News & Events

State Rep Helen Tai presents $1 Million check for the construction of STEM classrooms to Tom Kardish, Head of  Villa Joseph Marie High School

Upcoming Fundraisers / Events

• Saturday, October 13, 10 AM & 1 PM -
  • Joint Canvass with Wallace & Davis Campaigns in Northampton (132 Mallard Road, Holland)
  • Joint Canvass with Move-on, Wallace & Santarsiero Campaigns in New Hope from Helen Tai Campaign Office (409 W. Bridge Street, behind Jamie Hollander)
  • Canvass or Phone Bank at Helen Tai Campaign Office.
  • Or come to either location between 10 AM - 4 PM. More information and sign up here.
• October 11 - Fundraiser in Wrightstown
• October 21 - Fundraiser Party in Upper Makefield
• October 24 - Fundraiser at the fabulous bulthaup studio/Lema Studio in Philadelphia

Historic Election Results

Helen Tai won the Special Election on May 15! 

Unofficial Results

This historic win was a result of strong support from Democrats, Republicans and Independents who voted for commonsense solutions such as balancing the budget, funding public education and commonsense gun safety laws.

Helen will be sworn in on June 5 and serving the residents of the 178th for the next 6 months. At the same time she will be running on November 6 for a full two-year term.
 
Our victory was featured in several news stories:

• CNN
• The Hill
• Philly Inquirer
• Politics PA
• The Daily Beast

A video of her election-night speech is posted here

Helen Tai Receives Endorsement for State Representative from Vice President Joe Biden in the May 15 Special Election

SOLEBURY TWP, May 7 – Vice President Joe Biden endorsed Helen Tai to represent state House District 178 in the May 15 special election today, citing Tai’s experience as a business leader and her commitment to transparency and good government.

“Helen Tai is uniquely qualified to put state government back in the hands of Pennsylvanians,” Biden said. “Helen has successfully worked with companies and organizations to innovate, improve, and succeed. I know Helen will use these skills to bring greater transparency and fiscal sense to Harrisburg as she has on the Solebury board of supervisors.”

Biden added that he is getting involved in state house races like the special election in the 178th because state legislatures are just as important as the federal. 

“State legislatures have a direct and substantial impact on our daily lives and we need to make sure we are paying just as much attention to the action in the State House as we do to the chambers of Congress.” 

Tai was extremely honored and grateful upon learning of Biden’s endorsement of her campaign.

“I am thankful to have the endorsement of Vice President Joe Biden, a public servant who knows Pennsylvania and has a strong record of working to reform government,” Tai said. “I will fight in Harrisburg as Vice President Biden has in Washington to ensure everyone has the opportunity to succeed.”

More information about Helen Tai can be found by visiting www.helentai.com. 

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PennEnvironment Announces Endorsements for Spring 2018 Primary Elections

Contact: David Masur, (215) 732-5897 ext. 109

For Immediate Release

Thursday, April 26, 2018

[Philadelphia, PA] -- Today PennEnvironment announced its slate of environmental endorsements for Pennsylvania’s spring 2018 primary election, including endorsements for U.S. House of Representatives, state House and state Senate.  
 
“While voters are barraged with mailers and campaign advertisements in election season, PennEnvironment’s endorsements are meant to serve as a tool to help Pennsylvanians know how to cast the best environmental vote when they go to the ballot,” stated PennEnvironment Executive Director, David Masur. “We believe that these endorsements in critical races across the Commonwealth will help voters know which candidates are truly the cream of the crop when it comes to protect our environment and public health on Election Day.” 
 
“These environmental champions will help safeguard our environment for all Pennsylvanians,” Masur noted. “PennEnvironment’s endorsements will help voters know who will which candidates will lead the transition to 100% renewable energy, work to solve climate change, stand up to the frackers and their lobbyists, and protect Pennsylvania’s great outdoors.”
 
PennEnvironment is announcing the following federal congressional endorsements:
● Brendan Boyle (2nd Congressional District, Philadelphia)
● Matt Cartwright (8th Congressional District, Scranton and northeastern PA)
● Mike Doyle (18th Congressional District, Allegheny County)
● Dwight Evans (3rd Congressional District, Philadelphia & Montgomery County)
 
PennEnvironment also announced the following General Assembly endorsements:
 
Allegheny County 
House Dist. 21:Sara Innamorato, challenger
House Dist. 34: Summer Lee, challenger
 
Bucks County
House Dist. 178: Helen Tai, special election
 
Lackawanna County
House Dist. 112: Kyle Mullins, open seat
 
Montgomery County
Senate Dist. 4: Art Haywood, incumbent
 
Philadelphia
House Dist. 184: Elizabeth Fiedler, open 
House Dist. 175: Mike O’Brien, incumbent
House Dist. 200: Chris Rabb, incumbent
House Dist. 188: Jim Roebuck, incumbent
House Dist. 182: Brian Sims, incumbent
 
PennEnvironment is informing its more than 130,000 supporters and the general public about the endorsements and candidates’ positions, and is urging voters to support their endorsed candidates on the May 15th ballot.
 
