The midterm elections are just four weeks away and PoliticsPA has identified 19 State House races throughout the Commonwealth to focus on during the run-up to the 2026 election, as part of our 31 Races in 31 Days series.
The Key Numbers
| Incumbent | Challenger | |
|---|---|---|
| Valerie Gaydos (R) | Hadley Haas (D) | |
| Edgeworth Borough | Residence | Glen Osborne |
| B.A., Dickinson College | Education | B.A., University of Michigan |
| Elected State Representative in 2018. GOP Secretary, Communications & Technology, Liquor Control committees Small Business owner, angel investor | Experience | Marketing consultant |
| unopposed | Primary Result | unopposed |
Elimination of Pennsylvania’s Inheritance Tax Reducing the Size of the Legislature Require Pennsylvania school districts to identify gifted students and include them in a weighted funding formula Medical decisions do not belong in legislation but should be made between a doctor and patient. Abortions should be rare, safe and legal, and protecting exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother. Pro-Second Amendment | Priorities | Raise the minimum wage so a full day’s work pays for a full life. Defend Medicaid and fight cuts that strip coverage from our most vulnerable neighbors. Pass common sense gun laws — universal background checks and extreme risk protection orders — to keep families safe from dangerous criminals. Protect public school funding and stop the drain of tax dollars to unaccountable private schools. |
| Affordability. The issues the people of the 44th District care about range from the rising cost of living, to the lack of access to healthcare to ensuring a quality education for our kids. On these issues we need leadership focused on solutions, not politics. Government can ease the cost of living by controlling spending and taxes, as well as unleashing PA’s energy sector to better control utility bills. We can invest in traditional education and support alternatives. And we can make healthcare more affordable and accessible by allowing competition in health insurance, supporting innovation in healthcare (ie. Telemedicine) and making it easier to attract and keep doctors and healthcare workers to our state | Most Pressing Issue(s) Facing Your District | The most pressing issue facing residents of my district is the rising cost of a comfortable life. I hear most often about the costs of energy and healthcare. In order to reduce the cost of energy, I support community solar and increased access to renewable energy. It is crucial to ensure there are guardrails around data centers, their energy consumption and the impact it has on the demand for energy. The increase in healthcare premium costs and expiration of the Affordable Care Act tax credits have caused people to drop their health insurance coverage, which leaves them susceptible to health and financial risks. I support exploring legislative efforts like those proposed by Reps. Powell and Scott to guarantee affordable health care coverage |
| Voter Guide | Go Deeper | Voter Guide |
| Raised: $117,725 Spent: $34,356 Cash on Hand (6/8): $126,296 | 2026 Fundraising | Raised: $46,771 Spent: $2,811 Cash on Hand (6/8): $257,936 |
| “I’ve had a number of successes, so I’ve got a winning formula. If we keep changing legislators, then our community loses out. It doesn’t matter what party you are. If you don’t have seniority, then your community suffers. That’s just the truth that’s hard to explain to people. | Quotable | I watched my dad work in the steel mills and my grandparents, union members, fight for every dollar they earned, every benefit they secured, and every piece of the life they built. I know that none of that is guaranteed. It depends on good schools. It depends on leaders who put working families ahead of billionaire corporations. It depends on safe communities where families can put down roots and thrive. That’s why I’m running. |
| VoteValerieGaydos.com | Campaign Website | HadleyForPA.com |
| Facebook | Instagram | Campaign Social | Facebook | Instagram |
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Part of ALLEGHENY County consisting of the TOWNSHIPS of Aleppo, Crescent, Findlay, Leet, Moon and North Fayette and the BOROUGHS of Bell Acres, Edgeworth, Glen Osborne, Glenfield, Haysville, Leetsdale, Sewickley, Sewickley Heights and Sewickley Hills.
