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Candidates › PA-04 race › 2025–2026
Madeleine Dean
D Democratic nominee for U.S. House, PA-04
Representative since 2019
- On the ballot
- On the general election ballotNov 3, 2026 · Pennsylvania US House 4
- Where to vote
- Find your polling place (opens in a new tab) · More ways to vote
- Top priorities
- HEALTHCARE
- ECONOMY AND COST OF LIVING
- CORRUPTION AND ETHICAL GOVERNANCE
- HUMANE IMMIGRATION
- EMPOWERING OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES
- In Congress
- Representative since 2019 · votes with their party 99% of the time. See the record · Office phone 202-225-4731
- Money
- $2M raised, $1.6M spent, $1.4M cash on hand (through Oct 14, 2026). Where it comes from
- Who gives
- 24% of individual money from donors at $200 or less · 79% from Pennsylvania · largest committee giver AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE COUNTY & MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES P E O P L E, $10K
- Outside groups
- $105 supporting, $97 opposing Dean
- Backed by
- AFSCME DC47 · Emgage · Era Yes and 11 more. As the campaign lists them
- Sponsored most in
- Crime and Law Enforcement, Finance and Financial Sector, Health
10 priorities from mad4pa.com, in the order they are listed there. Every heading and the text under it is copied exactly, as one passage for each page it is from, and links to that place on the page; hover a source to see which passage it opens.
Affordable, quality healthcare must be a right — not a privilege.
Congress must do more to lower healthcare costs for all Americans. That begins with protecting and expanding access to Medicare and Medicaid.
Madeleine voted against Congressional Republicans’ so-called One Big Beautiful Bill — immoral legislation that included the largest cut to Medicaid in our nation’s history. Cynically, the bill delays many of these Republican-supported cuts to healthcare and SNAP until after the midterm elections.
She fought to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits, which families across Montgomery and Berks counties rely on to afford care.
Madeleine supports legislation that eliminates barriers to healthcare, protects patients with pre-existing conditions, and lowers the cost of prescription drugs. She stands with healthcare workers, and introduced legislation –– the Safety From Violence for Healthcare Employees Act –– to create penalties for those who intentionally assault or intimidate hospital employees.
She advocates for women’s health issues, such as maternal healthcare, for health equity for mothers of color, and access to preventative screenings.
Madeleine always has and always will support a woman’s right to choose — and will work to overturn Dobbs and codify that right.
Madeleine also prioritizes Montgomery and Berks Counties’ seniors. She will fight for seniors — those who dutifully paid into programs like Social Security and Medicare — to ensure they have access to their hard-earned benefits in their retirement.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · mad4pa.com/issues/healthcare
The President promised to lower costs for Americans. Instead he’s damaged our economy with illegal tariffs, inhumane immigration practices, and reckless and costly wars.
Families across our region are struggling with the ever-rising cost of living. That’s why Madeleine is fighting to lower costs for families and businesses in Montgomery and Berks counties.
Madeleine has consistently voted to bolster American assembly and manufacturing, invest in our infrastructure, fund education, lower health care costs, cut prescription drug prices, and cap monthly insulin at $35 for Medicare recipients. But this work is far from over.
While Republicans used their control of the House, Senate, and White House to benefit the billionaire class — adding trillions of dollars to our national debt — Madeleine will always prioritize her constituents and their well-being. She opposes massive tax cuts for the wealthy –– especially when they come at the expense of the American people. And she is deeply disturbed by the President’s erratic tariff policies that leave businesses without the certainty they need to plan, invest, and grow. His tariff policy has harmed our relationships with our allies, forcing them to look elsewhere to grow their own economies. In the end, the President’s ever-changing tariff policies increase costs for consumers as they damage our relationships around the world — especially with some of our closest allies, such as Canada.
Under President Trump in his first term and now in his second term, Trump policies supported by a Republican majority, have added $10.9 trillion to our debt. This is dangerously unsustainable for our economy and our children’s futures.
Madeleine continues to object to the administration’s mass, arbitrary firing of federal employees, and its assault on federal agencies like USAID and the Department of Education. These actions are beyond thoughtless and reckless — and have cost our country decades of talent and experience at every agency and level of our government.
As a member of the Litigation and Rapid Response Task Force, Madeleine consistently supports litigation to halt and reverse these illegal actions.
Throughout her time in Congress, Madeleine has fought for workers’ rights by supporting legislation to raise the federal minimum wage, close the gender wage gap, increase funding for job training, and protect worker’s rights to organize and collectively bargain.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · mad4pa.com/issues/economy
Heading as listed on mad4pa.com/issues ↗ (opens mad4pa.com/issues at this heading)
The Trump Administration is the most corrupt in our nation’s history — it will be remembered for rubble and rot — chaos, corruption, cruelty — and incompetence. The American people are paying the price.