“Poll after poll shows that Pennsylvanians care deeply about protecting the state’s environment and public health—and they expect the same from their elected officials,” remarked Masur.  
 
“At PennEnvironment, we know that we’ll never be able to compete with the deep pockets of the polluters, who have high-powered lobby firms, make millions in campaign contributions and run glitzy ad campaigns,” noted Masur. “So while we can’t go dollar-for-dollar with the polluters, we know we can go vote-for-vote with them because Pennsylvanians from all walks of life want clean air, clean water and to protect the natural heritage of the Commonwealth.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 19, 2018

Contact: David Burd – (914) 552-3660, david@ascendpac.com

Ascend PAC announces endorsement of Helen Tai

Washington D.C. – Ascend PAC, a political action committee focused on investing in emerging, local, Democratic candidates, announced Thursday their endorsement of Helen Tai running for State Representative in Pennsylvania’s District 178.

“Helen Tai is a proven leader we're excited to support as she seeks to take her next step in public office,” said David Burd, Co-Founder of Ascend. “Among the most charismatic candidates we have met during this process, Helen is a business consultant and small business owner by trade, and has served for the past four years as Solebury Township Supervisor. There, she helped move that body from a 4-1 Republican majority when she joined to a 5-0 Democratic majority today, and has led on critical issues such as keeping the town's water clean and safe. She continues to be an active member of her community, running a martial arts studio with her husband and serving as a volunteer and mentor with several organizations. Helen is running in a special election on primary day, seeking to flip a seat held by Republicans for the past 34 years in a swing district outside Philadelphia – a seat critical to Democrats' chances of taking back the Pennsylvania House. We are thrilled to stand with Helen – and excited to see where she goes from here.”

“I’m honored to receive this endorsement from Ascend,” said Tai. “With the help of Ascend and many others, I plan to take my business skills to Harrisburg to fix our state government.”

Tai joins a slate of five impressive candidates hailing from the group’s target states, which now includes Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Texas -- with this being the first year they are investing in Pennsylvania. She represents the kind of dynamic, talented leaders that are the focus of Ascend PAC’s work. These endorsements follow on the heels of an an incredibly successful 2017 election cycle that featured eight out of twelve victories, including wins for all five of their endorsed candidates for the Virginia House of Delegates.

Ascend PAC is a 527 political action committee aimed at identifying and providing financial support to emerging Democratic candidates running for local office, including school board, city council, mayor, and state legislature. Ascend takes an investor-oriented, future-focused approach to identifying and supporting the next generation of talent, and creating a deep bench of effective policymakers.

April 17, 2018

I am extremely honored to receive the endorsement of Emily's List. They have been with me since the start of my campaign and their guidance has been invaluable. I especially want to thank Mary Bell, who always finds the time to talk with me and gives me consistently wise counsel.

April 16, 2018

I am pleased to receive the endorsement of Conservation Voters of PA as well as SEIU - PA. As many of you know, protecting the environment and workers' rights are two of the key issues that are most important to me.

April 4, 2018 

Thank you to MoveOn for their endorsement. I am thrilled to receive the endorsement of MoveOn, a membership organization that has been working for years toward many of the same goals that I share, including ensuring quality health care and fair and equitable pay for all.

Here is an excerpt of the email announcement they sent out:

Dear Pennsylvania MoveOn member,

The results are in: With 98% of votes cast in favor, MoveOn members have voted to endorse Helen Tai for Pennsylvania Legislative District 178. 

Helen Tai is a dedicated public servant fighting for all Pennsylvanians. As chair of the Board of Supervisors of Solebury Township, she has demonstrated leadership and shown a commitment to fighting for environmental protections, affordable healthcare, and equitable funding for education.

Helen is running in the upcoming special election on May 15, 2018 for state representative in Legislative District 178. Helen is an active MoveOn member and has long supported progressive candidates. Now, as a progressive candidate herself, she is stepping up to be a powerful voice for public schools, fair and equitable pay for all workers, and commonsense gun laws. Her work advocating for gun control earned her the 'Gun Sense' candidate distinction from Moms Demand Action-Bucks County, and Helen will continue that same fight in the state legislature.

