Incumbent Democratic State Sen. Katie Muth approaches the 2026 midterm election at the height of her popularity, gaining regional and bipartisan recognition over the past year for her work defending communities from data center development.
She's challenged by Republican Melissa Dicranian, a small business owner and community advocate with an accomplished background in architecture and agriculture.
Melissa Dicranian
Age: 55
Born and raised: Maine
Residence: Charlestown Township
Education: Bachelor's Degree in design and building trades from the Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston
Employment: Architectural designer, consultant, and chairperson for Charlestown Township's Historic Commission.
Katie Muth
Age: 43
Born and raised: Monroeville, Allegheny County
Residence: Royersford
Education: Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Science from A.T. Still University of Health Sciences
Employment: Muth is the incumbent and has held the seat since 2018.
Recent results and data center politics
Ever since Muth unseated long-tenured Republican State Sen. John C. Rafferty Jr. in 2018, her hold on her seat has only strengthened.
She beat Rafferty by around 5,000 votes that year. In 2022, her last reelection cycle, she defeated Jessica Florio by nearly three times as much, 70,790 to 56,343.
Some of that is reflection of the changing demographics of the region, which has tilted to the left along with other parts of Chester and Montgomery counties over the past decade.
It's also a credit to Muth's own popularity. Her defiance of Gov. Shapiro's "fast tracking" of data centers earned her friends across the political spectrum, and made her unlikely allies with Republican leaders who supported, in some form, her calls for a moratorium on data center development in the state.
Some 74 percent of Pennsylvanians oppose data center construction, and 84 percent show no support, according to the latest Quinnipiac University polling.
The past year has led to a coordinated "write in Katie Muth for governor" campaign as a statement against both Shapiro and his opponent, Treasurer Stacy Garrity.
Dicranian's case
Dicranian has offered her extensive small business experience, both her own and her family's, as evidence of fiscal responsibility and smart budgeting.
Her campaign has focused on lower taxes leading to economic growth, increasing affordable energy options within the state, and reducing government intervention in business.
She's repeatedly cited the state's economy ranking a dismal 47th in a recent U.S. News and World Report study, a drastic fall under Shapiro from it's 2018 ranking of 34th during the Wolf years.
"Legislators must be invested in Pennsylvania workers and businesses," she argues. "Let Pennsylvania businesses grow, and keep more of the money they make. Build our economy, so local graduates stay; and begin their futures in Pennsylvania."
The district
The 44th District includes portions of Chester, Montgomery, and Berks counties.
In Chester County, that includes Atglen, Caln, Charlestown, East Brandywine, East Coventry, East Nantmeal, East Pikeland, East Vincent, East Whiteland, Elverson, Honey Brook, Honey Brook, North Coventry, Parkesburg, Phoenixville, Sadsbury, Schuylkill, South Coventry, Spring City, Upper Uwchlan, Uwchlan, Wallace, Warwick, West Brandywine, West Caln, West Nantmeal, West Pikeland, West Sadsbury, and West Vincent.
Montgomery County municipalities include Royersford, Upper Providence, and Lower Providence. And in Berks County, the 44th covers Birdsboro and Union Township.
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