Democrats in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Benham’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Democrats.
| Date | Bill | Benham | Dem. majority | Rep. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 19, 2026 | SB 908: An Act amending the act of August 15, 1961 (P.L.987, No.442), known as the Pennsylvania… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 128–75 |
| Oct 19, 2026 | SB 1260: An Act providing for licensure of electrical contractors, electricians, residential… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 116–87 |
| Oct 5, 2026 | HB 2380: An Act amending Title 66 (Public Utilities) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 116–86 |
| Sep 29, 2026 | HB 280: An Act amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 115–88 |
| Jun 15, 2026 | HB 2084: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 119–83 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Benham was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.
Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Elections
Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin | Seat | +/− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 36 | Won | D+55.4 | D+28.7 | +26.7 |
| 2024 | Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 36 | Won | D+57.6 | D+28.7 | +28.9 |
| 2022 | Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 36 | Won | D+57.6 | D+28.3 | +29.3 |
| 2020 | Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 36 | Won | D+25.2 | — | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: civicAPI (unofficial)Updated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Seats Benham has held
- Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 36 · since 2020
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Benham has run against
- Timothy McCune (R) · 2026 election, won
- Ross Albert Sylvester (L) · 2024 election, won
- Adrian Matthew Doyle (R) · 2020 election, won
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: civicAPI (unofficial)
How we know Benham
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/8b6409e9-8ab6-4222-b6f3-fb8f33800c95
- Wikidata Q101189220
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET