--- title: "Wallace vs. Meuser: 2026 Pennsylvania’s 9th District race" url: "https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-pa-09" updated: "2026-08-01" source: "Candidates' campaign sites and Ballotpedia, quoted verbatim" publisher: "Pluribus" --- # 2026 Pennsylvania’s 9th District race: Rachel Wallace (D) vs. Dan Meuser (R) Rating: Safe R · Election: November 3, 2026 · Ballot checked: October 9, 2026 · Positions captured: August 1, 2026 The 2026 general election for Pennsylvania's 9th Congressional District features four-term Republican incumbent Dan Meuser against Democratic challenger Rachel Wallace. The contest hinges on economic policy, health care access, border security, energy production, and government accountability. ## Candidates - **Rachel Wallace** (Democrat) · [Campaign site](https://www.wallaceforcongress.com/) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Rachel_Wallace_%28Pennsylvania%29) - **Dan Meuser** (Republican, incumbent) · [Campaign site](https://www.meuserforcongress.com) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Dan_Meuser) ## Issues ### Healthcare Salience: high Wallace advocates expanding health protections, capping executive pay, and ending prior authorization, while Meuser voted for Republican budget reconciliation packages that opponents claim jeopardize local health coverage. **Rachel Wallace:** Supports health reform and rural hospital protection Wallace advocates fixing health care in the district by protecting rural hospitals and curbing health insurance company practices. She supports eliminating prior authorization requirements and capping the portion of insurance premiums that can be used for corporate executive salaries. - Fix coverage losses affecting nearly 30,000 district residents due to congressional votes - Save rural hospitals in Pennsylvania - End prior authorization practices by health insurance companies - Cap the amount of insurance premiums allocated to executive salaries > “Rachel is running to fix our health care. Nearly 30,000 people in our part of Pennsylvania will lose their health insurance because of Dan Meuser's votes.” > — Rachel Wallace, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Rachel_Wallace_%28Pennsylvania%29) > “Rachel will fight to fix the damage done by Dan, save our rural hospitals; end the practice of prior authorization, which lets insurance companies off the hook for covering services they promise to cover; and cap the amount of insurance premiums that can go to insurance company salaries.” > — Rachel Wallace, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Rachel_Wallace_%28Pennsylvania%29) **Dan Meuser:** Voted for Republican fiscal reconciliation packages Meuser voted for major House budget reconciliation and spending packages that reform federal healthcare spending. While he has not documented a detailed standalone health platform in campaign materials, his record reflects support for conservative fiscal reforms. - Voted Yea on H.R. 1 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025) budget reconciliation legislation - Voted Yea on the Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023 ### Economy & Cost of Living Salience: high Meuser emphasizes supply-side growth, Federal Reserve reforms, and tax cuts, whereas Wallace focuses on direct price reduction for groceries, housing, and electricity alongside wage growth. **Rachel Wallace:** Supports lowering costs and raising wages Wallace focuses on reducing daily costs for Pennsylvania families across housing, electricity, and groceries. She emphasizes raising local wages and spurring job creation. - Lower essential household costs including electricity, housing, and groceries - Focus policy efforts on raising wages for regional workers - Promote local job creation and economic growth > “Rachel is focused on lowering the cost of living for families here in Pennsylvania, from electricy prices to housing to groceries.” > — Rachel Wallace, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Rachel_Wallace_%28Pennsylvania%29) > “During that same time, Pennsylvania families watched their wages suffer.” > — Rachel Wallace, via [Campaign site](https://www.wallaceforcongress.com/) **Dan Meuser:** Supports supply-side growth and tax cuts Meuser favors supply-side economic growth, lower interest rates, Federal Reserve balance sheet tightening, and tax relief to lower inflation. He criticizes the Biden-Harris administration for steep cost increases on consumers. - Signed Americans for Tax Reform's Taxpayer Protection Pledge - Voted Yea on the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024 - Advocates supply-side policies and lower interest rates to curb inflation - Voted Yea on FY 2025 congressional budget reconciliation instructions > “Under Biden-Harris Everything is Up 20%” > — Dan Meuser, via [Campaign site](https://www.meuserforcongress.com) > “I remain optimistic that we can advance these priorities through supply side growth paired with lower interest rates.” > — Dan Meuser, via [Campaign site](https://www.meuserforcongress.com) ### Government Integrity & Election Security Salience: medium Wallace emphasizes combating corruption and personal enrichment by politicians, while Meuser focuses on requiring voter proof of citizenship and implementing term limits. **Rachel Wallace:** Supports ethics reforms and local focus Wallace advocates rooting out corruption and fraud while overcoming political division to