Jones announces candidacy for Lanco Senate seat

Rep. Tom Jones (R-Lancaster/Lebanon) has decided to attempt a move from the State House to the State Senate.

Jones, the 98th Legislative District representative and former supervisor in East Donegal Township, tossed his hat in the ring to compete for the Republican nomination for the 36th Senatorial District seat, presently held by newly-elected Democrat James Malone. 

“It has been an honor to serve my community as State Representative in the Pennsylvania General Assembly,” said Jones. “I believe the people of Lancaster deserve strong representation in the 36th Senate District, and I look forward to earning their support.” 

In his campaign announcement, Jones stressed his Lancaster County roots and his experience as a small business owner, saying state government has affected families and businesses like his.

“I was born and raised in the district, and there are stories like mine all across this County, people who work hard to achieve their dreams and provide for their family. That opportunity is what I’m fighting to save. As a small business owner, I know what it means to be fiscally responsible and I know firsthand how to balance a common sense budget. That kind of common sense is in short supply in Harrisburg.

“Due to the reckless spending of Governor Shapiro, we face a $5 billion budget shortfall that will likely result in higher taxes, which hurts everyone in our community,” said Jones. “The future of our Commonwealth is in jeopardy, as we lose more and more young people and businesses to other states because of Shapiro‘s job killing policies and over regulation.

Jones is currently in his second term in Harrisburg and could spark a heated primary between him and Lancaster County Commissioner Josh Parsons, who was defeated by Malone last spring in a special election to replace Ryan Aument. 

A member of the Pennsylvania Freedom Caucus, Jones says that “Lancaster County deserves a Senator who’s going to represent our conservative values, fight for parents rights and school choice, help unleash business and PA’s energy sector to boost our economy, and unapologetically defend our God-given freedoms and enduring American values.

“I’m running for Senate to stand for the people of Lancaster County as we fight to protect our families, and turn Pennsylvania in the right direction.”

Malone, the former mayor of the borough of East Petersburg, narrowly defeated Parsons by 526 votes in a county that previously had not elected a Democrat to the state Senate since 1889.

The 36th District comprises part of Lancaster County consisting of the townships of Conoy, Earl, East Donegal, East Hempfield, Elizabeth, Ephrata, Manheim, Mount Joy, Penn, Rapho, Warwick, West Donegal, West Earl and West Hempfield and the boroughs of Akron, Columbia, East Petersburg, Elizabethtown, Ephrata, Lititz, Manheim, Marietta, Mount Joy, Mountville and New Holland.