How to use this guide

1. Pick the issues you care about. Choose the two or three that matter most to you.
2. Find which office handles them. The U.S. House writes federal law and the federal budget; all bills that raise taxes must start there. Local ballot measures change Philadelphia's city charter, affecting how the city spends money and organizes its government.
3. Compare the candidates. Read where each candidate stands on your top issues, then check their own words, who endorses them, and who funds their campaigns.

Pennsylvania's 2022 congressional map, selected by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Feb. 23, 2022, remains in force for the 2026 general election. District 2's lines are unchanged from 2024. Pennsylvania law groups candidates by party on the ballot, with party order based on each party's vote in the last gubernatorial election; on the printed ballot, Brendan F. Boyle (Democratic) appears before Jessica Arriaga (Republican). ​

The U.S. House race

What this office does

U.S. House members serve two-year terms and vote on every federal law and the federal budget; all bills that raise revenue must originate in the House. District 2 covers part of Philadelphia County, including the City of Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Jessica Arriaga's campaign focused on Kensington drug issues, law-enforcement resources, and mental-health services, while Billy Penn reports that Brendan F. Boyle touted federal transit funding for the Philadelphia region ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The 270towin consensus rates the race Solid Democratic. The seat is not open; the incumbent is running for re-election.

Candidates in brief

| | Brendan Boyle (D) | Jessica Arriaga (R) |
|---|---|---|
| Party | Democratic | Republican |
| Incumbent? | Yes | No |
| Background | Served six years in the Pennsylvania House before his election to Congress in 2014; graduate of the University of Notre Dame and Harvard University | Born and raised in North Philadelphia; describes herself as a mother and healthcare professional who has worked in operating rooms for more than 20 years |
| Top priorities | Federal spending, the national debt, inflation, cost-of-living issues, and securing federal transit funding for Philadelphia | Safer neighborhoods, lower costs, and paths to opportunity; public safety combining law enforcement with mental-health and addiction services |
| Campaign website | voteboyle.com | jessforphilly.com |

Where they stand

| Issue | Brendan Boyle (D) | Jessica Arriaga (R) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living | Focused on federal spending, inflation, and cost-of-living issues; introduced the Gas Price Relief Act | Would support reducing the tax burden on working families, cutting unnecessary federal regulations, and expanding job training |
| Health care | Opposes federal Medicaid cuts and has announced legislation to oppose those cuts in Pennsylvania | Would work to expand access to affordable care, reduce costs, and increase transparency |
| Housing | Has criticized cuts to federal housing funding and highlighted their effects on Kensington | Not found |
| Immigration | Not found | Not found |
| Abortion | Not found | Not found |
| Climate and energy | Has supported transportation and climate investments intended to reduce carbon pollution | Not found |
| Foreign policy | Introduced legislation to bar federal funds from being used to invade a NATO member state | Not found |
| Elections | Supports passing the Vote by Mail Protection Act, which he says would prevent restrictions on ballot access | Not found |
| Kensington public safety | Has called attention to the effects in Kensington of federal cuts to violence-prevention, housing, and healthcare funding | Supports federal resources for law enforcement to target repeat violent offenders and additional community-based prevention, mental-health, and addiction services |
| Federal transit funding | Says he helped secure $8,474,327 in federal funding for Philadelphia-area transit improvements ahead of the World Cup | Not found |

Where a cell says "Not found," no position on that issue was found in the available records for that candidate. Voters can check each candidate's campaign website for any positions not listed here: voteboyle.com and jessforphilly.com.

In their own words

Brendan Boyle, in a statement on Philadelphia-area transit funding, March 3, 2026: "I was proud to help secure this federal funding to strengthen our transit system so it can handle the surge in ridership during the World Cup."

Jessica Arriaga, on the campaign policy page (date not stated): "Every family deserves to feel safe walking their block, riding SEPTA, and sending their kids to school."

Questionnaires and debates

Brendan Boyle did not respond to the Pennsylvania Capital-Star's candidate questionnaire. Boyle had not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey. The Vote411 page for this race opened to a program error, so no response status could be confirmed there.

