Alec Ryncavage Explained

Alec Ryncavage
State House:Pennsylvania
District:119th
Term Start:January 3, 2023
Predecessor:Gerald Mullery
Birth Date:27 March 2001
Birth Place:Pennsylvania, U.S.
Party:Republican
Residence:Plymouth, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Alma Mater:Wyoming Valley West High School
Website:repryncavage.com

Alec Joseph Ryncavage[1] (born March 27, 2001) is an American businessman and politician. He is a Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing the 119th District since 2023.

Early life and career

Ryncavage was born on March 27, 2001,[2] [3] in Pennsylvania,[4] to Danielle and David Ryncavage, Sr.[5] He was raised Catholic. While still in junior high school, Ryncavage became a freelance web developer, creating his own anti-virus software at age 14.[6] [7] He later founded his own cybersecurity company, CYBIOT.[8]

Ryncavage graduated from Wyoming Valley West High School in 2019.[9]

Political career

In 2019, Ryncavage ran for a seat on the Borough Council of Plymouth, Pennsylvania. His platform included fiscal conservatism and community revitalization.[10] [11] He won, becoming at age 18 the youngest person ever elected to the council.[12]

In 2022, Ryncavage announced his intention to run for Pennsylvania State Representative from the 119th District and replace retiring State Representative Gerald Mullery. He won the Republican primary election and went on to defeat Democratic candidate Vito Malacari in the general election.[13] [14] At 21 years of age, Ryncavage was the youngest member of the House and the youngest person elected since Michael Cassidy in 1976.[15] [16] In the 2024 election, he won with a two-to-one margin against Democratic challenger Megan Kocher.[17]

Political positions

Ryncavage defines himself as a "moderate Republican" who grew up in a Democratic family in a heavily Democratic hometown.[18]

Abortion

Ryncavage describes himself as "personally pro-life," but according to himself, has "never supported an outright ban on abortion." He supports exceptions to abortion bans for rape, incest, and protecting the life of the mother. He has indicated support for limiting abortions after 16 to 20 weeks of pregnancy as opposed to Pennsylvania's current limit at 24 weeks.[19] Ryncavage opposes late-term abortions and taxpayer-funded abortions.[20]

Criminal justice and policing

Ryncavage opposes defunding the police. When running for Plymouth Borough Council, he voiced support for stricter code enforcement. During his time on council, he advocated for hiring more police officers.[21]

In 2022, Ryncavage supported the passage of the Officer John Wilding Law,[22] which made it a felony should bodily harm come to a law enforcement officer as a result of a suspect fleeing arrest.[23]

Education

Ryncavage supports school choice and advocates for shifting some state funding from schools to individual students to increase access to private schools. He has said, "I'm not advocating for defunding public schools. ... I just think there needs to be a little bit more competition. If you want the quality of education to increase, if you want the price per student cost to decrease, you need to introduce competition."

Elections

Ryncavage supports voter ID and banning no-excuse mail-in ballots. To lessen concerns about voter fraud, Ryncavage opposes the use of ballot drop boxes but does not believe that there have ever been previous instances of mass voter fraud. In 2024, Ryncavage signed a discharge petition that would force a vote in the State House on a proposed amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution that would require voter ID.[24]

He supports the implementation of open primary elections as a way to deter political extremism.[25]

Emergency powers and religious gatherings

In 2024, Ryncavage announced plans to propose legislation permitting religious gatherings during an emergency declaration. The bill came as a response to prohibitions against large public gatherings, including religious services, during the COVID-19 pandemic.[26] [27]

Environmental policy

Ryncavage opposes the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) and is against banning natural gas.

Ryncavage wants more state and federal government cooperation to clean up old mining sites. He also supports tax credits and incentives for private businesses to reclaim mine land.

Gun rights

Ryncavage supports constitutional carry and is a member of the National Rifle Association of America (NRA).[28] He is concerned with red flag laws potentially violating due process.

LGBTQ+

In 2023, Ryncavage and Representative Aaron Kaufer were the only two Republicans in the State House to vote for an LGBTQ+ anti-discrimination bill. He defended his vote, saying the passage of the bill would deter the state government's implementation of more "radical" measures.[29]

Cannabis

Ryncavage supports the legalization of cannabis under a "live and let live" philosophy that "empower[s] individuals to make choices about their own lives, as long as those choices do not harm others," provided the state implements sufficient regulatory system in conjunction. He would also support using cannabis-sourced tax revenue to fund state services.[30]

