Rep. Jeff Olsommer first took office in 2024, succeeding Joe Adams in the role. Olsommer said his experience in a family-owned insurance business and in local government gives him “a firsthand understanding of the challenges facing small businesses, working families, seniors and municipalities.”

“I want to continue giving rural Pennsylvania a strong voice in Harrisburg by advancing common-sense, fiscally responsible solutions and ensuring our communities receive the attention and resources they deserve… If re-elected, I will continue working to improve rural health care, expand career and technical education, support volunteer fire and emergency services, address affordability, protect local decision making and ensure rural communities receive their fair share of state resources,” he said. 

Olsommer points to his first piece of legislation, a bill strengthening Pennsylvania’s guardianship system, as a keystone achievement of his inaugural term. “This issue is personal to me, and protecting vulnerable citizens is a responsibility I take seriously,” he said. Additionally, he said his office brought more than $23 million back to the district, and he worked to advance the cause of the Wayne-Pike Career and Technical Center. 

On data centers, Olsommer emphasized the need for “a thoughtful and measured approach,” one that centers local control. He noted that not every development is right for every community, and communities need to balance economic opportunities and natural, rural resources. 

“My strongest position [on data centers] is protecting local control,” he said. “Having served in township government, I firmly believe decisions regarding zoning and land development belong with our locally elected officials, not politicians and bureaucrats in Harrisburg… I believe the state’s role should focus on ensuring adequate infrastructure and environmental protections are in place, and that residential and small-business customers are not burdened with the costs associated with these developments.”

On education funding, Olsommer said that, “Every child deserves a quality education, and Pennsylvania’s funding system must be fair, responsible and mindful of local property taxpayers. Rural districts face higher transportation costs, smaller student populations, aging facilities and limited tax bases, and the funding formula should reflect those challenges.” Additionally, he said he supports parental choice and believes cyber charters should remain available, while also supporting “common-sense standards that protect taxpayers and educational quality without unnecessarily limiting families’ options.”

Olsommer said that “affordability is one of the biggest concerns I hear in Wayne and Pike counties,” with households (especially seniors on fixed incomes) struggling to pay for groceries, electricity, heating fuel, insurance, housing and health care. He said that expanding rural health care is a priority, as well as property tax relief, affordable housing and the use of natural gas resources to support affordable energy. 

“Harrisburg should control spending, avoid unnecessary tax increases and reduce regulations that raise the cost of doing business and essential services… Government should make life more affordable, not add to the financial burden on the people we represent,” he said.