Jessica Arriaga did not respond to the Pennsylvania Capital-Star's candidate questionnaire. Arriaga had not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey. The Vote411 page for this race opened to a program error, so no response status could be confirmed there.

No debates were found for this race. Voters seeking additional candidate statements can check the Pennsylvania Capital-Star voter guide, Ballotpedia's Brendan Boyle page, and Ballotpedia's Jessica Arriaga page.

Endorsements

| Candidate | Endorser | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brendan Boyle | National Education Association | Labor union | educationvotes.nea.org |
| Brendan Boyle | AIPAC | Organization | candidates.aipacpac.org |
| Brendan Boyle | Planned Parenthood Action Fund | Organization | plannedparenthoodaction.org |
| Brendan Boyle | Democratic Majority for Israel | Organization | dmfipac.org |

No endorsements were found for Jessica Arriaga in the available records. Voters can check Arriaga's campaign site at jessforphilly.com for any endorsements the campaign has announced.

Who is funding them

Brendan Boyle's fundraising figures run through Oct. 14, 2026, and no fundraising figures were reported for Jessica Arriaga.

| Measure | Brendan Boyle (D) | Jessica Arriaga (R) |
|---|---|---|
| Total raised | $2.9 million | Not reported |
| Small donors (under $200) | 7% | Not reported |
| Larger donors (over $200) | 31% | Not reported |
| PACs and other committees | 62% | Not reported |
| Party committees | 0% | Not reported |
| Self-funding | $0 (0%) | Not reported |
| Transfers from joint fundraising | $167,000 | Not reported |
| Cash on hand (Oct. 14) | $5.9 million | Not reported |
| Larger-donor dollars from PA | 23% ($111,000) | Not reported |
| Outside spending for / against | $95 for / $23 against | None reported |

Top PACs for Brendan Boyle: Allied Pilots Association Political Action Committee, $10,000 (labor); American Crystal Sugar Company Political Action Committee, $10,000 (business or trade group); American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (P.E.O.P.L.E.), $10,000 (labor); American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO Committee on Political Education, $10,000 (labor); American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Political Action Committee, $10,000 (business or trade group). No PAC donors were reported for Jessica Arriaga.

The largest outside spenders were API PA VOTES, which spent $95 in support of Boyle, and Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation PAC, which spent $23 in opposition to Boyle. No outside spending was reported for or against Arriaga.

Donors who give more than $200 in a cycle are listed by name in FEC filings; smaller gifts are reported only as a lump total, so small donors' names are not public.

The incumbent's record

Votes listed here were selected by one rule applied to every incumbent: final passage of each spending, budget or defense bill that became law, every vote on a war powers resolution, and every vote against the majority of the member's own party, from the official House and Senate roll calls.

Committees and caucuses

Brendan Boyle serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, including its Health and Trade subcommittees, and is the ranking member of the House Budget Committee in the 119th Congress.

Boyle is a member of more than 90 caucuses, including the Congressional Progressive Caucus, the New Democrat Coalition, the Congressional Labor Caucus, the House Reproductive Freedom Caucus, the Congressional Medicare for All Caucus, and the U.S. Group of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.

Key votes since June 2026

| Date | Measure | Question | Boyle's vote | Outcome | Broke with party? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 3, 2026 | Directing the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran (War Powers Resolution) | On Agreeing to the Resolution | Yes | Passed | No |
| June 4, 2026 | Directing the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from Lebanon (War Powers Resolution) | On Agreeing to the Resolution | No | Failed | No |
| June 4, 2026 | Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agency Appropriations Act, 2027 | On Passage | No | Passed | No |
| June 10, 2026 | No Aid for Ghost Students Act | On Passage | Yes | Passed | Yes |
| June 30, 2026 | Directing the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities in Lebanon (War Powers Resolution) | On Agreeing to the Resolution | Yes | Failed | No |
| July 22, 2026 | Main Street Act | On Passage | Yes | Passed | Yes |
| July 22, 2026 | Making continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2027 | On Passage | No | Passed | No |
| July 22, 2026 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027 | On Passage | No | Passed | No |
| July 23, 2026 | Directing the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran (War Powers Resolution) | On Agreeing to the Resolution | Yes | Passed | No |
| Sept. 1, 2026 | Bill to extend North Atlantic right whale regulations | On Passage | No | Passed | No |
| Sept. 16, 2026 | Directing the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran (War Powers Resolution) | On Agreeing to the Resolution | Yes | Passed | No |

