BIOGRAPHY
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Mike Kelly
Congressman
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BIOGRAPHY

Mike Kelly was born in Pittsburgh and raised in Butler, Pennsylvania. After graduating from Butler High School in 1966, Mike attended the University of Notre Dame on an academic and football scholarship. After graduating from Notre Dame, Mike returned home to work at the family business, Kelly Chevrolet-Cadillac, Inc.

BIOGRAPHY

Mike Kelly (Pennsylvania)

Mike Kelly is a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Pennsylvania's 16th congressional district since 2011. He was born on May 10, 1949, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Kelly graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1971 with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration. He worked in the family automobile business before entering politics.

Mike Kelly (Pennsylvania)

Prior to being elected to Congress in 2010, Mike served on Butler City Council, the Butler Area School Board and the boards of other local civic organizations including the Housing Authority of Butler County, the Redevelopment Authority of Butler County, Catholic Charities and the Moraine Trails Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Mike and his wife Vicki live in Butler where they raised their four children. They are also the proud grandparents of ten grandchildren.

Mike Kelly was born in Pittsburgh and raised in Butler, Pennsylvania. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in business administration from the University of Notre Dame in 1971. He lives in Butler with his wife, Vicki; they raised four children and have ten grandchildren.

Pennsylvania's 16th Congressional District election, 2026

Mike Kelly was born in Pittsburgh and raised in Butler, Pennsylvania. After graduating from Butler High School in 1966, Mike attended the University of Notre Dame on an academic and football scholarship. After graduating from Notre Dame, Mike returned home to work at the family business, Kelly Chevrolet-Cadillac, Inc.

Mike purchased ownership of the dealership in the mid-1990s and expanded its operations to include both a Hyundai and Kia franchise. The dealership currently employs over 100 people and is respected as a leader in both the local and national automotive industries.

After graduating from Notre Dame, Mike returned home to work at the family business, Kelly Chevrolet-Cadillac, Inc.

Mike purchased ownership of the dealership in the mid-1990s and expanded its operations to include both a Hyundai and Kia franchise. The dealership currently employs over 100 people and is respected as a leader in both the local and national automotive industries.

Mike Kelly worked at the family business, Kelly Chevrolet-Cadillac, Inc., and later purchased the dealership, expanding its operations to include Hyundai and Kia franchises.

Kelly was first elected to Congress in 2010, defeating incumbent Democrat Kathy Dahlkemper. He has been re-elected multiple times since then. During his time in Congress, Kelly has served on various committees, including the Committee on Ways and Means.

Mike Kelly

In Congress, Mike Kelly is a member of the House of Representatives, representing Pennsylvania's 16th congressional district. He is a member of the Republican Party and has been in office since 2011. Kelly serves on several committees, including the Committee on Ways and Means, where he focuses on issues related to taxation and economic policy.

Mike Kelly | Congress.gov

Mike currently serves as a U.S. representative for Pennsylvania's 16th congressional district. He was first elected to Congress in 2010. He previously served on Butler City Council and the Butler Area School Board.

2026 Pennsylvania General Election 

Education

As a former school board member, I know first-hand that spending massive amounts of money on education does not always lead to positive results. We need to make sure that local communities have both adequate funding and the flexibility to address their particular needs. We also need to focus on accountability, funding only what works, and expanding parental choice. We need to make sure that our higher education options include not only traditional colleges, but also provides career and technical education programs. Supporting a range of educational options will provide our workforce with the skills we need to compete and succeed in today’s global economy.

Mike Kelly for Congress Issues

Supports adequate local education funding and flexibility for communities to address their particular needs.

Advocates for education accountability, funding programs he says work, and expanding parental choice.

Supports higher-education options that include traditional colleges and career and technical education programs.

- Supports adequate local education funding and flexibility for communities to address their particular needs.
- Advocates for education accountability, funding programs he says work, and expanding parental choice.
- Supports higher-education options that include traditional colleges and career and technical education programs.

Education

Economy & Jobs

We need common sense, pro-growth policies that remove barriers to economic growth. We need to remove onerous regulations that stifle private sector investment and hamper job creation. I support legislation to fix the tax code with common sense changes that ensure everyone pays their fair share and families have less of a tax burden. We need a tax code that will generate domestic economic growth while we also enact legislation to open new markets around the world for American made products.

