Frequently Asked Questions

Meriam Sabih is a Democrat running for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 131 in the 2026 election. She is a journalist, mother of three boys, Southern Lehigh School Board member, and 15-year resident of Upper Saucon Township in the heart of District 131. She holds a B.A. in English and Psychology from Rutgers University and an M.A. in Political Science from Lehigh University, and was named a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council in 2023.

Meriam Sabih is running for Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 131 — a seat currently held by three-term Republican incumbent Milou MacKenzie.

The Pennsylvania primary election is May 19, 2026. The general election is November 3, 2026. Voter registration deadlines are approximately 15 days before each election.

PA House District 131 covers approximately 121 square miles across Lehigh, Montgomery, and Northampton counties in the Lehigh Valley and Upper Perkiomen Valley. Communities in the district include Upper Saucon Township, Coopersburg, Lower Milford, Upper Milford, parts of Salisbury Township (Lehigh County), East Greenville, Green Lane, Pennsburg, Red Hill, Marlborough, Salford, and Upper Hanover (Montgomery County), and part of Lower Saucon Township (Northampton County).

Meriam is challenging Milou MacKenzie, a Republican who has held the District 131 seat since 2021 and is seeking her fourth term. MacKenzie is approximately 76 years old and pledged to seek no more than four terms when she first ran in 2020.

Meriam fully supports Pennsylvania's new equitable school funding formula and the $1 billion in new K-12 funding passed in 2024 — which MacKenzie voted against twice. She opposes school vouchers that divert public money to private schools. She is endorsed by the PSEA and AFT Pennsylvania. She supports career and technical education and inclusive schools for all students.

Meriam supports legal abortion access in Pennsylvania and opposes any legislation designed to restrict it. She is endorsed by Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania PAC, Vote Pro Choice, and Her Bold Move. She believes reproductive decisions belong to patients, families, and their doctors — not politicians.

Meriam supports common-sense gun safety laws including background check requirements, opposition to permitless carry, support for a ghost gun ban, and preserving local communities' ability to set their own gun safety standards. She is endorsed by Moms Demand Action.

Meriam is endorsed by Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania and Climate Cabinet. She opposes drilling in state parks and forests, supports smart growth to protect farmland and open space, and believes in climate action and clean energy investment.

MacKenzie voted NO on the 2024-25 state budget that included $1 billion in new K-12 school funding, voted NO on HB 2370 (the standalone fair funding bill), co-sponsored HB 1432 (school vouchers), and sponsored HB 2813 (Pennsylvania's 'Don't Say Gay' bill).

MacKenzie voted YES on SB 106 (2022), a constitutional amendment to eliminate Pennsylvania's abortion protections, voted YES on HB 118 (requiring burial or cremation of abortion remains), and voted NO on HB 1786 (protecting interstate abortion access). She is rated 'Anti-Choice' by Choice Tracker. She did vote YES on contraceptive coverage (HB 1140) and supported a World IVF Day resolution.

MacKenzie voted YES on SB 565 (permitless concealed carry), YES on HB 979 (preempting municipal gun regulations), NO on HB 770 (assault weapons ban), and NO on HB 777 (ghost gun ban). She holds a 100% pro-gun rating from the Gun Owners of America and an 'A' grade.

Pennsylvania requires voter registration at least 15 days before an election. You can register online at pavoterservices.pa.gov, by mail, or in person at your county election office. The deadline for the 2026 primary is approximately May 4, 2026, and for the general election, approximately October 19, 2026.

Any registered Pennsylvania voter can apply for a mail-in ballot — no excuse required. Apply online at vote.pa.gov or by mail to your county election board. The deadline is 7 days before the election. Your completed ballot must be returned by 8 PM on Election Day.

Use the PA legislature's district finder at legis.state.pa.us to confirm your district. District 131 covers communities in Lehigh County (Upper Saucon, Coopersburg, Lower Milford, Upper Milford, part of Salisbury), Montgomery County (East Greenville, Green Lane, Pennsburg, Red Hill, Marlborough, Salford, Upper Hanover), and part of Lower Saucon Township in Northampton County.

Meriam Sabih raised $145,342 total in the 2024 cycle, compared to MacKenzie's $37,779 in the comparable period — a nearly 2:1 fundraising advantage for the challenger.

Yes. Sign up at mobilize.us/meriamsabih to volunteer for canvassing, phone banking, postcard writing, or other campaign activities. You can also request a yard sign or ask about hosting a house party.

Donate securely through ActBlue at secure.actblue.com/donate/meriamforpa. All donations go directly to the Friends of Meriam Sabih campaign. Contributions are not tax deductible.

The PA House majority is currently 102-101, Democratic. Every seat determines who controls the chamber, sets the legislative agenda, and elects the Speaker of the House. District 131 is one of the seats that could flip the majority.

In 2024, Milou MacKenzie defeated Meriam Sabih 57.2% to 42.7% — a 14.5-point margin in a presidential election year. In 2018, a comparable midterm environment, MacKenzie's predecessor won by only 5.6 points, suggesting the 2026 environment could be significantly more favorable.