Bradley Merkl-Gump is a lifelong resident of the district. He lives in Perkasie with his wife Ainsley and their two sons. Bradley’s parents raised him to understand the importance of making positive change in the community. His father volunteered for environmental causes, and his mother was an advocate for people with disabilities. This belief in looking out for others is one of the reasons Bradley became a school teacher. He currently teaches 8th grade history and civics in the Perkiomen Valley School District.

In 2023, Bradley became a voice for his community by running for school board. Pennridge School District - Bradley’s alma mater and where his children go to school - had been taken over by extremists. They banned books, wrote policies targeting vulnerable kids, and even hired a political consultant to rewrite curriculum against an outpouring of parent and staff objections.

With the help of many in his local community, Bradley was part of something incredible. In a district with 6,000 more Republicans than Democrats, Bradley and his slate were elected in a landslide. The results show they built a coalition that included not only Democratic voters who usually stay home in off years, but also Independents and Republicans who crossed the aisle. As a result of these efforts, the Pennridge School Board flipped. In the two years since, Bradley has served as curriculum chair and overseen many positive changes in the district. Just last month, Pennridge High School was ranked 21st in the state!

Now, Bradley is ready to fight for our community again. This time in Harrisburg. The people in Senate District 16 deserve a leader who will prioritize their needs. Bradley believes hardworking Pennsylvanians should be able to put food on their tables. He believes healthcare is a human right, and he believes decisions about reproductive choices should be between a woman and her doctor. Bradley fully supports our public schools, and he would vote to protect our communities from federal overreach.

Bradley is ready to work hard for families in Lehigh and Bucks County. As a candidate, he will knock doors, talk to voters, and build the same coalition that carried him to victory in Pennridge. As your state senator, he could be the tie breaking vote to deliver the trifecta of state leadership needed to pass legislation that can enact real change for Pennsylvanians.