Beth Farnham explains why she is running for congress

Editors’s Note: The following is an interview with Adams County resident Beth Farnham, who is running for the U.S. House of Representatives to represent Pennsylvania’s 13th Congressional District in 2026. Many Thanks to Waynesboro High School Junior Alex Cabrera for the report.

Alex Cabrera:
”When did you first believe that you should run for U.S. Congress?”

Beth Farnham: “That was actually in October of 2022 when I had discovered that our Democratic candidate had dropped out. And I thought, you know what? 
I’m doing this. It was a write-in campaign so I spray painted signs, 
I put myself out there, I called up the newspapers, and I said, “Look, this is me.“

Alex Cabrera: “You were a Republican for about 20 or so years. You now call yourself a proud Democrat.
What made you switch parties and how much did the Trump election affect that decision?“ 

“What a great question you know that? I really appreciate it. So, all my life, I was from a family, one side Republican and one side, I’m going to call them Dixiecrats. And they weren’t that democratic. I grew up thinking that, you know, the Republicans stood for lower taxes and public education as a net good. I believed in what George H.W. Bush had to bring to our country. I voted for Bob Dole. I voted for George W. 
Bush And then Trump came in,
and I was like, “oh, not that guy.” He (Trump) doesn’t represent us. He doesn’t represent the Constitution. He doesn’t represent what we stand for. Obviously, it was Trump versus Clinton. So we did our homework, and there she was, really confident, really caring. He (Trump) was not reflecting diversity, equity, and inclusion. And then she lost. And I was just in grief. 
And I didn’t know that I would feel that way. I was like, literally wearing black. And so by January, I was talking to Democratic friends. I was like, what are you knitting there? And she goes, “Oh, it’s a pink pussy hat.” 
And I was like, what’s that?” And she said, well, you know, the women’s March,” And I was like, “Womens March.” And it started to resonate with me, too. 
Oh, and you have to understand, I didn’t just vote for Clinton. 
I voted for every Democrat because I couldn’t find a Republican who didn’t back Trump.“ 

Cabrera: “In the past you’ve referred to Joyce as “an evil clown” and a “slobbering sycophant”. What do you say to republican voters whose votes you need to earn?“

Farnham: “I stand by my words. Trump is a threat to democracy, peace, and national security. By supporting him Joyce supports racism, sexism, and authoritarianism.

I understand the power of right-wing propaganda, but silence in the face of these issues is anti-American.“

Cabrera: “Affordability is a really big issue right now. It seems like you’ve made it an essential issue in your campaign, what do you think we should do to slow price increases?“

Farnham: “I had to. It’s been democracy and reproductive freedom, and I’ll never back down from that. And it’s also been gun safety. But I’ve had to add affordability because we are becoming very adversely affected by the higher costs of living.

In fact, I just saw a report today. It’s not anything super official, but it’s a paycheck that someone does every year between October and November to check people about how comfortable they feel spending Christmas and how much they’re going to spend.

Until this year, the biggest year of discomfort was 2008, when the recession and mortgage crisis hit. But this year overwhelms that statistic. People are conservative because things cost so much more now.

Our groceries are higher. Consumer dry goods are higher. There are a variety of reasons for this. One is Trump tariffs. When he decided to impose these tariffs without economic advisors, he imposed higher prices on the American people.

Then we’ve got this demonizing of undocumented immigrants who pick our food. That workforce is not nearly as strong, and food that is picked is more costly.

Then we have the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which Representative Joyce, a multimillionaire, voted for—not once, but twice—which takes away subsidies for the Affordable Care Act. People’s healthcare costs are going to skyrocket—like 114%, and that’s conservative.

Some people will experience far greater costs. And so, if we don’t have democracy, we don’t have reproductive freedom, affordability, or gun safety. Affordability has to be addressed.

We need representatives in Congress who enact legislation that benefits everyday Americans—hardworking families, veterans, retirees on fixed incomes, union members, students, young adults starting out—rather than kowtowing to billionaires.“

Cabrera: “You mentioned immigration a couple times. What do you think of the federal handling of deportations, and where should we go forward on this issue?“

Farnham: “Great question. If you are on U.S. soil, you are under U.S. jurisdiction. The only exceptions are foreign diplomats, sovereigns, and foreign armies.

Everyone else—including undocumented immigrants—is under U.S. jurisdiction and entitled to equal protection under the law, including due process.

There is no constitutional mechanism for the president to direct ICE to pick people up off the streets without due process. When Americans allow that to happen to “them,” they are allowing it to happen to everyone. That cannot stand.“

Cabrera: “You’ve said you’re a proponent of universal healthcare, which would be a very progressive change from our current system. How do you pitch that to voters?