There are more than 1,200 MoveOn members in Pennsylvania's 178th Legislative District. Here are just a few reasons some local MoveOn members are supporting Helen:

"Helen Tai has been an outstanding member of the Solebury supervisors and was instrumental in turning the board to blue. She is intelligent, fair, and honest, and stands for the right causes - gun control, clean environment, good schools, etc. Helen is an exceptional person running for office, I think this is the first time I truly see her motive for running for office is to serve her country, and PA. I know this sounds flowery, but it is true. You definitely should endorse her. I think you guys are doing a wonderful job. Keep it up. Let's turn the country blue."—Harriet from New Hope

"We need to take back the House in PA, and Helen would be a great person to help do that. She's been doing a great job on the Solebury Board of Supervisors. She's been a really effective activist for the environment, even before she was a supervisor. She's a smart, capable woman of color and would help the House better represent the diversity of PA."—RaeAnne from New Hope

"She stands with MoveOn against Trump. She is for strong gun laws to protect innocent people. She is a strong defender of the environment. Pennsylvania has the smallest number of women of almost every other legislature in the country. She will stand up strongly for women's rights and voter rights. She is a tireless worker who is organized and competent. We have a good chance to put a strong, liberal women in a seat that has been in Republican hands since the early 80's. She needs and deserves your help."—Jay from Carversville

"I've met Helen Tai. Her heart and her history and her story are all in the right place. I'm now a volunteer with her campaign. She's a good candidate, and she's good for Pennsylvania."—Holly from Furlong

"Helen Tai exhibits a code of ethics and moral fortitude that is not seen in many others who run for political office. She has exhibited these by her actions as a supervisor and as chairperson of the Board of Supervisors of Solebury Township. Her determined pursuit of a local issue by clearly defining the problem and then reporting the results to the populace underline her integrity."—David from New Hope

As you know, all politics is local. If we want qualified, progressive elected leaders such as Helen Tai in higher office, we also need to support qualified state and local candidates. Join Helen Tai's grassroots campaign today.

Thanks for all you do.
–Lisa, Mark, Gabby, Milan, and the rest of the team

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Christy Setzer 617-512-7572
christy@newheightscommunications.com
Thursday, March 15, 2018

ON HEELS OF LAMB WIN IN PA, O’MALLEY’S “WIN BACK YOUR STATE” PAC ROLLS OUT 1ST ROUND OF CANDIDATE ENDORSEMENTS

Endorsements for down-ballot Dems in CA, FL, IA, MI, MD, NV, PA
Washington, DC— Less than 48 hours after Democrat Conor Lamb pulled off a win in a congressional district President Trump won by 20 points, “Win Back Your State” PAC, the effort from former Maryland Governor and 2016 presidential candidate Martin O’Malley, announced a round of endorsements for down-ballot candidates from the state house level up to the gubernatorial level.

These Win Back Your State PAC “New Leadership” candidates will receive:
 Win Back Your State’s help in recruiting, connecting with and training potential campaign staff;
 a donation of least $1,000 from the PAC;
 promotion of their candidacy on the Win Back Your State website, email list and social media;
 Gov. O’Malley to campaign on their behalf.

“Like shoots of green sprouting up after a devastating forest fire, Democrats have been running for state and local offices all over the United States, and winning. Teachers and veterans, first-time candidates who are working hard to change America. I want to help them succeed,” said O’Malley, who contends that recent Democratic upsets in deep-red states including Alabama, Montana, Kansas and Georgia are “the clearest evidence yet of America returning to its true self.”

Win Back Your State launched in November 2017. In 2017, O’Malley campaigned in 21 states on behalf of state and local candidates. Prior to his run for President, O’Malley spent more than two decades working to improve states and localities as a local and statewide elected official, and as Chair of the Democratic Governors Association.
Win Back Your State’s “Green Shoots” candidates are:

Kate Marshall, Running for NV Lieutenant Governor
Andrew Martin, Running for NV Treasurer
Tatiana Matta, Running for CA 23rd Congressional District
Nate Boulton, Running for IA Governor
State Rep. Winnie Brinks, Running for MI 29th State Senate District
Calvin Ball, Running for Howard County (MD) Executive
Javier Fernandez, Running for Florida 114th State House District
Helen Tai, Running for PA 178th State House District

Last month, Win Back Your State endorsed and Gov. O’Malley campaigned for Conor Lamb, who on Wednesday morning was declared the winner in his bid for Pennsylvania’s 18th Congressional District. Also in February, O’Malley personally campaigned and raised money for the campaigns of Margaret Good, whose surprise win in a Florida House District won by Trump in 2016 gave Democrats their 36th flipped state legislature seat since Trump’s election as President, and Kenan Judge, running for a State Senate seat in Iowa.
In 2018, there are 36 Governors’ offices and statehouses up for grabs, with redistricting to occur in 2020.

