Candidate Survey Responses 2025
Children First Action Fund surveys all candidates running for Pennsylvania and federal legislative seats to learn more about their views on early education and issues affecting the lives of children. Candidate responses for the March 25, 2025 HD 35 and SD 36 special elections can be found below.
March 25, 2025 Special Election – Questions & Answers for Each Candidate
QUESTION 1:
Do you believe that the first three years of life matter to a child’s development and that the potential of these formative years can be augmented when young children attend child care programs that have talented staff who, along with parents, help establish a strong foundation of infants’ and toddlers’ developmental skills?
QUESTION 2:
Do you believe that high quality Pre-K builds strong social and emotional skills that help prepare children for early school success?
QUESTION 3:
Would you support allocating more state funding for high-quality Pre-K education for three- and four-year-olds?
QUESTION 4:
Do you believe that making child care more accessible and affordable will help businesses find more qualified workers?
QUESTION 5:
Do you support increasing state funds to boost the wages of child care staff?
QUESTION 6:
Do you support increasing state funds for child care so that more families can afford child care?
QUESTION 7:
Should the wages for child care workers and preschool teachers be commensurate with those of other educators who work in k-12 schools and have similar qualifications?
QUESTION 8:
Will you support more state funds spent for home visiting programs that help new parents care for their babies?
QUESTION 9:
Will you advocate for increased access to services that connect youth and families to work?
QUESTION 10:
Do you or family members have personal experiences with ECE they’d like to share (or more specifically, struggles finding child care)?
QUESTION 11:
Do you support the Governor’s proposed early learning investments included in the 2025-26 budget proposal?
Name | Signed the Pledge | District | Party | Counties | Q: 1 First Three Years? | Q: 2 Social & Emotional? | Q: 3 More State Funding? | Q: 4 More Qualified Workers? | Q: 5 Boost Wages? | Q: 6 Families Afford? | Q: 7 Equal Wages? | Q: 8 Home Visit Programs? | Q: 9 Connect to Work? | Q: 10 ECE Experience? | Q: 11 Support Gov. Budget? |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adam Kitta | YES | PA HOUSE 35 | LIB | Allegheny County | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Charles Davis | - | PA HOUSE 35 | REP | Allegheny County | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Dan Goughnour | - | PA HOUSE 35 | DEM | Allegheny County | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
James Malone | YES | PA SENATE 36 | DEM | Lancaster County | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Josh Parsons | - | PA SENATE 36 | REP | Lancaster County | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Zachary Moore | Not Signed | PA SENATE 36 | LIB | Lancaster County | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |