Pennsylvania voters head to the polls Tuesday, May 19, for the primary election, including the Republican primary for Pennsylvania’s 20th Senate District.
The district includes Pike, Susquehanna and Wyoming counties, along with parts of Wayne and Luzerne counties.
Incumbent Republican State Senator Lisa Baker is facing a primary challenge from Tyler Meyers, a Luzerne County resident and U.S. Army veteran. Meyers is seeking the Republican nomination for the seat, with the winner moving on to the general election in November.
In an interview with Radio Catskill, Meyers said his public service began in 2014 when he joined the U.S. Army. He served on active duty in field artillery before moving into the Army Reserve in a military intelligence role.
Meyers said his decision to run grew out of personal experiences with government policies, including COVID-19 vaccine mandates during his military service and college years. He also criticized the Kooth mental health app, which he said raised concerns for him as a parent because of what he described as gender ideology content available to children without parental consent.
“I was willing to throw my weight behind anybody who would run against Lisa Baker,” Meyers said. “Nobody would run against her.” He said a friend who had considered entering the race stepped aside, and Meyers agreed to run.
When asked why he believes this is the right time to challenge Baker, Meyers said the opportunity presented itself unexpectedly.
“I just feel I have the morals and the values to represent the 20th District in a better way than she has up to this point,” Meyers said.
Meyers said one of the top issues he is hearing from voters is term limits. He pointed to Baker’s long tenure in office and said many voters he meets while knocking on doors tell him they believe she has served long enough.
He also named data centers, the gas tax and the overall cost of living as major concerns among voters in the district.
On rural issues, Meyers said property taxes are a major burden for residents. He also said farmers have raised concerns with him about regulation and a lack of USDA inspectors, which he said can force some farms to schedule processing dates far in advance.
Meyers said his military background shapes his views on veterans’ services. He said he has had positive experiences with the VA, but also pointed to long wait times for some services, such as getting glasses. He said older veterans may struggle to navigate available resources and said he wants to help connect them with support.
On state government, Meyers criticized what he described as excessive spending in Pennsylvania’s budget. He said lawmakers should consider single-issue spending bills during budget deadlocks, especially to fund essential services without attaching them to larger spending packages.
Meyers also said he supports reducing barriers for rural hospitals and would consider incentives to help rural hospitals stay open or open in underserved communities.
If elected, Meyers said his first bill would tie the salaries of state lawmakers to the median income of a Pennsylvania worker. He said lawmakers’ pay should be connected to the health of the economy.
“There’s no reason why people should be enriching themselves off of taxpayer dollars,” Meyers said.
Before voters head to the polls, Meyers said he wants them to know that when he calls himself a conservative, he means it.
“It’s not just lip service that I’m gonna give you every time that there’s an election,” Meyers said. “I will be a conservative vote on legislation.”
The Pennsylvania primary election is Tuesday, May 19. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.