Aaron Kaufer
Aaron D. Kaufer (born July 11, 1988) is an American politican currently serving as member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in the 120th district. Early life and education. Kaufer was born on July 11, 1988 in Kingston, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Wyoming Valley West Senior High School in 2007 and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in government and law, international affairs from Lafayette College in 2011. Political career. Kaufer first ran for state representative in 2012 against the then-incumbent Mundy, losing 56% to 43%. He ran again and was elected for the first time on  November 4, 2014, defeating Democrat Eileen Cipriani with 56% of the vote; Representative Phyllis Mundy had previously announced her retirement. Kaufer was reelected in 2016 with 68% of the vote against Democrat Robert McDonald. He was reelected for a third term in 2018 unopposed. He won reelection to a fourth term in 2020, defeating Democrat Joanna Bryn Smith 63% to 37%. Kaufer currently sits on the Finance, Subcommittee on Tax Modernization and Reform, Gaming Oversight, Professional Licensure, and Transportation committees. Political positions. Kaufer believes in a smaller state government and has focused on pursuing job and economic development initiatives. He  also believes in reforming what he describes as Pennsylvania's "bloated welfare system". Kaufer also supports efforts to address the opioid epidemic. Kaufer is known for his commitment on bipartisan cooperation. Israel-Palestine. Following Ben & Jerry's 2021 announcement that the company would not longer sell its ice cream in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Kaufer called on Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, Attorney General Josh Shapiro, and Treasurer Stacy Garrity to enforce Act 163 of 2016, which says the state will not associate with businesses that boycott Israel. Kaufer has said the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement (BDS) "is little more  than a poorly hidden anti-Semitic economic attack." Personal life. Kaufer is Jewish and attends Temple Israel in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Kaufer is married and resides in Kingston, Pennsylvania.