Who's In the Race

Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-PA) faces Republican Jessica Arriaga in the November 3 general election in Pennsylvania's 2nd District. Pennsylvania's 2022 congressional redistricting placed District 2 within Philadelphia County, with boundaries based on the 2020 census. ​

Boyle has represented the district since 2015, previously serving six years in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives after his election there in 2008; he holds degrees from the University of Notre Dame and Harvard University. He ran unopposed in the Democratic primary on May 19.

Arriaga is a North Philadelphia native who has spent more than 20 years working in operating rooms and has also worked in medical sales. She ran unopposed in the Republican primary on May 19.

What They Stand For

Boyle has focused on federal spending, the national debt, and inflation as the top Democrat on the House Budget Committee, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. He's also supported:

  • Criticizing President Donald Trump's economic agenda and emphasizing cost-of-living issues, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer;
  • health care, as listed on his official House website;
  • Jobs and the economy; and
  • Energy and the environment, both listed as issue areas on his House website.

Arriaga has called for more resources for law enforcement and mental-health services as part of a public safety platform, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. She has also proposed:

  • Making health care more affordable and accessible, drawing on her background as a healthcare professional, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer;
  • Lowering taxes and regulations; and
  • Expanding job training, including federal support for career and technical education, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Race Outlook: Ratings and Betting Markets

Cook Political Report rated the seat Solid Democratic as of Oct. 9; Sabato's Crystal Ball rated it Solid Democratic as of Oct. 11; and Inside Elections rated it Solid Democratic as of Oct. 2. On Kalshi, traders gave Democrats, whose nominee is Boyle, a 95.65% chance of winning as of Oct. 15.

Boyle won the district with about 76% in 2022 and about 71% in 2024, a drop of about four percentage points between the two cycles. Statewide, Pennsylvania's congressional delegation shifted toward Republicans between 2022 and 2024, with the GOP picking up a net of two seats to hold 10 of the state's 17 House seats after 2024, up from eight in 2022. Republican Donald Trump carried Pennsylvania in the 2024 presidential election with about 50% of the vote.

Boyle's district has remained a Democratic stronghold even as the broader state has trended Republican, and his vote share, while still dominant, has edged downward in each of the last two cycles.

---

AllCiv makes it easy to stay politically informed and involved.

---

Spot something wrong? Report an issue with this article