Jess Branas

Jess Branas is the Democratic candidate for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 97 in the November 3, 2026 general election, where she faces incumbent Republican Steven Mentzer.[1][2] In a Ballotpedia survey, she described herself as a public educator who had worked as a district director for a state representative and had served as an elected council member.[3]

Jess Branas graduated from Manheim Township High School, earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1999, and earned a graduate degree from Millersville University in 2012.[2] In a Ballotpedia survey, she said she was born and raised in Lancaster County, returned to Lancaster in 2025 to help with her aging parents, and lives in East Lampeter.[3] She said she holds a master's degree in Spanish from Millersville University and works as a public educator.[3]

Branas said in the survey that she had been the District Director for a State Representative and had served as an elected council member after winning a seat that had been held by the other party.[3] She advanced from the Democratic primary on May 19, 2026.[2] Branas listed utility and housing costs, access to affordable health care, public education and career opportunities, and the regulation of artificial intelligence and AI data centers as her main issues.[3]

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.