Madeleine knows good government starts with speaking the truth and rejecting corruption, misinformation, and lies. That’s why she demands accountability — asserting Congress’s Article I powers —- the responsibility to declare War, the power of the Purse — protecting checks and balances, and restoring the independence of the Justice Department.
Madeleine knows voting is our sacred right and has worked with colleagues to introduce legislation that would strengthen our democracy by making voter registration, getting to the polls, and serving in public office more accessible. These include: the Removing Barriers to Running for Elected Office for People with Disabilities Act, which ensures those with disabilities do not lose federal benefits when running for office; the AID Local Government Leadership Act, which ensures those in public service with disabilities have the necessary accommodations; and the Accessible Voting Act to remove barriers to voting.
Ethical government is also proactive — that’s why Madeleine introduced the TAKE IT DOWN Act. In an age of rapidly evolving technology, Congress must stay up to date in protecting consumers and vulnerable Americans, like our children, online. This legislation — now signed into law with bipartisan support — creates protections for victims of A.I. exploitation. It also prevents bad actors from distributing A.I.-generated non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII) of children and minors.
Madeleine will rebuild trust in our institutions, and find ways to make government work better for her constituents, for the common good.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · mad4pa.com/issues/corruption-and-ethical-governance
Madeleine knows ours in a nation of immigrants. She supports a strong, legal immigration system and humane treatment for anyone seeking citizenship.
Madeleine believes we must take steps to strengthen our legal immigration system. This includes a path to citizenship for people who want to peacefully live and work in our country, asylum for those who need it, reinstating DACA to allow the Dreamers to be able to stay in our country without fear, and fighting against border policies that treat people inhumanely.
The past two years have been a deeply painful and difficult time for immigrant communities in Montgomery and Berks counties. Friends and family members grabbed off the street; innocent people terrorized at their local grocery stores by masked law enforcement carrying rifles and wearing full military gear; people afraid to go to doctors appointments, school, or even church.
Madeleine knows this is not normal. It’s unacceptable, and it’s unworthy of us as Americans — and as human beings.
As we’ve seen the surge of cruelty from this Administration, Congress must respond. Madeleine has recently introduced legislation that would ban the use of “shock gloves,” cosponsored the No Secret Police Act, which would require officers and agents of the Department of Homeland Security to clearly display identification and insignia when detaining or arresting individuals, and signed on to litigation defending the 14th Amendment from the administration’s unconstitutional attacks on birthright citizenship.
Additionally, we must end the administration’s cruel policies of family separation —- murdering people on our streets with impunity —- and placing people seeking legal asylum in inhumane living conditions at the border or elsewhere in our country. Asylum is a right — and we must afford everyone on our soil due process and fair trial.
We are a country of laws and of immigrants, and Madeleine knows that is our strength.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · mad4pa.com/issues/humane-immigration-policies
Diversity is our strength — we must recognize the humanity of every person.
America is built on the idea, aspiration, and promise of equality for all: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men” — and women — “are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights…”
We have made uneven progress toward that ideal in the last 250 years, but we still have work to do. To protect the beautiful diversity that is integral to the American identity, Madeleine supports programs that help all communities thrive and reform institutional systems that oppress minorities. Madeleine supports broadening anti-discrimination laws, expanding and enforcing ADA requirements, grant and tax programs that support minority, disabled, and veteran-owned businesses, and addressing systemic racism in the form of abuses of power, mass incarceration, housing discrimination, and predatory lending practices.
Madeleine knows diversity is our strength. She supported the Equality Act, which prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity with respect to businesses, employment, housing, and federally funded programs. She hopes to continue building on that work by addressing accessibility issues in registering to vote, getting to the polls, running for public office, and serving in local government.
Madeleine knows we must also address issues that disproportionately affect black and brown populations, like reforming our criminal justice system, addressing inequities in healthcare, and ensuring that everyone can safely access their right to vote.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · mad4pa.com/issues/empowering-our-diverse-communities
The United States has an important role as the indispensable nation. We must return to that role, with an understanding of our duty to promote peace and prosperity around the world.
As a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Madeleine works to ensure our safety, security, and economic wellbeing around the world. She rejects the chaotic and arbitrary use of tariffs that raise costs for American families, confuse businesses, disrupt global supply chains, and damage our global relationships. She strongly supports funding for agencies like USAID – where cuts have already contributed to hundreds of thousands of preventable deaths. And Madeleine understands that our allies look to us for leadership – that we are made stronger through our involvement with international organizations like NATO and the World Health Organization.