“Now is the time to win back our states and take back our country,” said O’Malley.

Find out more about the endorsed candidates and Win Back Your State PAC at www.winbackyourstate.org.

March 14, 2018
Helen Tai receives Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Distinction

We are happy to inform you that your campaign has been given the Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate distinction.  Thank you again for standing up for gun violence prevention and recognizing gun safety. 

Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America is a grassroots movement of Americans fighting for new and stronger solutions to lax gun laws and loopholes. Since its inception after the tragedy at Sandy Hook School, Moms Demand Action has established a chapter in every state of the country and, along with Mayors Against Illegal Guns and the Everytown Survivor Network, is part of Everytown for Gun Safety, the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country with more than four million supporters.

Attached to this email you will find the official Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate logo. Please feel free to use the Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate distinction and logo on your campaign website and printed materials to demonstrate to voters and volunteers that you stand for common sense gun safety.  

Please note however, being a Gun Sense Candidate should not be considered a formal endorsement from Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund and multiple candidates running in the same race may receive the Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate distinction.  

Also attached here is gun violence prevention messaging and background on state and local gun violence prevention issues - to support how your campaign talks about gun safety.  Further resources can be found on our website: Learn More about GVP, Everytown in the News, GVP Research and Resources.

As the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country, Everytown for Gun Safety’s tens of thousands of volunteers, hundreds of thousand of donors and millions of supporters are dedicated to common sense reforms that protect the 2nd Amendment and also make our communities safer.

Thank you for standing with us against gun violence. Together, we look forward to showing that Gun Sense is a winning issue and gun safety is non-negotiable.

If you have any further questions about the Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate distinction or attachments, please email StatesGunSenseCandidate@everytown.org.

Press Release: Solebury, Pennsylvania, January 24, 2018

Solebury Resident Helen Tai Named the Democratic Nominee for State Representative of Pennsylvania’s 178th Legislative District in the Special Election on May 15

The Committee to Elect Helen Tai announced today that the Pennsylvania Democratic Party has nominated Tai as its candidate for state representative of Pennsylvania’s 178th district.  A special election will be held on May 15 to fill the unexpired term of Republican Scott Petri, who recently resigned as the state legislator for the 178th district.  The term ends November 30. [Note: the term end date was previously incorrectly indicated as December 31.]

In addition to her four years of public service as a Solebury Township Supervisor and current board chair, Tai brings 30 years of business experience to her candidacy.  Ten years ago she founded Enabling Innovation, LLC, a consulting firm that uses proven business improvement methodologies to help organizations drive transformational innovation.  Previously she was with the Consumer Products Division of Johnson & Johnson, Inc. where she coached senior management in developing and implementing business vision, mission, and strategies, and led global process improvement projects.

“At the state level, I will employ the same collaborative skills and tried and true business approaches that I’ve used successfully to address local issues, particularly keeping our water clean and safe and eliminating government waste,” said Tai. 

Tai also pointed out, “Last November several local races were extremely competitive, so it’s critical that voters from New Hope as well as Northampton, Solebury, Upper Makefield and Wrightstown Townships vote on May 15 to make their voices heard.”

Tai will also be running in the primary election on the same day as the special election. While the special election determines who fills the term through the end of the year, the primary election determines which Democratic candidate is on the ballot in November.  

With a fourth degree black belt in the martial art of aikido, Tai and her husband cofounded Fearless Heart Aikido in New Hope, where they teach their students the philosophy and wisdom of aikido. Additionally, she is a long-time Penn State Master Gardener volunteer, in which she educates the public about best practices in sustainable horticulture and environmental stewardship.

Tai earned her bachelor of science in statistics from the University of Michigan and a masters of arts in statistics from Penn State.  She and her husband sculptor John McDevitt reside in Solebury.   

More information about Helen’s candidacy is available at www.HelenTai.com and about her Solebury public service at www.HelenTaiSolebury.com.

Media Contact:
John McDevitt, Chair of Committee to Elect Helen Tai
267-337-1818