What Is the Pennsylvania Democratic State Committee, And Why Does It Matter?

If you’ve ever seen “Pennsylvania Democratic State Committee Member” on a ballot and wondered what it actually means — you’re not alone. Most voters don’t know what this position does, and that’s part of the problem.
Let me change that.

The State Committee Is the Foundation
The Pennsylvania Democratic State Committee (PADSC) is the governing body of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party. It doesn’t run individual campaigns, it builds the infrastructure, sets the direction, and makes the decisions that determine whether Democratic candidates up and down the ballot have what they need to win.
Every four years, Democratic voters elect State Committee members from each county in Pennsylvania. Those members then meet several times a year to shape the party’s future.

What We Actually Do
Recruit and Support Candidates
The State Committee helps recruit qualified Democrats to run for office,  from school board to the Governor’s mansion. That means training, messaging support, access to voter contact tools, and coordination across campaigns so that no Democrat runs alone. 

What  Does it cost.
The typical costs $600 to 800 depending on the hotel and travel
The State Committee does not defray the costs of the weekend or any costs during the year .

This is no Salary to pay to State Committee Members

Set the Party’s Direction
State Committee members vote on party leadership, adopt the Pennsylvania Democratic platform, and pass resolutions on the issues Pennsylvania families care about, wages, voting rights, education, healthcare, reproductive freedom, climate, and more. These aren’t symbolic votes. They guide how the party spends money, chooses priorities, and delivers its message.
Connect Statewide Power to Local Action
The State Committee is the authoritative body over county committees like Northampton County Democrats. We bring state-level resources, data, technology, training, and staff support back to the local level, and we bring local voices back to the state level. That two-way relationship is what makes organizing work.
Represent Pennsylvania Nationally
State Committee members elect Pennsylvania’s representatives to the Democratic National Committee and play a role in presidential delegate selection and national convention planning. Pennsylvania is a battleground state. How we show up nationally matters.
Build the Infrastructure That Wins
Voter registration programs. Coordinated GOTV campaigns. Digital organizing. Compliance and fundraising systems. The State Committee oversees the operational backbone that connects every Democratic campaign in the Commonwealth.

What a State Committee Member Can Actually Do
A seat on the State Committee isn’t ceremonial. It’s a working position with real influence,  if the person holding it shows up and does the work.
As your State Committee member, I have:
∙ Voted on party leadership, including the Chair and officers who run the Pennsylvania Democratic Party
∙ Participated in platform debates, helping shape the policy positions that guide Democratic campaigns statewide
∙ Weighed in on party rules and bylaws, the internal governance that determines how the party operates, how vacancies are filled, and how endorsements work
∙ Brought Northampton County’s voice to Harrisburg and Philadelphia when decisions were being made about resources, priorities, and strategy
∙ Maintained near-perfect attendance over six years,  because you can’t influence decisions you’re not present for

Why This Election Matters
State Committee elections happen every four years. They don’t get the attention of a congressional race or a governor’s contest — but the people elected to this body help decide who leads the party, what it stands for, and how it deploys its resources in every race that follows.
Northampton County is a swing county in a battleground state. Who represents us on the State Committee matters.
I’m running for re-election as part of The Proven Six,  a slate of experienced, proven State Committee members with a combined 72 years of service and a track record of showing up, doing the work, and delivering results for Northampton County Democrats.
We’re not running on promises. We’re running on a record.

Get Involved
Want to know more about how the State Committee works,  or how you can get more involved in Democratic organizing in Northampton County?

The Proven Six. Six years. Six seats. Zero excuses