Mary Jo Huyard knows hard work and family values. It’s been built into her from her youth. One of nine children raised on a dairy farm she spent her childhood rising early to milk cows and bail hay. That farm-bred work ethic would become part of everything she undertook, from raising a family, running a small business, and serving her community.

With deep family roots in Pennsylvania, after they married, Mary Jo and her husband settled into his hometown to raise their family. Her conservative values and love of community meshed easily with Lancaster’s down-to-earth, freedom-loving way of life.

In 2021, she won a seat on the Manheim Township Board of Commissioners where she and her fellow Republicans put public safety and commonsense leadership first. They supported Manheim Township’s police department and first responders, and modernized its Emergency Medical Services, setting up Lancaster County’s first ever public-private partnership between the Township Fire Department and private health-care providers.

Mary Jo also took on a leadership role, chairing Manheim Township’s Republican Committee.

Today, at a time business skills and common sense have gone missing in Harrisburg, Mary Jo Huyard stands as Lancaster County’s best hope for restoring common sense to government and winning back a historically Republican seat for the conservative cause.

The 36th Senatorial District seat is currently held by a Democrat who flipped the seat for the first time in over 100 years of Republican control. Republicans need a strong conservative like Mary Jo who can win this seat if they stand any chance of retaining the party’s Senate majority in November.

“When it comes down to it, an understanding of business, along with Lancaster County values, are what we need right now in Harrisburg,” says Mary Jo. “We need someone who understands that budgets need to be on-time and balanced by thrift, not higher taxes.”

Mary Jo lives in Manheim Township with her husband of 21 years, Wendell, and their four children.

The couple enjoys biking and Mary Jo recently took up golf along with one of the couple’s four children.

The family worships at Calvary Church in Manheim Township.