address community problems. She targets Meuser's wealth accumulation during his tenure as evidence of out-of-touch leadership. - Root out government corruption and fraud - Highlight Meuser's net worth growth from $35.57 million in 2019 to $69.05 million in 2025 - Prioritize nonpartisan, local problem-solving over partisan division > “Dan Meuser forgot about us and our Pennsylvania values. I never will.” > — Rachel Wallace, via [Campaign site](https://www.wallaceforcongress.com/) > “People are tired of the toxicity and division - they want leaders who can get things done.” > — Rachel Wallace, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Rachel_Wallace_%28Pennsylvania%29) **Dan Meuser:** Supports proof of citizenship voting laws Meuser supports strict voter registration requirements to preserve election integrity and signed a congressional term limits pledge. He voted against certifying Pennsylvania's 2020 electoral votes in January 2021. - Voted Yea on the SAVE Act (H.R. 22) requiring documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections - Voted against certifying Pennsylvania's electoral votes on January 6-7, 2021 - Signed the U.S. Term Limits candidate pledge > “The public overwhelmingly supports this legislation, and it is vital for ensuring free and fair elections.” > — Dan Meuser, via [Campaign site](https://www.meuserforcongress.com) ### Energy & Infrastructure Salience: medium Meuser advocates expanding fossil fuel extraction and repealing clean energy subsidies, whereas Wallace focuses on lowering electricity costs and making infrastructure investments. **Rachel Wallace:** Supports reducing energy costs and investing in infrastructure Wallace includes electricity costs, infrastructure, and data centers among her core policy passions, emphasizing utility cost reductions for district residents. - Focuses on reducing household electricity bills - Lists infrastructure and data center regulation among top policy passions > “Rachel is focused on lowering the cost of living for families here in Pennsylvania, from electricy prices to housing to groceries.” > — Rachel Wallace, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Rachel_Wallace_%28Pennsylvania%29) **Dan Meuser:** Supports domestic fossil fuel expansion Meuser favors expanding domestic oil, natural gas, and coal production while curtailing federal permitting restrictions. He opposes green energy tax credits and executive restrictions on energy production. - Voted Yea on the Lower Energy Costs Act (H.R. 1 in 2023) - Voted Yea on the Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023 to repeal green energy tax credits - Opposes Biden-Harris policies restricting domestic energy jobs > “Harris Will Cost Us Jobs” > — Dan Meuser, via [Campaign site](https://www.meuserforcongress.com) ### Immigration & Border Security Salience: high Meuser favors strict enforcement, expanded detention, and mandatory deportations for noncitizens accused of crimes, whereas Wallace has no documented immigration position in the provided sources. **Rachel Wallace:** No documented position in our sources **Dan Meuser:** Supports strict border enforcement and deportations Meuser advocates for strict enforcement of federal border security laws, enhanced mandatory detention, and expanded deportation grounds. He voted for flagship House border bills and supported the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. - Voted Yea on the Secure the Border Act of 2023 (H.R. 2) - Voted Yea on the Laken Riley Act (S. 5) mandating detention of noncitizens arrested for theft or burglary - Voted Yea on the Protect Our Communities from DUIs Act of 2025 (H.R. 875) - Voted Yea to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas > “Harris' Border Disaster” > — Dan Meuser, via [Campaign site](https://www.meuserforcongress.com) ### Financial Fraud & Consumer Protection Salience: medium Meuser champions legislative and oversight initiatives against organized financial fraud, while Wallace has not outlined a specific financial scam policy platform. **Rachel Wallace:** No documented position in our sources **Dan Meuser:** Supports legislation targeting criminal scam networks Meuser leads committee investigations into transnational financial fraud and elder scam networks. He authored the SCAM Act and created a online reporting tool for constituents. - Introduced the SCAM Act to hold bad actors and scam networks accountable - Co-led a yearlong Financial Services Committee inquiry into Chinese-linked scam operations - Created meuser.house.gov/scams to assist constituents in detecting and reporting financial fraud > “Financial fraud has become a booming criminal business, and Americans are the primary target.” > — Dan Meuser, via [Campaign site](https://www.meuserforcongress.com) > “The report concludes with solutions to fight back, including my legislation, the SCAM Act, and other bills that hold bad actors accountable and coordinate agencies to stop scams before they start.” > — Dan Meuser, via [Campaign site](https://www.meuserforcongress.com) ## Polls and markets _Updated Oct 31._ - [Polymarket](https://polymarket.com/event/pa-09-house-election-winner) — PA-09 House Election Winner: Republicans 96.0%, Democrats 3.9% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/KXHOUSERACE-PA09-26) — PA-09 House winner?: Dan Meuser 96.9%, Rachel Wallace 3.7% [View this race on 2026election.com](https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-pa-09)