Democrat · Pennsylvania's 17th District · 2026
Chris Deluzio
Deluzio and his wife, Zoë, have four children and a dog named Yankee Doodle.
Biography
Chris Deluzio and his wife, Zoë, have four children and a dog named Yankee Doodle.1 A Thornburg native, he lives with his family in Allegheny County.2 He was a high school senior at Canevin during the September 11 attacks, an experience his campaign connects to his decision to attend the Naval Academy.1
He graduated from the academy in 2006 and served as a Navy surface warfare officer.3 His service included three deployments, with a tour alongside Army Civil Affairs in Iraq.3 He subsequently earned his law degree, magna cum laude, at Georgetown and clerked for a federal judge.3
His civilian work included voting rights and election security at the Brennan Center for Justice.2 At Pitt Cyber, he focused on those issues alongside the intersection of technology and civil rights.2 At Pitt, he helped organize a faculty union with the United Steelworkers.1 He entered Congress in 2023 and serves on Armed Services and Transportation and Infrastructure.34
Deluzio introduced the bipartisan Railway Safety Act of 2026, proposing stronger requirements for trains transporting hazardous materials.5 He also supports Medicare for All, a congressional stock trading ban and ending the Iran war.6 He faces Republican Beaver County Sheriff Tony Guy while seeking a third term.7
Record and controversies
Employment lawsuit
A former constituent services employee filed a January 2026 federal lawsuit alleging that Deluzio's congressional office denied disability accommodations and retaliated against her after medical leave, eventually firing her.8 The complaint names the congressional employing office, rather than Deluzio individually, as defendant.9 These are allegations, not findings; an office response or later resolution was not verified in this review.