Tax Reform

Congress must find ways to reduce the taxes that individuals pay while ensuring that the government is fiscally accountable for how we spend tax revenue. Tax revenue is generated by working people and we need to make sure that we generate more taxes because more people have jobs – not by raising tax rates. I believe that the tax code should be simpler, taxes should be lower, and that the federal government needs to be careful not to pick winners and losers.

Oversight

Oversight of the government has many meanings. We need to reduce the size of government and limit our spending. We need to make sure the government is accountable to its citizens whose taxes are funding government programs. Taxpayers deserve to know how their money is being spent and if that spending is having a positive impact. The U.S. Constitution clearly states what the responsibilities, obligations and limits are on the three branches of government. We need to make sure that each branch stays within these limits.

Advocates for removing regulations that he says stifle private-sector investment and job creation.

Supports simplifying and lowering taxes while reducing families' tax burdens and increasing government accountability for spending.

Calls for tax policies intended to generate domestic growth and legislation opening overseas markets for American-made products.

Calls for reducing the size of government and limiting federal spending.

- Advocates for removing regulations that he says stifle private-sector investment and job creation.
- Supports simplifying and lowering taxes while reducing families' tax burdens and increasing government accountability for spending.
- Calls for tax policies intended to generate domestic growth and legislation opening overseas markets for American-made products.
- Calls for reducing the size of government and limiting federal spending.

Economy

Pro-Life & Family Values

“America’s belief in the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is what makes our nation the greatest in the world. As long as I represent the 16th District of Pennsylvania, I will continue to defend these unalienable rights, and work to protect the most vulnerable among us, especially the unborn.”

Issues | Congressman Mike Kelly

Veterans

We owe our liberty and freedom to our veterans. I am committed to serving our veterans by working to ensure that they receive the benefits and care that they so greatly deserve. I am eternally grateful to all those men and women who have served in our armed forces and to those who are currently protecting us around the globe. In addition to making improvements to the VA healthcare system, I am also committed to serving our veterans by making sure that adequate job training and educational opportunities are available for them.

Said he will work to protect “the most vulnerable among us, especially the unborn.”

Commits to improving the Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare system.

- Said he will work to protect “the most vulnerable among us, especially the unborn.”
- Commits to improving the Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare system.

Healthcare

As of October 16, 2026, Mike Kelly’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Voting & Elections

National Security & Defense

We need a strong military that is prepared to protect Americans from our enemies now and in the future. I will continue to support legislation to provide robust funding for our military forces ensuring that they are fully equipped and trained to defend our country. I also support the use of intelligence tools to protect our nation by collecting counterterrorism information and foreign intelligence to protect the United States from attack, while taking care to protect the civil liberties and privacy of American citizens and permanent residents.

Pledges to support robust military funding for equipment and training.

Supports intelligence collection for counterterrorism and foreign intelligence while protecting civil liberties and privacy.

Commits to ensuring veterans receive benefits, care, job training, and educational opportunities.

- Pledges to support robust military funding for equipment and training.
- Supports intelligence collection for counterterrorism and foreign intelligence while protecting civil liberties and privacy.
- Commits to ensuring veterans receive benefits, care, job training, and educational opportunities.

Foreign Policy and Immigration

Energy

Our energy policy should include an “all of the above” and “everything below” approach to addressing our current and future energy needs. We need a policy that encourages the development and responsible usage of all forms of American energy – coal and natural gas to biofuels and everything in between. There is not one single solution to solving America’s energy challenges, but by using hydropower, clean coal, natural gas, nuclear power, biofuels and oil, along with the growing capacity of solar and wind power, we can take environmentally responsible steps towards American energy independence.

Supports an energy policy that uses fossil fuels, nuclear power, biofuels, hydropower, solar, and wind.

- Supports an energy policy that uses fossil fuels, nuclear power, biofuels, hydropower, solar, and wind.

Energy & the Environment

Public Safety

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- Your US Representative represents the interests of your district in the US House of Representatives, the lower house of Congress. Pennsylvania currently has 19 US Representatives.
- US Representatives can author, sponsor, debate, and vote on bills that become national law.
- Representatives may serve on congressional committees. Committees focus on certain policy areas, such as transportation, education, or labor. They may also run for higher positions within their party, such as the Speaker of the House or Majority/Minority Leader.
- Representatives are elected to two-year terms. To hold this office, a candidate must be a legal resident of Pennsylvania for at least seven years before their election. 
- US Representatives are paid a salary of $174,000/year.

Your representative and federal lawmaker in the US House of Representatives