Polling Average
25%20%15%10%5%0%
10%
18.6%
15.4%
8.2%
7%
Democrat
Carol Obando-Derstine
PA-07 Democratic nominee?
$64.0K
MAY 26, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleElectric utility professional (PPL Electric Utilities)
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyProgressive Democrat
GenderFemale
LocationPennsylvania
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BackgroundElectric utility professional (PPL Electric Utilities)
Notable personal detailsCarol Obando-Derstine is a Democratic candidate for the U.S. House in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District in the 2026 election cycle. She has worked in the electric utility sector at PPL Electric Utilities, including roles described publicly as regional affairs director and as a project manager in PPL’s engineering group. She previously worked as a regional manager for U.S. Senator Bob Casey and has served on a Pennsylvania governor’s advisory commission focused on Latino affairs.
SourcesShowHide
fec.govcarolforpa.comlehighvalleymadepossible.compplweb.comdisclosures-clerk.house.govcarbondem.orgen.wikipedia.orgtnonline.comthemidtermproject.orglinkedin.comoctagonai.colvpnews.cominquirer.comoce.pr.govlehighdaily.compplelectric.comarxiv.orgdocquery.fec.govcontent.swingleft.orgreddit.comlehighcounty.orgboeingpac.comtsbrandelevation.comemilyslist.orgelectdemocraticwomen.org314action.orgaldianews.comwdiy.orglatinovictory.orgjstreetpac.orgourmidland.comnrcc.orgboldpac.compafamily.orgjamanetwork.comcbsnews.comcityandstatepa.comms.nownbcnews.comsemafor.compenncapital-star.comwhyy.orgarmchairlehighvalley.substack.commcall.comjewishinsider.comnews.ballotpedia.orgballotready.orgvotesmart.orgvoterguide.ballotpedia.orgdeveloper.ballotpedia.org
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
The candidate supports policies to lower costs for working families, expand access to affordable healthcare, and oppose large tax cuts for the wealthy while promoting investment in jobs, small businesses, and a just clean-energy transition. Her platform emphasizes protecting programs that aid low- and middle-income households and standing up to policies that would shift benefits toward billionaires. She also supports innovation and federal action to create jobs and retraining tied to energy and technology initiatives.
Healthcare
Supports treating health care as a right, protecting Medicaid and Medicare, strengthening the Affordable Care Act, and ensuring reproductive health care rights. Emphasizes fighting policies that would reduce coverage or access and lowering health-related costs for families.
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Immigration & Border
Supports securing the border while overhauling the immigration system with humane reforms, including a pathway to citizenship (Dignity Act), expanding immigration court capacity, fully reopening DACA applications and protecting Dreamers, and opposing administration policies that target immigrant communities.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
The candidate supports protecting the right to choose and protecting access to reproductive health care; she pledges to fight policies that restrict reproductive care and to defend women’s health and related rights. Her campaign and endorsements identify her as a pro-choice candidate who will advocate for reproductive freedom.
Climate & Energy
Supports expansion of clean energy, grid interconnection for renewables, and climate mitigation through science-based energy solutions and decarbonization while emphasizing affordability and job creation. Background and professional experience in energy systems engineering and work at PPL Electric Utilities informing policy focus on clean-energy integration and lowering utility costs. No evidence found of advocacy for Green New Deal–style wholesale fossil-fuel phase-out or explicit endorsement of carbon-pricing legislation in the cited sources.
Public Safety & Guns
The candidate supports "common-sense gun safety legislation" and emphasizes youth mental health funding and violence-prevention education as part of her approach to public safety. Her platform links modest gun-safety measures with broader violence-prevention and mental-health initiatives.
News
AINews Summary
Last updatedJul 4, 2026
Carol Obando-Derstine is in the news as one of four Democrats competing for the nomination to challenge Republican Rep. Ryan Mackenzie in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District. The race is being shaped by affordability issues, especially higher housing, food, borrowing, and electricity costs in the Lehigh Valley. The district is seen as a major swing seat, so the primary winner is likely to draw significant campaign support and attention.
fec.gov+49
Articles
TPThe Philadelphia Inquirer1 month ago
‘We’ve never been this bad.’ Eastern Pennsylvania weighs its rising costs
Neutral
MPMechanicsburg Patriot News 2 months ago
Who can beat Trump-loving Pa. Congressman? 4 Dems make their case in 7th District.
Neutral
BBloomberg3 months ago
High Electric Bills Fuel Voter Anger Ahead of Midterm Elections
Neutral
REReading Eagle2 months ago
Josh Shapiro tests political influence in Pennsylvania 2026 midterm elections
Neutral
Polls
PA-07 Democratic nominee?
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Endorsements
PA-07 Democratic nominee?
Endorsers of Carol Obando-Derstine for PA-07 Democratic nominee?
EMILYs List
Public endorsement
EMILYs List endorsed Carol Obando-Derstine for election to Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District.
Susan Wild
Public figure
Susan Wild endorsed Carol Obando-Derstine for the Democratic primary in Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District.
314 Action
Public endorsement
314 Action endorsed Carol Obando-Derstine for Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District.
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 2026Total raisedCash on hand
$565.2K
$423.9K
$282.6K
$141.3K
$0
2026
LatestYear
Total raised
Cash on hand
Total spent
Burn rate
Cycle 2026
$565.2K
$95.6K
$469.5K
$29.3K
Source: FEC