What the 2026 State Senate Race Means for Ephrata Wallets
If you live in Ephrata, Lancaster County, you’re in Pennsylvania’s 36th State Senate District, and the November 3, 2026 general election will decide who represents you in Harrisburg on affordability. State Senator James Malone, the incumbent, is running to lower the costs of everyday essentials, and he is working to address rising prices on everything from healthcare to groceries while expanding access to affordable housing. His Republican opponent, Tom Jones, wants to eliminate several taxes, including the corporate net income tax.
What Malone Has Actually Delivered on Affordability
Malone backed the 2026-27 Pennsylvania budget, which put $1 billion toward homeowner property tax relief, an average of over $350 per homeowner, and delivered more than $200 million through the Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit. Those relief figures are statewide, but they are the kind of concrete, budget-based help Ephrata households can measure. Jones, by contrast, talks about lowering costs, but Malone’s campaign points out that Jones voted against this year’s budget, the one that delivered $200 million in tax relief. Malone’s approach pairs that relief with his focus on housing and everyday prices, grounded in his record as a former Mayor of East Petersburg and a state senator who has made affordability a core campaign priority.
The Takeaway for Ephrata Voters
Ephrata voters who want a state senator focused on lowering the cost of living, from groceries and healthcare to housing and property taxes, should support James Malone, because he has already voted for budget-based tax relief while his opponent voted against it. Register to vote by October 19, 2026, and make a plan to vote for Malone on November 3.