Party breaks

Brendan Boyle voted against the majority of the Democratic Party on three roll-call votes since June 2026. The three breaks, preferring final-passage votes, were:

1. June 10, 2026: Voted Yes on passage of the No Aid for Ghost Students Act; the bill passed.
2. July 22, 2026: Voted Yes on passage of the Main Street Act; the bill passed.
3. On July 15, 2026, Rep. Brendan Boyle voted No on agreeing to an amendment tied to bill 8595HR119, and the amendment failed.

Boyle missed 4 of 123 roll-call votes since June 2026. The Members of Congress record does not include a missed-votes percentage for the full Congress; voters can check the full attendance record at app.legis1.com.

Bills sponsored

In the 119th Congress, Boyle sponsored 21 bills or resolutions: 20 remained at the introduced stage and one passed the House. The bill that passed the House is the Women and Lung Cancer Research and Preventive Services Act of 2025. Rep. Brendan Boyle has cosponsored 299 bills.

Contested claims

The Philadelphia Inquirer editorial board stated that Boyle secured billions of dollars in federal funding for Philadelphia projects, including transit, education, cancer research, workforce development, and the Chinatown stitch. No independent fact-check of this claim was found. No claims from opponents or outside groups about Boyle's record were found in the available records.

Challengers' records

Jessica Arriaga has served as Republican Ward Leader for Philadelphia's 37th Ward; the years of service were not stated in the available records. Arriaga has not held elected federal or state legislative office and has no congressional voting record to review. Voters seeking more background on Arriaga can check jessforphilly.com and Ballotpedia's Jessica Arriaga page.

Scorecards readers can check

Interest groups publish annual scorecards rating members of Congress based on selected votes. Different groups pick different sets of votes, so their ratings measure different things.

For Brendan Boyle, the following groups have published ratings: the Lugar Center Bipartisan Index gave Boyle a score for the 118th Congress (2022-2023); Heritage Action for America gave Boyle a session score of 0 percent for the 119th Congress (2025-2026); the AFL-CIO gave Boyle a score of 92 percent for 2025; the League of Conservation Voters gave Boyle a score of 100 percent for 2025; and the National Taxpayers Union gave Boyle a score of 10 percent for the first session of the 119th Congress in 2025. No American Conservative Union rating was found for Boyle.

Jessica Arriaga is a challenger with no congressional record, so no congressional scorecard ratings apply to Arriaga.

Also on your ballot

No statewide measures appear on the Pennsylvania ballot for this district. Philadelphia voters will decide two city charter questions. Both questions were placed on the ballot by City Council and ask voters whether to amend the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter. The official ballot questions are posted by the Philadelphia City Commissioners.

Philadelphia Proposed Charter Change Question 1 — Contracting procedures, small-business preferences and construction bond requirements

The official question reads: "Should the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to revise the City's contracting procedures to allow for bid preferences and set-asides for small businesses; modify the threshold and standards for contracts that can be set aside for small and local businesses; and grant the Procurement Department and the City Solicitor discretion on bond requirements for certain construction projects?"

A Yes vote would amend the Charter to let the City give contracting preferences to small businesses and expand them for local businesses on City-funded projects, and would allow discretion over bond or financial-security requirements for some public construction contracts. A No vote would leave the existing contracting rules in place without the proposed expanded preferences or changes to bonding requirements.

The amendment would authorize City Council to prescribe bid preferences for small, local, or small-and-local businesses and permit procurement procedures for certain contracts under $500,000. City Council adopted Resolution No. 260467 on June 4, 2026, and the accompanying Bill No. 260457 passed Council 16-0 and became law June 23, 2026; the record does not give a party tally. No official fiscal analysis was found for this measure; voters can check the Philadelphia City Commissioners' ballot questions page for any analysis posted before Election Day.

