Job Description: A U.S. Representative is an elected member of Congress. Each state receives representation in the House in proportion to its population but is entitled to at least one representative. In Pennsylvania we have 19 U.S. Representatives. Splitting their time between Washington D.C. and their home state, U.S. Representatives (often referred to as "Congressmen" or "Congresswomen") write and vote on federal legislation.
A U.S. Representative must be at least 25 years old, be a U.S. citizen and live in the state in which he is elected. A U.S. senator serves a six-year term. This year all of the U.S. Representative seats are up for election.
Official November 2nd General Election Candidates for the
U.S. House of Representatives from the Philadelphia Area
Robert Brady - (D)
Current Job: U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania's 1st Congressional District since 1998
Website: www.bobbrady.us/Background: Chairman of the House Administration Committee since 2007
Chairman of the Philadelphia Democratic Party since 1986
Hometown: Philadelphia, Philadelphia County
Chaka Fattah - (D)
Current Job: U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania's 2nd Congressional District since 1995
Website: chakafattah.com/Background: Chairman of Congressional Urban Caucus
Pennsylvania State Senator 1989-1994
Pennsylvania State Representative 1983-1988
Hometown: Philadelphia, Philadelphia County
Rick Hellberg - (R)
Current Job: PeterAlexander financial services,
Founder, President and CEO since 1991
Website: Background: 35+ years experience in financial services industry
CIGNA, Executive Vice President of Corporate Financial Services
in Phila.
Hometown: Philadelphia, Philadelphia County
Jim Gerlach - (R)
Current Job: U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania's 6th Congressional District since 2003
Website: www.gerlachforpa.com/
Background: Pennsylvania State Representative 1991-1994
Pennsylvania State Senator 1995-2002
Hometown: Chester Springs, Chester County
Manan Trivedi - (D)
Current Job: Primary Care Physician
Website: www.trivediforcongress.com/Background: Operation Iraqi Freedom
Battalion Surgeon, 1st Battalion, 5th Regiment Marine Corps
Hometown: Reading, Berks County
Bryan Lentz - (D)
Current Job: State Representative for Pennsylvania's 161st District, since 2007
Website: votelentz.comBackground: US Army, Major, 1986-1990
Philadelphia Assistant District Attorney, 1994-1999
Villari Lentz & Lynam, LLC, Attorney, since 1999
Hometown: Swarthmore, Delaware County
Pat Meehan - (R)
Current Job: Conrad O'Brien PC, Partner since 2008
Website: www.meehanforcongress.comBackground: US Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 2001-2008
District Attorney of Delaware County, 1996-2001
Hometown: Drexel Hill, Delaware County
Jim Schneller - (I)
Current Job: Political Activist
Website: http://www.jim4us.com/Background: Former sales and marketing director and web retailer
Hometown: Wayne, Delaware County
Mike Fitzpatrick - (R)
Current Job: Begley, Carlin & Mandio, LLP, Attorney
Website: www.fitzpatrickforcongress.com/
Background: U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania's 8th District, 2005-2007
Bucks County Board of Commissioners, Chairman, 1995 - 2005
Hometown: Middletown Township, Bucks County
Patrick Murphy - (D)
Current Job: U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania's 8th Congressional District, since 2007
Website: www.murphy08.com/Background: US Army, Captain, Judge Advocate General Corps attorney, 1996-2004
Cozen O'Connor, Attorney, 2005-2006
Hometown: Bristol, Bucks County
Dee Adcock - (R)
Current Job: Entrepreneur
Website: deeadcock.comBackground: Supporter of Urban Family Council, Young Life, and Sunday Breakfast Mission
Hometown: Abington, Montgomery County.
Allyson Schwartz - (D)
Current Job: U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District since 2007
Website: www.allysonschwartz.com/index.aspBackground: Pennsylvania State Senator, 1991-2005
Elizabeth Blackwell Center, Executive Director, 1975-1988
Hometown: Jenkintown, Montgomery County