Conklin, Takac, Benninghoff Win House Seats

Three incumbent Pennsylvania state representatives were re-elected in Centre County and Mifflin County races decided in Tuesday's midterm election.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of the Pennsylvania State Capitol dome above rolling hills under a clear autumn sky. — Three incumbent Pennsylvania state House members, Scott Conklin, Paul Takac and Kerry Benninghoff, were re-elected in Tuesday's midterm races. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Democrat Scott Conklin won reelection to the Pennsylvania House 77th District, receiving 65.5% of the vote with 82% of ballots counted. Republicans Paul Takac and Kerry Benninghoff also won reelection in the 82nd and 171st Districts, respectively.

Why it matters

The results keep three experienced lawmakers in their seats, preserving existing committee leadership and legislative continuity in the state House. Each race was called by the Associated Press on election night.

Conklin received 11,706 votes to Schellberg's 6,172 in the 77th District, and Takac received 10,147 votes to McTernan's 7,316 in the 82nd District, with ballot counts at 82% and 85%. Benninghoff received 14,443 votes to Zangari's 6,604 in the 171st District, and final certified totals were not yet available.

The players

Scott Conklin

Conklin is a Democratic state representative who has served in the Pennsylvania House since 2006 and currently chairs the Commerce Committee.

Kerry Benninghoff

Benninghoff is a Republican state representative first elected in 1996 who currently chairs the Transportation Committee.

Paul Takac

Takac is a Republican state representative first elected to the House in 2022.

The details

The Associated Press called the 171st District race at 10:15 p.m., the 77th at 9:55 p.m., and the 82nd at 10:38 p.m. Conklin, who chairs the Commerce Committee, has served in the state House since 2006, while Benninghoff, who chairs the Transportation Committee, was first elected in 1996.

2006: Conklin first elected to the state House.
1996: Benninghoff first elected as state representative.
2022: Takac first elected to the House.
Nov. 3, 2026: Midterm election results called by the Associated Press.

Political Context

The reelections of Conklin, Takac, and Benninghoff continue a pattern of incumbent retention in these Centre and Mifflin County districts, where Takac was first elected in 2022. The results leave the Democratic and Republican caucus balance in the state House to be determined by the full set of Pennsylvania races.

Voters in the 77th, 82nd, and 171st Districts now have the same state representatives heading into the next legislative session. Constituents can expect continuity in local representation under current committee assignments.

The takeaway

Incumbent continuity in these three districts means current constituent services and committee roles carry forward. Voters tracking state policy can follow committee activity as the new session begins.