The polls are open next week in northern Lancaster County as the 36th Senate District holds a special election to fill a vacant seat in Harrisburg.

Parsons, 49, is a staunch conservative in a ruby-red District and is the perceived favorite in the race. He has served as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army, as well as a prosecutor in the county’s DA office. Parsons, who echoes the talking points of President Donald Trump on the economy, immigration and crime, touts that during his time as Commissioner, Lancaster County has not raised taxes. He won the nomination from the county GOP over Rep. Brett Miller (R-41) with the endorsements of U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-11), state Reps. Tom Jones (R-98) and Dave Zimmerman (R-99) and fellow county Commissioner Ray D’Agostino.

Parsons also points to his defiance of then-Gov. Tom Wolf’s “unconstitutional lockdowns” during the early days of the COVID-19 crisis in 2020. He has also been an outspoken critic of Act 77 which allows no-excuse mail balloting in the Commonwealth. But he has pivoted in the days leading to the election with a pop-up window on his campaign website urging supporters to apply for a mail-in ballot.

Malone, 51, moved to East Petersburg in 2011. His website indicates that his priorities would be housing, including helping first-time homebuyers and promotion property tax relief for seniors; advocating for fair funding of public schools along with flat rate cyber charter tuition reform; supporting volunteer recruitment of first responders; and lowering the cost of everyday essentials.

He has been endorsed by key Democrats in the area, including state Reps. Nikki Rivera (D-96) and Izzy Smith Wade-El (D-49), as well as former Democratic County Commissioner John Trescot.

Moore, 36, a GIS analyst from Mount Joy, is a graduate of Millersville University and says he is adamant about government transparency, accountability, fiscal responsibility, and fixing schools.

He says he is a candidate “because the two major political parties in this country have done a terrible job governing, creating a contentious environment, pitting neighbors against each other, and passing legislation which threatens the civil liberties we hold most dear, all for their own selfish gain.” Moore’s priorities include restructuring how public schools are funded, and increasing government transparency, accountability and fiscal responsibility.

Fifty-three percent of registered voters in the District, which comprises most of northern Lancaster County, are Republican, compared to just 30 percent who are registered Democrat.

Parsons did not agree to participate in a candidate forum last week sponsored by the League of Women Voters, while Malone and Moore accepted the invitation and attended.

“Currently, in the ultra-partisan and political environment, there is a track of candidates refusing to face their opponents in public,” said Carolyn Hernandez, president of the county’s League of Women Voters chapter. “Avoiding challenging questions in public settings is harmful to elections, and it’s damaging to democracy.”

This is the first special election in the county for a state senate seat since 1947.