By Gabbie Burton
Contributing Writer

Madelyn Alvarino, a candidate for the 13th Legislative District in the Pennsylvania State House, hosted a campaign kickoff event at Old Stone Cider on Tuesday, March 17. The St. Patrick’s Day-themed fundraiser saw about 130 attendees come out in support of the democratic candidate running against the longtime incumbent, Republican State Rep. John Lawrence. 

Alvarino, a mother of two who currently resides in Lincoln University, spoke at the event to explain her motivations for running for office. 

“My focus will be simple: affordability, opportunity, sustainability,” Alvarino said. “That means raising the minimum wage, fair funding for public education, lowering health care costs and increasing access and protecting our open spaces and working farms, so the 13th stays beautiful and prosperous for the next generation. And that's just the beginning of the tip of the iceberg.” 

Alvarino, a daughter of immigrants herself, also mentioned protecting immigrant neighborhoods, defending elections and safeguarding democracy as some of her additional goals.

“I care, I want to help and I feel our government should represent us,” Alvarino said. “I’m beyond grateful for our little blue dot in a sea of red. It's so validating and uplifting.” 

In her speech addressed to the attendees representing that little blue dot, Alvarino shared some feelings about her opponent’s current work in the position of state representative.

“My opponent likes to shrug his shoulders and say Harrisburg is broken,” she said in her speech. “Well, I've got news for him, fixing Harrisburg is literally his job, and if he can't do the job I say step aside.”

Randy Hull, a committee person for the OxGrove Democrats and a former 40-year Republican, echoed these sentiments in his comments on Alvarino’s campaign. 

“When her opponent says Harrisburg is broken, she doesn't accept that,” Hull said. “He’s served 8 terms. Why hasn’t he fixed that? I believe she will.” 

In her speech, Molly Wood, another committee person for the OxGrove Democrats, added her thoughts on flipping the 13th district in favor of Alvarino. 

“In my view, it is time for us here in the 13th to have somebody who truly represents us, all the people in this district, someone who will advocate for affordability, opportunity and sustainability for our communities and be our voice in Harrisburg,” Wood said. “That person is Madelyn.”

While a distaste for Lawrence’s performance in the role was shared among many in the crowd, the evening was also spent on celebrating Alvarino and connecting with supporters. 

Richard Ruggieri, a former candidate for the position in the 2020 election and current committee person with the OxGrove Democrats, shared his feelings on political advocacy and supporting Alvarino’s campaign.

“With the current trajectory the country is on, you feel compelled to correct it,” Ruggieri said. “I’m here for Madelyn because we need good democrats in Harrisburg.” 

Moving forward in her campaign, Alvarino said she will be in “listening mode,” focusing on outreach including to independent and Republican voters. However, Alvarino also gave her thoughts on party unity among Democrats especially appealing to younger democratic voters who lean farther left.

“I think what has to happen is that young people have to start running for these positions and getting politically active,” Alvarino said. “But it’s not lost on me that [young people] are all working three jobs.” 

Alvarino and Lawrence have less than two months before primary elections and about seven months left of campaigning before voters will ultimately decide who will win the seat in the general election in November.

In her concluding comment, Alvarino shared what she wants voters to know most about her and her campaign.

“I'm not a politician,” she said. “I'm a regular person, a mom, a wife, and I think that we all want basically the same things and that we need to come back together as Americans. I think the culture war issues have been purposely weaponized to divide us, and it's time for us to get beyond all of that and come back together as Americans.”