Ukraine ↗ (opens mad4pa.com/issues/foreign-affairs at this heading)
Madeleine is a member of the Ukraine Caucus – and believes we must urgently support Ukraine against Russia’s illegal war of aggression. She voted for the Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, which provided billions of dollars in funding for vital training and resources for Ukraine. But she also knows we must do more to ensure Ukraine maintains its sovereignty and territorial integrity — and that America must do everything to support Ukraine so that Ukraine wins.
Israel ↗ (opens mad4pa.com/issues/foreign-affairs at this heading)
Madeleine immediately condemned and continues to denounce the unspeakable horrors committed on October 7th by Hamas terrorists. Their massacre of more than 1,200 civilians and abduction of 250 hostages was the most brutal attack on the Jewish community since World War II. Madeleine has been to Israel three times since 2023 – meeting with families of the slaughtered and the families of hostages as we fought to bring their loved ones, living and dead, home. She has also met directly with Prime Minister Netanyahu and members of his administration to implore them to pursue a just war.
She also demands that we confront the ongoing humanitarian crisis and famine in Gaza. While Israel has a right and duty to protect itself, it must do everything in its power to prevent the innocent loss of life, comply with international law by protecting civilians, and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid. The conditions in Gaza –– famine, drought, lack of basic medical care and house –– are unacceptable, and the United States must do more to address these urgent needs.
Israel is a great friend and ally of the United States, yet it is evident that Mr. Netanyahu’s government continues to inflict atrocities in Gaza and the West Bank. That has not made Israel safe, and it does not live up to American ideals or international law.
Madeleine wants permanent peace, dignity, and security in the Middle East. That rests on the establishment of a two-state solution — security for Israel, autonomy for Palestine. This requires serious people — serious diplomacy — and a regional plan for peace and prosperity.
At Home in the U.S. ↗ (opens mad4pa.com/issues/foreign-affairs at this heading)
Here in the United States, Madeleine meets with community members and organizations to ensure she is hearing all perspectives and representing her constituents appropriately, especially when it comes to diaspora communities and their input on foreign affairs. Madeleine does not accept funds or endorsements from AIPAC.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · mad4pa.com/issues/foreign-affairs
Lawmakers have failed our nation and the people they serve. It is past time to confront gun violence as a public health crisis.
As a state legislator, Madeleine co-founded the gun violence prevention group PA SAFE Caucus, authoring universal background check, extreme risk protection order, and “bump stock” ban legislation. She continues to fight the gun violence epidemic in Congress, where the very first bill she introduced addressed the danger of plastic guns which go undetected to metal detectors.
Madeleine voted to pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act that would close gun loopholes, require stricter licensing, and prevent bad actors from avoiding background checks. She has also worked to close firesale loopholes, prevent suspicious gun sales, and stop children from becoming victims of gun violence. Her bill extending the laws surrounding undetectable firearms –– known as “ghost guns” –– was signed into law as part of the NDAA in 2024.
On the Appropriations Committee, Madeleine fought to restore $100 million for Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative programs, and to ensure the ATF continues working with the Demand 2 program. The Demand 2 program helps law enforcement trace guns and requires higher reporting standards for firearms dealers.
In 2025, she introduced several pieces of legislation to stop gun violence, including: The Undetectable Firearms Modernization Act (to stop the use of ghost guns), The Fire Sale Loophole Closing Act (to close a loopholes and ensure buyers can’t avoid background checks), The Gun Violence Prevention Through Financial Intelligence Act (use financial crime prevention tactics to stop mass shootings, acts of terrorism, and incidents of mass violence), and more.
Madeleine has a life-long commitment to do everything we can to prevent gun violence in our communities.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · mad4pa.com/issues/gun-violence
Madeleine is committed to supporting quality treatment and finding solutions to the opioid epidemic — and importantly, removing the stigma and shame surrounding the disease of addiction.
The opioid epidemic exploded in recent years. And yet, we have made some progress with a nearly 25% decline in overdose deaths from April 2024 to April 2025. We must continue to fund prevention and treatment services — and hold accountable the people and industries that profit from addiction.
As Chair of the Bipartisan Fentanyl Prevention Caucus; Vice Chair of the Addiction, Treatment, and Recovery Caucus; member of the Bipartisan Addiction and Mental Health Task Force; and a mother and grandmother, Madeleine and her son Harry work to bring bipartisan attention to the opioid epidemic by telling their family’s story. Solutions she’s fighting for include: protecting and increasing annual funding for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), funding for further research on addiction, treatment options for pregnant and postpartum women, and increasing access to medication-assisted treatment.
