GPPA 2026 Leadership Elections – Nominations Now Open

The Green Party of Pennsylvania (GPPA) is now accepting nominations for our January 2026 statewide leadership elections. This annual process selects the leaders who will guide our organizing, outreach, and statewide decision-making for the coming year. We strongly encourage participation from all counties—organized and unorganized—as our democracy is strongest when every Green has the opportunity to take part.

Submit Your Nomination

Nominations may be submitted using the official form below:
👉 Nomination Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdI7KWkOUpp0Xcd7WXQVJqZehdDfrId1ONGYrU-zqPbl_rJnw/viewform?usp=dialog

Self-nominations are welcome and encouraged. Members may also nominate fellow Greens for any role.

All nominees must be registered Green voters in Pennsylvania. The GPPA Internal Elections Committee (IEC) will verify each nominee’s Green voter registration using state voter files and the PA Voter Services system.

Unorganized vs. Organized Counties

• Unorganized Counties: Nominations are handled directly by the IEC for this election cycle.

• Organized Counties: Nominations submitted for members in affiliated counties will be forwarded to the appropriate county chair or co-chair(s) per GPPA procedures.

Positions Open for Nomination

Members may submit nominations for the following positions:

• State Committee Delegate (for unorganized counties)

• GPPA Co-Chair

• GPPA Treasurer

• Steering Committee Members At-Large

• GPUS Delegates (National Delegation)

• GPUS Committee seats (BAC, Eco-Action, IC, Outreach, PCSC, and others)

For more detailed descriptions, of each role’s responsibilities, qualifications, & term structures, please review the GPPA Leadership Roles & Responsibilities page. If there are further questions regarding any of these positions please reach out to our current leadership.

Nomination Timeline

• Nominations Open: Now

• Nominations Close: December 31, 2025 at 11:59 PM

• Election Date: January 11, 2026 (Voting will take place during the January State Meeting)

• The IEC will verify each nominee’s Green voter registration upon submission.

• Verified nominations will be listed on this page as they are confirmed.

Publication of Nominations

As nominations are received and verified, the IEC will publish each nominee’s name, county, and the position(s) they are seeking. Updates will continue throughout December.

Term Lengths (At a Glance)

All terms are defined by the GPPA Rules (Amended March 9, 2025) or by established GPPA practice where noted.

• GPPA Co-Chairs:
  2-year terms (staggered; one Co-Chair elected each year)

• GPPA Treasurer:
  2-year term (elected in even-numbered years)

• GPPA Secretary:
  2-year term (elected in odd-numbered years)

• Steering Committee – At-Large Members:
  1-year terms

• State Committee Delegates
  (organized and unorganized counties):
  1-year terms

• GPUS Delegates & Alternate Delegates:
  2-year terms (staggered per GPUS rules)

• GPPA Team Leaders
  (Core, Communications, Finance, GreenWave):
  1-year terms, appointed by the Steering Committee

• GPUS Committees (BAC, Eco-Action, IC, Outreach, PCSC, etc.):
  2-year terms (per GPUS bylaws and rules; re-appointment possible)

Questions or Need Assistance?

The IEC is available to support nominees and county leaders throughout the process.

📩 Bryarr Misner
GPPA Secretary / Internal Elections Committee
Email: [email protected]

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Verified Nominations (Updated as they are confirmed)

Below is where the IEC will record nominations as they are verified. This section can be updated as new entries are confirmed. Candidate biographies are available here

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Co-Chair

• [Colleen Schmotzer] – Allegheny County

Treasurer

• ["JJ" Jeff Kondrich] – Westmoreland County

Steering Committee At-Large

• [Colleen Schmotzer] – Allegheny County

• [Aiden Williamson] – Philadelphia County

• [Barbara Laxon] – McKean County

• [Wendy Keslick] – Chester County

• [Elizabeth Schongar] – Allegheny County

• [Dave Ochmanowicz] – Bucks County

• [Lorianne Burgess] – Beaver County

• [Sakira Harris] – Philadelphia County

• [Tony Dastra] – Lancaster County

State Committee Delegate – Unorganized Counties

• [Barbara Laxon] – McKean County

• [Tim Butler] – Dauphin County

• [Chase Lee McKnight] – York County

• [Gabe Lytle] – Armstrong County

• [Adam Hansen] – Lehigh County

• [Lorianne Burgess] – Beaver County

• [Michael Bagdes-Canning] – Butler County

GPUS Delegates

• [Aiden Williamson] – Philadelphia County

• [Kelly (Kuzemchak) Soni] – Allegheny County (Alternate Delegate Nominaton)

• [Colleen Schmotzer] – Allegheny County

• [Lorianne Burgess] – Beaver County

• [Gabe Lytle] – Armstrong County (Alternate Delegate Nominaton)

• [Abi Hunter] – Allegheny County

GPPA State Committees (GreenWave, Comms, Finance, & Core)

• [Colleen Schmotzer] – Core Team Leader – Allegheny County

• [Barbara Laxon] – Core Team Leader – McKean County

• [Tristan Holland] – Core Team Leader – Montgomery County

• [Theron Gilliland Jr.] – Core Team Leader – Allegheny County

• [Shelby Cunningham] – Core Team Leader – Allegheny County

• [Chris Robinson] – Communications Team Leader – Philadelphia County

• [Theron Gilliland, Jr.] – GreenWave Team Leader – Allegheny County

• [Tony Dastra] – GreenWave Team Leader – Lancaster County

• [Lorianne Burgess] – Core Team Leader – Beaver County

• [Gabriel Schwerer] – GreenWave Team Leader – Allegheny County

• [Wendy Keslick] – Finance Team Leader -  Chester County

• [Kelly (Kuzemchak) Soni] – Finance Team Leader – Allegheny County

GPUS Committees (BAC, Eco-Action, IC, Outreach, PCSC, etc.)

• [Jay Ting Walker] – International Committee – Allegheny County

• [Theron Gilliland Jr.] – Outreach Committee, Platform Committee – Allegheny County

• [Elizabeth Schongar] – Banking and Monetary Reform Committee, Diversity Committee, Platform Committee – Allegheny County

 

Candidate biographies are available here