Republican · Pennsylvania's 16th District · 2026
Mike Kelly
Kelly went to Notre Dame on a football and academic scholarship, then came home to Butler to work in the car dealership his father founded.
Biography
Mike Kelly went to Notre Dame on football and academic scholarships after growing up in Butler.1 He returned home to work at the car dealership his father founded, later taking ownership and adding Hyundai and Kia franchises.1 He and his wife, Victoria, a former elementary school teacher, have four children and ten grandchildren.12
Before Congress, he served on Butler City Council and the Butler Area School Board.3 His community work also included founding the Golden Tornado Scholastic Foundation and Butler Quarterback Club.1 He and Victoria established a teaching grant for elementary educators and helped organize a program collecting winter coats for local students.1
Kelly entered Congress in 2011 and now serves on Ways and Means, chairing its Tax Subcommittee and sitting on Health.4 He also chaired the bipartisan House task force investigating the July 2024 attempt to assassinate Donald Trump in Butler.5 The panel published its final report on that investigation in December 2024.5
His current positions include lower taxes, smaller government, school choice and expanded domestic energy production.4 He supports stronger border enforcement while also calling for comprehensive immigration changes.4 His campaign also advocates job training and educational opportunities for veterans.6 Democrat and Army veteran Justin Wagner is challenging him in November.7
Record and controversies
House ethics reproval
In July 2025, the House Ethics Committee unanimously reproved Kelly for failing to meet his duty of candor during its investigation of his wife's Cleveland-Cliffs stock transactions.8 It cited inconsistent answers, unresponsive document production and his refusal to answer questions about a later purchase that he also disclosed late.8 The committee did not find sufficient evidence that he engaged in or facilitated insider trading, or a clear conflict of interest violation; it could not determine whether his wife's initial purchase was improper because she did not fully cooperate.8 Kelly told investigators that protecting local jobs drove his advocacy and that his wife's investment would not drive his decisions.8 The report recommended divestment before further official action relating to the company and directed payment of an outstanding $200 filing fee.8