Election 2026: Democrat Monica Weninger Running For State Representative

Candidates running in the Nov. 3 general election are providing background about themselves and their positions on the issues to voters in these profiles, which will run in Patch when they are received.

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — Democrat Monica Weninger of Warwick is running for state representative in Pennsylvania's 178th House District. She is challenging incumbent Republican Kristin Marcell of Wrightstown.

Biological Information

Name: Monica Weninger

Town of Residence: Warwick Township

Position Sought: PA House Representative, District 178

Party Affiliation: Democratic

Family: husband Mark, daughter Rachel

Education: MA Education (Biology), La Salle University; B.S. Medical Technology, Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science

Occupation: Teacher (retired)

Questions

1. Why are you running for state office?

I am running for State Representative because our community deserves a leader who prioritizes evidence over ideology. As a science teacher, I’ve spent over 25 years showing my students how to look at the facts and find solutions that actually work. Unfortunately, we don’t see enough of that in Harrisburg. I’m running to bring a scientific eye to our state government — to break down complex bills into manageable pieces for the public and to ensure our tax dollars are spent effectively. I am committed to making the state government make sense for every resident of the 178th District.

2. Where do you stand on energy production in the state?

Pennsylvania should move toward a cleaner energy mix by balancing its reliable power plants with more wind and solar energy. Supported by economic and power grid research, this approach helps keep our energy reliable and affordable while cutting pollution and expanding renewable power across the state. To support this shift, I would support legislation that updates clean energy targets to encourage growth, streamline local permits so landowners can host solar or wind projects without endless red tape, keep our zero-emission nuclear plants running, and use federal funding to turn old industrial sites into new clean energy hubs.

3. What can be done to curb the increased cost of utilities?

Curbing utility costs requires standing up to big corporations and protecting local ratepayers. As AI data centers look to tap into our local power grid and water supply, we need strict state safeguards so tech giants pay for their own infrastructure and environmental footprint—rather than driving up electric bills for everyday families. We must also increase state oversight and enforcement to stop predatory pricing on essential household costs, ensuring public utilities and corporate energy interests are held accountable to consumers.

4. Where do you stand on taxes and the state budget?

Balancing our budget starts with bringing tax relief to working families and seniors while asking corporations to pay their fair share. We can generate over $3 billion in new revenue without burdening working families by closing corporate tax loopholes, increasing the health income tax rate, and enacting a fair natural gas extraction tax like neighboring states have. By capturing this new revenue at the state level, we can ease the soaring school and property tax burden on homeowners and seniors on fixed incomes, helping long-time residents stay in the communities they love.

The 178th House District includes Upper Southampton, Warwick and Wrightstown townships and much of Northampton Township.