First, people ask about cost. Billionaires, millionaires, and corporations are not paying their fair share of taxes. We need a broader tax base.

Universal healthcare cuts costs for everyday Americans and emphasizes preventative care, which reduces future costs. Vaccination is preventative care. When people avoid disease, they experience better health.

Without access to healthcare, small problems escalate into catastrophic outcomes. Universal healthcare addresses physical and mental healthcare. For pregnant women, the biggest killer is mental health issues.

People should have access to mental healthcare so they don’t harm themselves. That matters.“

Cabrera: “You mentioned gun control. About 50% of Americans have a gun at home. What restrictions would you like to see?“

Farnham: “I believe in responsible gun ownership. My family has guns.

That means universal background checks, reporting lost or stolen guns, safe storage, and extreme risk protection orders. Responsible owners already do these things.

Many guns used in urban violence come from rural areas where guns aren’t stored responsibly. If you keep losing guns, you’re not responsible.

Gun violence is the number one killer of U.S. children. We need to look at the full data, not cherry-picked stories.“Alex Cabrera: “On your website and in previous interviews, you’ve mentioned a lot about “reproductive freedom”, if elected, what policies do you think the U.S. Should Congress enact on the issue?“

Farnham “Of course. That’s an excellent question. So, the 28th Amendment has been ratified. Now, it wasn’t ratified in a particular time frame, but it is not discriminating on the basis of sex. And so what we need is the Constitution published with that ratified amendment now. That, to me, is paramount, because once you have that published, then all other laws can be based off of that. And so, of course, you wouldn’t want any law that interferes on the basis of sex with someone’s own agency over their own body. I have always been a pro-choice Republican, so maybe that’s a little bit—maybe that’s why it was also easier for me. But I’ve always believed in the freedom to make decisions about our own bodies, and no one should come between us and the medical professionals we consult. And certainly not some legislator. These are private decisions, not for anyone else to make. And if we can’t make decisions about our own bodies, if we cannot create the families we choose, we are not truly free. That freedom—that bodily agency—is baked into the freedom that we talk about when we talk about being free. So I believe it starts with the 28th Amendment being published in the Constitution, and it has to start with that.“

Cabrera: “Do you think if it were to come to a vote on the federal level, there should be a limit, like by trimester or anything like that, for abortion?“

Farnham: “Yes. I do believe in viability. And most doctors too—you’re not going to have a doctor, a real doctor, a real licensed doctor who cares about their Hippocratic oath, who would ever consider—because you can’t—you can’t have an abortion after viability.

Abortion does mean death of the fetus, so if you can kill someone who breathes air, then that is murder. That’s not abortion. That’s murder. And this is also supported by my biblical understanding. The Bible understands life begins at first breath.

So I believe in viability. And if you’re able to take that first breath—even if you need help with a respirator or oxygen—if you are breathing, then no, there’s no surgical or chemical abortion to be had.“

Cabrera: “In 2024, you ran against Joyce, receiving about 25% of the vote. Our district is 70% republican by registration and the “reddest” in Pennsylvania. What’s your electoral goal? 

It’s always to win. I’m proud of the 104,000 votes I received. Registration doesn’t dictate how people vote. Republicans are free to vote Democrat, just like I did.

I show up. I hold public town halls. My opponent didn’t. My campaign is bigger and stronger than ever.“

Cabrera: “On the campaign, tell me about your efforts and how you’re being recieved. 

Very positive. People feel the pinch of affordability. They’re worried about healthcare, food prices, national security, and democracy. They’re engaging, volunteering, and following the campaign. There’s growing energy, and I’m proud to lead it.“

Cabrera: “You attend the Presbyterian Church of Gettysburg, How do you think that faith shaped your perspective on politics?“ 


Farnham: “Absolutely. Thank you for asking me that.I’m actually very, very devout, but I believe more as a red letter Christian that I internalize more of the teachings. So, you know, the way it extends to politics is that, you know, of course we should feed the hungry. Of course, we should help the poor, heal the sick, and welcome the stranger. 
So, of course, these things extend to, you know, snap benefits should be available to all who need it, and we should never, never vote for anything that would ever, take that away from them. Healthcare should be accessible and affordable. And so I believe we should have universal healthcare.“ 

Cabrera: “Polls show over 70% of Americans think the country is going in the wrong direction. On unity, where should we go as a country?“

“ Diversity, equity, and inclusion made us great. We need unity, not demonization. Christianity should be used to help the poor, heal the sick, and welcome the stranger.“

“We must find common ground and uphold democracy.”

Cabrera: “Is there anything else you’d like to add?”

Farnham: “Please visit my website, BethFarnhamForCongress.com. You can learn more and donate there.”