Franklin County voters will decide who represents Pennsylvania’s 13th congressional district in the House of Representatives on Nov. 3. Republican Rep. John Joyce is seeking re-election, opposed by Democratic nominee Beth Farnham.
Joyce was elected to Congress in 2018 and has served since. An Altoona native, Joyce attended Penn State and earned his M.D. from Temple University. He became board-certified in internal medicine and dermatology.
Joyce served in the United States Navy during Desert Storm at Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Virginia. Afterward, he founded Altoona Dermatology Associates with his wife, Dr. Alice Plummer Joyce.
Farnham previously ran against Joyce in 2024. She grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, and was the first in her immediate family to graduate from college, earning a degree in biology, French and secondary education.
Farnham is a stay-at-home parent and describes herself as an everyday American, having worked as a credit analyst, an administrative assistant, a pharmacy technician and served as a school board member. She currently resides in Adams County with her family.
Joyce campaign highlights
Joyce’s campaign highlights affordable healthcare, conservative values, economic growth and the defense of constitutional rights.
In an interview with WJAC 6 News, Joyce identified rising healthcare costs, particularly prescription drug prices, as Central Pennsylvania’s most pressing issue.
He said, “…but the cost of medicine, the access to care; these are important issues that I have worked on since day one in Washington, and I will continue to work addressing these issues if I am elected to continue to serve.”
This summer, Joyce joined other members of Congress in introducing the Patients First Act to reform Medicare fee schedules, curb rising costs in rural areas and improve seniors’ access to care, which remains in the legislative process.
Joyce supports farmers and the agricultural sector. He reintroduced the DAIRY PRIDE Act to strengthen labeling standards and prevent misleading marketing, and he advocated for federal aid for fruit growers affected by this year’s crop freeze.
Rising energy costs and data centers are straining Pennsylvania’s energy supply, according to Joyce, so he recently supported the Ratepayer Protection Act to prevent data centers from shifting those costs onto residents and customers.
He also introduced the SECURE Data Act, which would set federal data privacy standards and let Americans keep control of their personal data.
Farnham campaign highlights
Farnham’s campaign prioritizes protecting democracy, affordability, reproductive freedom, gun control, universal healthcare access and immigration reform.
Farnham pledges to uphold the U.S. Constitution and hold those in power accountable when they break the law. A former Republican, she criticizes the Trump administration for freezing federal program funding, imposing tariffs on allies and waging war in Iran, among other issues.
“… I will do everything in my power to protect your sacred right to vote, continue the necessary operation of our government and be a voice for us because I love my country,” a statement from her campaign site read.
Affordable, accessible healthcare is a key priority for Farnham, and she aims to advocate for a nondiscriminatory national healthcare program, should she be elected.
She highlighted the area’s shortage of maternal health services: WellSpan’s Waynesboro hospital closed its labor and delivery unit, while WellSpan Chambersburg stopped admitting pediatric patients for a period in 2023.
“In other words, children in Franklin County who need ongoing care must seek it in another county of Pennsylvania or across the state line into Maryland.”
Reproductive freedom is another priority for her. She supports abortion, birth control and gender-affirming care and believes these medical decisions should remain private. “Only when we have agency over our own bodies are we free to create the families we choose.”
Farnham also seeks to make life more affordable by raising the federal minimum wage, scaling back tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy and expanding affordable housing to ease rising living costs.
“Please vote for me, Beth Farnham, on Nov. 3rd, 2026, so that I can put everyday Americans first and billionaires last.”
