Who's running in Pennsylvania's 15th congressional district
2 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
2 candidates · ballot order · Glenn Thompson currently holds this seat
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Farm policy and the farm bill, as chairman of the House Agriculture Committee.
Rural broadband and rural infrastructure.
Career and technical education.
Forestry and natural resource industries in north-central Pennsylvania.
The Republican budget and tax agenda.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
U.S. Representative since January 2009, for the 15th District since 2019.
Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture since 2023; helped craft the 2018 and 2023 farm bills.
Former rehabilitation services manager and volunteer firefighter.
Endorsed for re-election by President Trump in November 2025.
Arguments in favor
President Trump endorsed his re-election.
— President Donald Trump
His campaign points to the Agriculture Committee chairmanship — the most senior farm policy position in the House — as giving a rural Pennsylvania district influence over the farm bill it would not otherwise have.
— The Thompson campaign
Arguments against
His opponent says that since Thompson took the Agriculture Committee chair in 2023, Pennsylvania has been the only major dairy state where farm closures rose every single year.
— Ray Bilger, his Democratic opponent
The same opponent says the farm bill written on Thompson's watch paid family farms about $1,200 a year in subsidies while the largest 1% of recipients took nearly a hundred times more.
— Ray Bilger, his Democratic opponent
What we couldn’t verify
Both figures come from his opponent's campaign and were not independently verified here; Thompson's response was not located.
Both arguments against him come from the same source. No independent reporting critical of Thompson by name was found for this cycle.
His 2026 fundraising was not established from sources read.
Farm policy that directs support to family farms rather than the largest recipients.
Health care access in rural communities that currently have little or none.
Food security for households struggling to afford groceries.
Rural economic development across north-central Pennsylvania.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
U.S. Air Force veteran; more than forty years of public service.
Native of Bellefonte, Centre County.
Advanced from the May 19, 2026 Democratic primary; has not held elected office.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
No published criticism of Bilger by name could be found. Searched: his name with 'criticism', with 'opponent', against National Republican Congressional Committee material, against Glenn Thompson's campaign, and against Centre Daily Times and other district coverage. Because no case against him exists on the record, no case for him is presented either.
His endorsements and fundraising were not established from sources read.
The district has been safely Republican; how he intends to change that was not established beyond his farm and health care arguments.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
Pennsylvania held its primary on May 19, 2026. Republican incumbent Glenn Thompson, chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, faces Democrat Ray Bilger. The district covers north-central Pennsylvania west of the Appalachian Divide, including State College, Lock Haven and Bradford, and has been safely Republican. Roster confirmed against Ballotpedia and local reporting. Criticism of Bilger by name could not be found, so his entry carries no arguments in either column.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A Pennsylvania ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.
Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at Pennsylvania Department of State.