Centre County campaign contributions and spending: See candidates’ money sources & costs
Centre County’s three incumbent state house members entered primary day Tuesday in enviable financial positions, each with tens of thousands of dollars in their accounts. The combined hauls of their challengers, however, were about equal to two months’ rent in State College.
Kerry Benninghoff vs. John Zangari
State Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, a top House Republican, raised the most in the four months preceding the primary at $33,500. Benninghoff, whose district includes Centre County’s eastern horn and part of Mifflin County, was mostly bankrolled by political action committees. The representative’s top donor was Operators for Skill, the political action committee associated with skill games distributor Pace-O-Matic, with whom Benninghoff has a yearslong relationship.
Benninghoff’s only reported individual donors were consultant LeRoy D. Kline of Mechanicsburg and Bobby Rahal Automotive executives Rolen and Patricia Ferris, each cutting $2,500 checks. The 15-term incumbent enters the general election stretch with $121,000 to spare.
Benninghoff’s Democratic opponent in the 171st District, John Zangari, raised $2,900. Most of that came from local Democratic officials and candidates, and it was the largest total reported for a non-incumbent in Centre County’s races.
“I’ll be honest, we really didn’t focus a ton on fundraising right off the bat,” Zangari said. “These folks don’t even necessarily know me, the last thing I want to do is immediately start begging for money.”
Zangari spent about 82% of what he raised, largely on office supplies and printing. He said many of his materials were more expensive because he bought from local, unionized retailers.
Benninghoff did not respond to a message seeking comment.
Paul Takac vs. Kirsten Lee McTernan
Slightly to the west, Democratic state Rep. Paul Takac took home the second-highest haul of the local candidates, at $32,500. His donors skewed heavily toward Penn State academics and administrators, while his political action committee donors were a mix of labor, lobbyists and the aforementioned Operators for Skill.
Takac’s Republican opponent in the 82nd District, Kirsten McTernan, reported a single donation: $1,000 from Tara Bisbee of Boalsburg. She enters general election season with $862, while Takac’s cash-on-hand is $61,000.
Takac and McTernan did not respond to messages seeking comment.
Scott Conklin vs. Michelle Schellberg
In State College’s western suburbs and the Moshannon Valley, the Democratic incumbent sat out the first quarter of the year, yet came out far ahead.
“I don’t need to raise a lot of money, even though my district looks on paper that it could be very competitive,” said the incumbent, state Rep. Scott Conklin. “I’ve been very fortunate that I have a group of constituents that trust in me.”
Conklin reported a single $100 donation, but has $30,000 in the bank from past fundraising. Michelle Schellberg, the county GOP chair challenging him in the 77th District, reported $1,950 in contributions. More than half of that came from Bruce Helms, a Halfmoon Township supervisor.
Schellberg didn’t report spending a dime, but noted about $600 in unpaid debt to UPS and the artificial intelligence company that generated her website. She did not respond to a request for comment.
Neither Benninghoff nor Conklin have faced a meaningful challenge in years. Takac, whose seat is the most competitive, won reelection in 2024 by eight points despite strong headwinds against his party.
Illustration sources, clockwise from top left: Abby Drey / Centre Daily Times; Abby Drey / Centre Daily Times; Abby Drey / Centre Daily Times; courtesy of Kirsten McTernan; courtesy of John Zangari; Abby Drey / Centre Daily Times
This story was originally published May 19, 2026 at 4:49 PM.