For: Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson's resolution states that Philadelphia and its quasi-public partners spend over $1 billion annually on goods, services, and construction, and argues that access for small and local businesses can contribute to local job creation and family-sustaining incomes. Against: no organized opposition was found in the available records.

Philadelphia Proposed Charter Change Question 2 — Creative Philadelphia

The official question reads: "Shall the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to establish and define the functions of Creative Philadelphia, an office headed by the Chief Cultural Officer to promote the City's arts, culture, and creative economy sector?"

A Yes vote would make Creative Philadelphia a formal part of city government under the City Charter, led by a Chief Cultural Officer. A No vote would leave the Charter unchanged, so the office would continue to exist under an executive order and could be eliminated by a future mayor.

The Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance says the measure does not provide additional funding; arts and culture spending would continue through the City budget process. Resolution No. 260270 was adopted June 11, 2026, and Bill No. 260264-A became law June 23, 2026. A final legislative vote tally was not found in the available records. No official fiscal analysis was found for this measure.

For: Sarah Christy, vice president of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, said a permanent office could help arts organizations plan for opportunities and strengthen neighborhoods, the economy, young people, and civic life. Against: no organized opposition was found in the available records.

Voters can read more about both measures at WHYY's Philadelphia 2026 ballot questions coverage and the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance's 2026 arts voter guide.

Before you go

  • Early voting / mail ballots in person: Pennsylvania allows eligible voters to vote by mail ballot in person at their county elections office or another designated location once ballots are ready. Check your county's website for locations and hours. The deadline to apply in person for a mail ballot was Oct. 27, 2026, at 5 p.m. A completed ballot may be dropped off in person through 8 p.m. on Election Day. (pa.gov mail ballot page)
  • Mail ballot return: Completed ballots must be received by the county election board by 8 p.m. Nov. 3, 2026. A postmark by the deadline is not sufficient. Return by mail, drop box, county election office, or another officially designated location. Voters generally must return their own ballots, with a written-designation exception for voters with a disability. (pa.gov return ballot page)
  • Election Day hours: Polls are open Nov. 3, 2026, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters in line by 8 p.m. may vote. (pa.gov upcoming elections)
  • Voter ID: ID is required only the first time voting at a polling place. An approved photo or non-photo ID is accepted. Non-photo ID must include the voter's name and address; approved options include a voter registration card, government-issued ID, utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or government check. What a voter without any approved ID can do was not stated on the page checked. (pa.gov polling place page)
  • In the booth: Voters may bring campaign literature into the polling place or booth to help make choices but must take it with them when they leave. Campaigning inside the polling place is not allowed. Whether a sample ballot or personal notes may be brought was not stated on the page checked. (pa.gov rules at the polls)
  • Registration deadline: The registration deadline was Oct. 19, 2026. Pennsylvania requires registration at least 15 days before the election. Whether same-day registration is available was not stated on the page checked. You can still check your registration at pavoterservices.pa.gov. (pa.gov voter registration)
  • Polling place lookup: Find your polling place at pavoterservices.pa.gov or pa.gov.
  • Hotlines: Pennsylvania Department of State: 1-877-VOTESPA (1-877-868-3772). Election Protection: 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683), 866ourvote.org.

Sources

Official records

Campaign finance

Candidate statements and questionnaires

News and fact-checks

Advocacy groups

  • National Education Association — 2026 recommended candidates
  • AIPAC PAC — featured candidates
  • Planned Parenthood Action Fund — endorsements
  • Democratic Majority for Israel — 2026 endorsees
  • Heritage Action for America — Brendan Boyle scorecard
  • AFL-CIO — Brendan Boyle legislative scorecard
  • League of Conservation Voters — Brendan Boyle
  • National Taxpayers Union — 2025 ratings
  • Lugar Center Bipartisan Index — 118th Congress House
  • Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance — 2026 arts voter guide
  • Election Protection hotline — 866ourvote.org

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