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.
Unofficial Candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives
from the Philadelphia Area
Democrats
Robert Brady
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
Republicans
Pia Varma
Current Job: Entrepreneur and Political Activist
Website: votepia.comBackground: Glen Beck's Fusion Magazine, contributor
Ludwig von Mises Institute Daily, contributor
Hometown: Philadelphia, Philadelphia County
Democrats
Chaka Fattah
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
Democrats
Doug Pike
Current Job: Journalist
Website: www.pikeforcongress.com/Background: Philadelphia Inquirer Editorial Board, 14 years
Hometown: Ardmore, Montgomery County
Manan Trivedi
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
Republicans
Jim Gerlach
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
Patrick Henry Sellers
Current Job: Master Electrician, Philips Brothers Electrical Contractors, since 1979
Website: www.patsellers.orgBackground: Wallace Township Planning Commission, 2006-2007
Director, Coatesville Area School District 1993–1997
Hometown: Coatesville, Chester County
Democrats
Gail Conner
Current Job: G&C Environmental Services, Inc., President
Website: www.conner4congress.com/Background: PA Department of Environmental Protection
CAC &
AQTAC member
Hometown: Newtown Square, Delaware County
Bryan Lentz
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
Teresa Touey
Current Job: Political Consultant
Website: www.toueyforcongress.com/Background: Congressional Aide to Joe Sestak, Ted Kennedy, and John Kerry
Hometown: Glenolden, Delaware County
Republicans
Pat Meehan
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
Independent
Jim Schneller
Current Job: Political Activist
Website: www.jim4us.comBackground: Former sales and marketing director and web retailer
Hometown: Wayne, Delaware County
Democrats
Patrick Murphy
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
Republicans
Gloria Carlineo
Current Job: Lawyer and Political Activist
Website: www.carlineo4congress.com/Background: Republican Party Committeewoman, Upper Solebury Township
Young Hispanic Republican Association, Founder
Hometown: Upper Solebury Township, Bucks County
Mike Fitzpatrick
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 - 2005Hometown: Middletown Township, Bucks County
Ira Hoffman
Current Job: Hoffman Wealth Solutions, President
Website: www.hoffman4congress.com/Background: National Starch and Chemical Co., Global Contracts Director, 1990-2007
Exxon and Mobil Oil Corporations, engineer, 1977-1984
Hometown: Solebury Township, Bucks County
James Jones
Current Job: QSI Consulting, President and CEO
Website: jamesjonesforcongress.com/Background: Decorated disable veteran of three wars
Grass roots organizer
Hometown: Langhorne, Bucks County
Democrats
Allyson Schwartz
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
Republicans
Dee Adcock
Current Job: Entrepreneur
Website: deeadcock.comBackground: Supporter of Urban Family Council, Young Life, and Sunday Breakfast Mission
Hometown: Abington, Montgomery County
Brian Haughton
Current Job: SmokeEaters Pub, Owner and Operator
Website: www.haughtonforcongress.comBackground: Philadelphia Fire Department, Retired
United States Air Force
Hometown: Philadelphia, Philadelphia County
Josh Quinter
Current Job: Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C., Attorney since 2003
Website: www.joshquinter.com/index.phpBackground: Young Republican Attorneys Association of Montgomery County
Home Builders Association of Delaware and Chester County
Hometown: Blue Bell, Montgomery County