Two Greek-Americans Vie for Pennsylvania House Seat
Democratic incumbent Steven Malagari and Republican Yanni Lambros compete for the 53rd District seat in Montgomery County this November.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Elections
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Incumbent Democratic Representative Steven Malagari faces Republican businessman Yanni Lambros in the November 3, 2026 election for Pennsylvania's 53rd District House seat. Both candidates are of Greek descent, and the district covers part of Montgomery County in Philadelphia's northwestern suburbs.
Why it matters
The race pits a first-elected Democrat seeking a fifth term against a challenger who entered through a write-in campaign in the Republican primary. Malagari's growing margin of victory since 2018 will be a key measure of the district's political direction.
Malagari's margin of victory grew from approximately 1,000 votes in 2018 to more than 7,000 in 2024 in the 53rd District, which has about 64,700 residents. The November 3, 2026 result has not yet been determined.
The players
Steven Malagari
Democratic incumbent first elected in 2018 who serves as Democratic Deputy Whip in the Pennsylvania House and is seeking a fifth term.
Yanni Lambros
Republican businessman and owner of Koffee Korner Cafe in Lansdale who is challenging the incumbent after several unsuccessful local campaigns.
The details
Malagari, who served on the Lansdale Borough Council from 2012 to 2018, was first elected to the seat in 2018 after decades of Republican representation and is seeking a fifth term. Lambros, who owns Koffee Korner Cafe in Lansdale, previously lost bids for the Lansdale Borough Council in 2021 and 2023 and the North Penn School Board in 2025.
Timeline
2018: Malagari first wins the 53rd District seat.
2025: Malagari joins the board of the World Hellenic Inter-Parliamentary Association.
April 2026: Malagari takes part in raising the Greek flag at Philadelphia City Hall.
November 3, 2026: General election for the 53rd District seat.
Season Trajectory
The district was held by Republicans for decades until Malagari's 2018 victory, and his widening margins since then make the 2026 contest a test of whether that shift holds. Lambros's write-in entry into the Republican primary signals a challenge to that trend.
Residents of the 53rd District will choose their state representative on November 3, 2026, determining who represents them in the Pennsylvania House. The outcome will shape local representation for the next term.
The takeaway
Voters in the 53rd District face a choice between a longtime incumbent with a growing margin and a challenger seeking to reverse the district's recent trend. The November result will show whether that trend continues.
What happens next
The general election on November 3, 2026 will decide the 53rd District seat.
Further reading
For more on state contests like this one, see Elections coverage across Pennsylvania.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The National Herald.
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