Justin Simmons (Pennsylvania)
Justin Simmons (Republican Party) was a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing District 131. Simmons assumed office in 2011. Simmons left office on November 30, 2020.
Simmons (Republican Party) ran for re-election to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to represent District 131. Simmons won in the general election on November 6, 2018.
In December 2019, Simmons announced he would not seek re-election in 2020.[1]
Simmons was a 2018 Republican candidate who sought election to the U.S. House to represent the 15th Congressional District of Pennsylvania. He dropped out of the race in November 2017.[2][3]
In the May 18, 2010 primary, Simmons bested incumbent Karen Beyer. Beyer was the only incumbent Republican to lose a primary challenge in the May 18 elections.[4]
Biography
Simmons earned his B.A. in political science from St. Joseph's University in 2008. His professional experience includes working as a legislative aide for State Senators Rob Wonderling and Bob Mensch. He has also been active in the local Republican Party, serving as a committeeman for Leigh County and president of the Leigh Valley Young Republicans.[5]
Committee assignments
2019-2020
Simmons was assigned to the following committees:
- Human Services Committee
- Insurance Committee
- Liquor Control Committee, Subcommittee Chair on Licensing
- Urban Affairs Committee
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Pennsylvania committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Children & Youth |
| • Human Services |
| • Liquor Control |
| • Transportation |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Simmons served on the following committees:
| Pennsylvania committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Insurance |
| • Liquor Control |
| • Transportation |
| • Urban Affairs |
2013-2014
In the 2013-2014 legislative session, Simmons served on the following committees:
| Pennsylvania committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Education |
| • Health, Secretary |
| • Insurance |
| • State Government |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Simmons served on these committees:
| Pennsylvania committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Education |
| • Human Services |
| • Insurance |
| • Urban Affairs |
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2020
Justin Simmons did not file to run for re-election.
2018
General election
General election for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 131
Incumbent Justin Simmons defeated Andrew Lee in the general election for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 131 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Justin Simmons (R) | 52.8 | 15,579 |
| Andrew Lee (D) | 47.2 | 13,915 | ||
| Total votes: 29,494 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 131
Andrew Lee advanced from the Democratic primary for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 131 on May 15, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Andrew Lee | 100.0 | 3,944 | |
| Total votes: 3,944 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 131
Incumbent Justin Simmons defeated Bev Plosa-Bowser in the Republican primary for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 131 on May 15, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Justin Simmons | 70.2 | 3,255 |
 | Bev Plosa-Bowser | 29.8 | 1,380 | |
| Total votes: 4,635 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2016
Elections for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election was held on April 26, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was February 16, 2016.
Incumbent Justin Simmons defeated Joanne Jackson in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 131 general election.[6][7]
| Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 131, General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Justin Simmons Incumbent |
62.83% | 21,379 | |
| Democratic | Joanne Jackson | 37.17% | 12,649 | |
| Total Votes | 34,028 | |||
| Source: Pennsylvania Department of State | ||||
Incumbent Justin Simmons defeated William Coyle in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 131 Republican primary.[8][9]
| Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 131 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Justin Simmons Incumbent |
77.84% | 7,260 | |
| Republican | William Coyle | 22.16% | 2,067 | |
| Total Votes | 9,327 | |||
Joanne Jackson (D) received enough votes as a write-in candidate to appear on the general election ballot.[10]
2014
Elections for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 20, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 11, 2014. Incumbent Justin Simmons was unopposed in the Republican primary. Michael Beyer was removed from the ballot before the Democratic primary, but was restored to the ballot after a successful write-in campaign. Simmons defeated Beyer in the general election.[11][12][13]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Justin Simmons Incumbent |
61.1% | 12,055 | |
| Democratic | Michael Beyer | 38.9% | 7,688 | |
| Total Votes | 19,743 | |||
2012
Simmons ran in the 2012 election for Pennsylvania House District 131. Simmons ran unopposed in the Republican primary on April 24 and defeated Kevin Deely (D) in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012. [14][15]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Justin Simmons Incumbent |
50.8% | 14,301 | |
| Democratic | Kevin Deely | 49.2% | 13,872 | |
| Total Votes | 28,173 | |||
2010
Simmons won election to District 131 in 2010. He defeated incumbent Karen Beyer 54.7-45.3% in the May 18, 2010 Republican primary.[16] Beyer was seeking her fourth term. Simmons defeated Democrat Mike Horton in the general election on November 2, 2010.[17]
| District 131, Pennsylvania House of Representatives (Primary) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Justin Simmons
|
2,238 | 54.7% | ||
| Karen Beyer | 1,853 | 45.3% | ||
| Pennsylvania State House, District 131 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Justin Simmons (R)
|
10,769 | 56.9% | ||
| Mike Horton (D) | 8,156 | 43.1% | ||
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Pennsylvania scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2020
In 2020, the Pennsylvania State Legislature was in session from January 7 to November 30.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to civil rights and civil liberties issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on environmental issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2018, the Pennsylvania General Assembly was in session from January 2 through November 30.
|
2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2017, the Pennsylvania General Assembly was in session from January 3 through December 31.
|
2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2016, the Pennsylvania General Assembly was in session from January 5 through November 30.
|
2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2015, the Pennsylvania General Assembly was in session from January 6 through December 31.
|
2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2014, the Pennsylvania General Assembly was in session from January 7 through November 12.
|
2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2013, the Pennsylvania General Assembly was in session from January 2 to December 31.
|
2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2012, the Pennsylvania General Assembly was in session from January 3 to November 30.
|
2011
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2011, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2011, the Pennsylvania General Assembly was in session from January 4 through November 30.
|
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Simmons is married to his wife, Erica.
See also
- Pennsylvania's 15th Congressional District election, 2018
- Pennsylvania House of Representatives
- House Committees
- Pennsylvania General Assembly
- Joint Committees
- Pennsylvania state legislative districts
External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- Official campaign website
- Justin Simmons' personal website
- Profile from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
- Profile from Open States
- Justin Simmons on Facebook
- Justin Simmons on Twitter
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Legislative Profile from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign contributions: 2012, 2010
Footnotes
- ↑ WFMZ TV 69 News, "Nathan Brown to run for state House seat," January 8, 2020
- ↑ The Morning Call, "Justin Simmons announces primary challenge to Charlie Dent," September 6, 2017
- ↑ The Morning Call, "Justin Simmons drops out of 15th District congressional race; crowded field grows," November 17, 2017
- ↑ Morning Call, "Beyer in tight race," May 19, 2010
- ↑ www.repsimmons.com/, "About Justin," accessed May 8, 2014
- ↑ Pennsylvania Voter Services, "Candidate listing," accessed August 31, 2016
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "November 8, 2016, official election results," accessed May 17, 2017
- ↑ Pennsylvania Secretary of State, "Election Information," accessed February 18, 2016
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "2016 Presidential Primary," accessed August 2, 2016
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "Write in winners from April 26, 2016, primary election," accessed June 9, 2016
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "Official primary results for May 20, 2014," accessed July 9, 2014
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "2014 Official Candidate Listing," accessed March 21, 2014
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "2014 General Election," accessed December 5, 2014
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "Official Primary Results," accessed April 15, 2014
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "2012 Primary Candidate List," April 15, 2014
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "2010 Primary Election Results," accessed May 2, 2014
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "2010 General Election Results," accessed May 2, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Karen Beyer (R) |
Pennsylvania House of Representatives 131 2011–2020 |
Succeeded by Milou Mackenzie (R) |