Taxation

Ryncavage supports the elimination of property taxes and supports expanding the homestead tax exemption; he is willing to offset the loss in revenue by increasing sales tax.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2022 General Election Tuesday, November 8, 2022 Official Returns LUZERNE . electionreturns.pa.gov . Pennsylvania Department of State . 11 January 2023.
  2. Web site: Alec Ryncavage (@alecryncavage) . Twitter . 8 January 2023.
  3. News: Murphy . Jan . Meet the 2023-24 Pa. General Assembly: Diversity, historic firsts and a doc in the House . 3 January 2023 . PennLIVE Patriot-News . Advance Local Media LLC . January 3, 2023.
  4. Web site: Alec Ryncavage . Pennsylvania House of Representatives Archives . 14 January 2023.
  5. News: Buffer . Michael P. . Danielle and David Ryncavage Sr., Alec's parents . 24 April 2023 . The Citizens' Voice . Times-Shamrock . April 17, 2020.
  6. Web site: Meet Alec . AlecForPA . 2 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221111134029/https://www.alecforpa.com/meet-alec . November 11, 2022.
  7. News: Guydish . Mark . 14-year-old business owner becomes first big donor to Wyoming Valley West foundation . 2 December 2022 . Times Leader . September 1, 2015.
  8. News: Carroll . Kevin . Ryncavage seeking GOP nomination in 119th . 2 December 2022 . Times Leader . February 19, 2022.
  9. News: Grohotolski . Cody . Teenager Sworn in as Plymouth Councilman . 2 December 2022 . . January 6, 2020.
  10. News: O'Boyle . Bill . Ryncavage challenges Williams to debates; he accepts . 27 March 2023 . . April 21, 2022.
  11. News: DuPuis . Roger . Teen entrepreneur lands $50K investment for WB tech firm . 27 March 2023 . Times Leader . September 28, 2020.
  12. News: Blackburne . Carolyn . Youngest Borough Council Member Ever Elected in Plymouth . 2 December 2022 . . November 6, 2019.
  13. News: Williams concedes to Ryncavage in state house race . 2 December 2022 . WNEP-TV . May 19, 2022.
  14. News: Carroll . Kevin . Ryncavage, Haddock declare victory in House races . 2 December 2022 . Times Leader . November 8, 2022.
  15. News: Kalinowski . Bob . At 21, Ryncavage will become one of youngest legislators in state history . 17 April 2023 . . . December 28, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221109234151/https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/at-21-ryncavage-will-become-one-of-youngest-legislators-in-state-history/article_f0d155b0-fafa-55c0-ba3f-4d89904b4eba.html . November 9, 2022 . live.
  16. News: Delano . Jon . Young voters in Pennsylvania are voting in larger numbers than ever . 15 April 2023 . . . April 11, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230412030008/https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/young-voters-pennsylvania-voting-larger-numbers/ . April 12, 2023 . live.
  17. News: Kalinowski . Bob . Rep. Ryncavage cruises to victory in 119th District reelection bid . 13 November 2024 . The Citizens' Voice . November 6, 2024.
  18. News: O'Boyle . Bill . DuPuis . Roger . Four vie for spots on Plymouth council . 27 March 2023 . Times Leader . October 31, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191101175426/https://www.timesleader.com/news/760648/four-vie-for-spots-on-plymouth-council . November 1, 2019 . live.
  19. News: Buffer . Michael P. . Candidates for 119th state House seat both claim they're moderates . 17 April 2023 . . . December 28, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221009072041/https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/election/candidates-for-119th-state-house-seat-both-claim-theyre-moderates/article_2229b8a4-63b2-5807-ba9b-a7aec1c7e64b.html . October 9, 2022 . live.
  20. News: O'Boyle . Bill . In 119th Legislative District, it's Malacari versus Ryncavage . 23 December 2022 . Times Leader . October 30, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221223133541/https://www.timesleader.com/news/1582767/in-119th-legislative-district-its-malacari-versus-ryncavage . December 23, 2022.
  21. News: Mataloni . Carmella . Three vie for 119th State House District . 27 March 2023 . WNEP-TV . May 5, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220506030701/https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/luzerne-county/three-vie-for-119th-state-house-district-pa-house-of-representatives-alec-ryncavage-plymouth-borough-tom-williams/523-ec143698-570e-47dc-9afe-1b41243e486f . May 6, 2022 . live.
  22. News: Ryncavage . Alec . Alec Ryncavage: 119th deserves legislator who believes in safe communities . 23 December 2022 . Times Leader . August 6, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220808173946/https://www.timesleader.com/opinion/op-ed/1568900/alec-ryncavage-119th-deserves-legislator-who-believes-in-safe-communities . August 8, 2022 . live.
  23. Web site: 2022 Act 95 . Pennsylvania General Assembly . 23 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221223133526/https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/li/uconsCheck.cfm?yr=2022&sessInd=0&act=95 . December 23, 2022 . live.
  24. News: Capitol digest: State senate approves stricter penalties for threats against schools . 14 April 2024 . The Citizens' Voice . April 14, 2024.
  25. News: Buffer . Michael P. . Candidates debate if family hurts or helps performance as state legislator . 17 April 2023 . . . October 20, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221020080633/https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/candidates-debate-if-family-hurts-or-helps-performance-as-state-legislator/article_c636ee64-17e7-5aeb-83ba-f682489e64b7.html . October 20, 2022 . live.
  26. News: Hall . Taylor . Pa. lawmaker introducing bill to protect right to gather for worship in emergency declarations . 12 January 2024 . WPXI . Cox Media Group . January 3, 2024.
  27. Web site: Ryncavage . Alec . Keep Houses of Worship Open Durning States of Emergency House Co-Sponsorship Memorandum . Pennsylvania General Assembly . 12 January 2024 . January 2, 2024.
  28. Web site: Issues . AlecForPA . 23 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221111134037/https://www.alecforpa.com/issues . November 11, 2022 . live.
  29. News: O'Boyle . Bill . Kaufer, Ryncavage stand by LGBTQ bill vote . 8 May 2023 . Times Leader . May 6, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230507064457/https://www.timesleader.com/news/1607985/kaufer-ryncavage-stand-by-lgbtq-bill-vote . May 7, 2023 . live.
  30. News: O'Boyle . Bill . Area legislators comment on potential legalization of recreational marijuana . 5 October 2023 . Times Leader . September 24, 2023.

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