Polling Average
25%20%15%10%5%0%
10%
18.6%
15.4%
8.2%
7%
PA-07 Democratic nominee?
$64.0K
MAY 26, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleEnergy engineer
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyProgressive Democrat
GenderFemale
LocationPennsylvania
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BackgroundEnergy engineer
EducationRutgers University — B.A. (Psychology)
Notable personal detailsCarol Obando-Derstine is a Democratic candidate for the U.S. House in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District in the 2026 cycle. She has worked in nonprofit and community leadership roles and served on staff for U.S. Sen. Bob Casey as a regional manager and statewide Latino affairs advisor. She later worked at PPL Electric Utilities on energy-related work and has described herself as an energy engineer and community advocate.
SourcesShowHide
fec.govcarolforpa.comonyourballot.vote411.orginquirer.comcarbondem.orgen.wikipedia.orglehighvalleynews.comrealclearpennsylvania.comcityandstatepa.comlvpnews.compolymarket.compredictionedge.comisidewith.compplelectric.commonroecountypa.govreddit.comdisclosures-clerk.house.govtsbrandelevation.comemilyslist.orgelectdemocraticwomen.org314action.orgaldianews.comwdiy.orglatinovictory.orgjstreetpac.orgourmidland.comlehighdaily.comnrcc.orgboldpac.compafamily.orgjamanetwork.comcbsnews.comfoxnews.comdeveloper.ballotpedia.orgvoterguide.ballotpedia.orglegislation.ballotpedia.orgcba.ballotpedia.orgcdn.ballotpedia.orgsfchronicle.combloomberg.comvotesmart.orgdocquery.fec.govsers.fec.govgovinfo.govwikidata.orgballotready.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 updatedJun 12, 2026
Carol Obando-Derstine is in the news as one of four Democrats competing for the party’s nomination in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District, a key swing seat where the winner is expected to get major campaign support. The race is being shaped by voter concerns about affordability, especially higher housing, food, and electricity costs. Recent coverage suggests the district could be one of the most important House battlegrounds in 2026, but it does not provide many new details about her specific campaign moves.
fec.gov+45
Articles
TPThe Philadelphia Inquirer22 days ago
‘We’ve never been this bad.’ Eastern Pennsylvania weighs its rising costs
Neutral
MPMechanicsburg Patriot News 1 month ago
Who can beat Trump-loving Pa. Congressman? 4 Dems make their case in 7th District.
Neutral
BBloomberg2 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
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
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Endorsements