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Ballot Explained

U.S. House · November 3, 2026

Who's running in Pennsylvania's 2nd 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.

Candidates
2
Incumbent
Brendan Boyle
Parties
Democratic · Republican
State primary
May 19

Candidates appear in ballot order. We do not rank them, score them, or recommend one — here is how this is put together, and here is what the office actually does.

2 candidates · ballot order · Brendan Boyle currently holds this seat

Low confidenceLow confidenceOnly one weak source, dated material, or indirect evidence. Treat specifics with caution.What would raise it: An official filing record and at least one independent report about this candidate would raise this.

What they say they stand for

Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.

  • Opposing Republican budget and tax plans, which he argues cut taxes for the wealthy while removing people from health coverage.
  • Protecting federal safety-net and health spending.
  • Restoring federal programme funding cut by the administration, including AmeriCorps grants in Philadelphia.
  • Congressional oversight of the Office of Management and Budget.
  • Federal investment in Philadelphia.

What they’ve actually done

Documented record from official sources.

  • U.S. Representative since January 2015, for the 13th District until 2019 and the 2nd District since.
  • Ranking member of the House Budget Committee.
  • Former Pennsylvania state representative.
  • Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
  • Missed 212 of 6,373 roll call votes, 3.3%, between January 2015 and July 2026, against a 2.0% median for sitting representatives, according to GovTrack.

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 Boyle by name could be found. Searched: his name with 'criticism' and 'controversy', against National Republican Congressional Committee material, against Jessica Arriaga's campaign site and public statements, against progressive criticism from his own side, and against Philadelphia news coverage. Because no case against him exists on the record, no case for him is presented either, rather than showing his own side's case unanswered.
  • No 2026 endorsement list for Boyle was located.
  • He has been named in reporting as a possible 2028 primary challenger to Sen. John Fetterman; he has not said he will run.
Their campaign site ↗Sources:voteboyle.comboyle.house.govgovtrack.usdemocrats-budget.house.govballotpedia.org

What they say they stand for

Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.

  • Federal resources for local police to target repeat violent offenders, paired with funding for mental health and addiction services.
  • Lower taxes on working families and small businesses, and fewer federal regulations on small business.
  • Job training tied directly to local employers, and federal support for career and technical education.
  • Expanding access to affordable health care and increasing price transparency, drawing on her hospital career.
  • Targeted infrastructure and industry investment to bring jobs back into Philadelphia neighbourhoods.

What they’ve actually done

Documented record from official sources.

  • More than twenty years working in hospital operating rooms; born and raised in North Philadelphia.
  • Has not held elected office.
  • Unopposed for the Republican nomination in the May 19, 2026 primary.
  • Endorsed by the Pennsylvania Young Republicans.

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 Arriaga by name could be found. Searched: her name with 'criticism', with 'opponent', against Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee material, against Brendan Boyle's campaign, and against Philadelphia news coverage. Because no case against her exists on the record, no case for her is presented either.
  • Her campaign's only named endorsement is from the Pennsylvania Young Republicans; the other support described on her site is unnamed.
  • Her fundraising was not established from sources read; forecasters treat the seat as safely Democratic.
Their campaign site ↗Sources:jessforphilly.comjessforphilly.comjessforphilly.comaldianews.comcityandstatepa.com

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. Democratic incumbent Brendan Boyle and Republican Jessica Arriaga are on the November ballot; neither faced a contested primary. The district covers central and north-eastern Philadelphia and has been safely Democratic. Roster confirmed against Ballotpedia and City & State Pennsylvania. Neither candidate is shown with arguments for or against: no published criticism of either by name from someone opposing them could be found, and presenting a case for one side only would tilt the page. The searches that came up empty are named in each candidate's unknowns.

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.

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Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at Pennsylvania Department of State.

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