Two Democrats and three Republicans are vying for their parties’ nominations in the race to replace U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb in the 17th Congressional District, which includes Beaver County and parts of Butler and Allegheny counties.
Lamb, a Democrat from Mt. Lebanon, is vying for a seat in the U.S. Senate.
Democratic voters in the May 17 primary will choose between Iraq War veteran and voting rights attorney Chris Deluzio and Sean Meloy, a community leader who would become the state’s first openly gay congressman.
On the Republican ballot, voters will choose between business owner and former Ross Township Commissioner Jeremy Shaffer, national security expert Jason Killmeyer and Kathy Coder, a former Bellevue councilwoman who owns a small business dedicated to leadership training.
Chris Deluzio
Chris Deluzio, 37, of Pittsburgh’s Shadyside neighborhood, said his politics have been shaped by his time in the military, his work as a voting rights attorney and his experiences advocating for unions.
“I’m running because I love this country. I love Western Pennsylvania, this place we call home, and want to do everything I can to ensure we have a government that’s serving everyone,” he said. “I come from a place of service. That service shapes profoundly who I am and why I’m in this race.”
If elected, Deluzio said he would work to reign in the power of major corporations that “are wielding power over every aspect of our lives.” He blamed wealthy corporations and overseas manufacturing and supply chains for the skyrocketing prices that are impacting working-class Americans.
“I think we need stronger antitrust legislation in this country,” Deluzio said, calling also for better protections for unions and middle-class workers. “I am committed, more than anything else, to fighting for our common good. I think we’re seeing the cost of corporate selfishness that’s putting us last and putting profits first. I’m going to make sure we have a strong region with strong union jobs and health care.”
Deluzio called also for a new voting rights act, including stricter controls against gerrymandering, automatic voter registration and broader access to mail-in voting. Other issues Deluzio highlighted include improving health care, supporting social security and investing in infrastructure.
Sean Meloy
Sean Meloy, 34, of Pittsburgh’s Morningside neighborhood, said he grew up in the district in a working-class family that was able to provide him with a good lifestyle. He said his family included coal miners and steel mill workers.
He said he’s running for office because he thinks it’s becoming increasingly difficult for working-class families like his to live a comfortable lifestyle in an economy where prices are going up while wages remain stagnant.
“We need to have solutions for working-class families that grow our economy,” Meloy said. “I know for a fact we need wages that actually keep up with the cost of living, of raising a family. That means we have to make sure the minimum wage gets increased and it gets indexed with inflation. We also need to make sure people can organize into a union so they get paid what they’re worth and get the best working conditions.”
He said having middle-class voices in government would ensure elected officials feel the “urgency” of addressing the issues everyday Americans face.
If elected, Meloy would become the first openly gay congressman from Pennsylvania. He said his experience advocating for the LGBTQIA+ community is particularly important as some politicians attack members of that community.
Jeremy Shaffer
Jeremy Shaffer, 45, of Gibsonia, said he was inspired to run for Congress because of his passion for serving the community and his desire for the next generation to be able to live out the American Dream as he did.
Shaffer owns a small business focused on infrastructure, and said the experience has made him want to make sure his own five…
Read More: 2 Democrats, 3 Republicans vying for outgoing U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb’s seat in Congress