Additionally, Madeleine introduced the Freedom to Heal Act, which would allow further research on lifesaving treatments currently restricted by the Controlled Substances Act. These experimental therapies – like those using MDMA and psilocybin – could offer the joy and hope of recovery to those with severe mental health conditions or substance use disorder.
Madeleine also introduced H.R 4712, the Fairness in Orphan Drug Exclusivity Act, which would change existing statute that is preventing viable buprenorphine generics from coming to market – thereby ensuring future ease of access to one of the top medications used for Medically-Assisted Treatment (MAT). And she introduced H.R. 7627, the MORE Savings Act, which promotes affordable access to evidence-based opioid treatments under the Medicare program and requires coverage of MAT treatment for opioid use disorders.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · mad4pa.com/issues/solving-the-opioid-epidemic
As a former professor, Madeleine knows the key to our future success is the education of our children.
Ensuring quality education includes making sure students and educators are supported with adequate funding, beginning with universal pre-K and robust support for K-12 schools, special education, college, and technical training.
Madeleine opposes attempts to gut funding for education or shutter the Department of Education. On the Appropriations Committee, she fights to reverse cuts by advocating for $1.3 billion for federal student aid programs.
Students who choose to further their education should not be burdened by life-long debt. As a member of the Financial Services Committee, Madeleine used its jurisdiction over the private student loan market to confront bad lenders head on and ensure they are working in the best interest of student borrowers, not their shareholders. She led oversight over the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — the very agency meant to protect borrowers from bad lenders.
Madeleine has introduced legislation to lower the cost of education, making it affordable and accessible. This includes legislation to pay off $10,000 in education debt for borrowers during the COVID-10 pandemic, providing a lifeline for young people during an economic crisis. Additionally, Madeleine’s bill, H.R. 4748 The Private Loan Disability Discharge Act, would fill a gap in current law by allowing private student loan borrowers who become permanently disabled to be relieved of their loans. Madeleine also worked to reintroduce the Beyond the Box for Higher Education Act to remove criminal history questions from college applications, and the PREP Act, which would ensure incarcerated individuals receive the education they need to re-enter their communities.
Finally, Madeleine co-led the America’s College Promise Act, which would create new partnerships with state governments and provide two years of tuition-free access to community college programs that lead to a degree of industry-recognized credential. Community colleges incubate a healthy, prosperous economy and lift millions of students seeking alternatives to a four-year degree.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · mad4pa.com/issues/education
Lawmakers have a responsibility to protect and preserve our environment, air, water, and land for ourselves and for the generations to come.
This means putting conservation before exploitation of our natural resources, and robustly funding organizations like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) who oversee essential regulatory practices.
The United States must lead in environmental preservation. Ensuring a better future means making sure we have a planet to pass on to future generations. This starts with our country seeking 100% renewable clean energy sources —- and addressing egregious environmental injustice in predominantly low-income, minority communities. With governmental commitment, the green energy industry has the ability to stimulate our economy, create jobs, and help our environment.
One of the first bills Madeleine voted in favor of in Congress was H.R. 9, which would require the President to re-enter the United States into the Paris Climate Accords to achieve the climate targets. But Madeleine knows this is just a first step — we must move quickly to carbon-neutral emissions. She has helped pass initiatives that invest in clean water initiatives, reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation fund, and protect public lands.
Madeleine has also led the effort to protect communities and drinking water from PFAS chemical contamination – a contaminant her constituents unfortunately know all too well. She is a founding member of the bipartisan Congressional PFAS Task Force and has also introduced H.R. 2600, the Toxic PFAS Control Act, which bans the manufacturing and processing of PFAS chemicals and requires the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate their disposal. As of 2024, Madeleine and her colleagues secured $37.5 million for removing PFAS from Pennsylvania’s drinking water.
Madeleine helped pass the Inflation Reduction Act, history-making legislation that has been the largest investment in our climate in American history. The bill extends and expands key tax incentives that give Pennsylvanian businesses and families the long-term certainty they need to affordably invest in clean energy, efficiency improvements, and electric vehicles (EVs). Madeleine and her colleagues are pushing our economy toward a cleaner, greener, brighter future. She introduced legislation to protect 23 million acres of land in Idaho, Montana, Washington, Oregon, and Wyoming – securing the region’s biodiversity and preventing deforestation.
Madeleine looks forward to introducing and passing legislation that will transform our country into a climate-forward, clean-energy powerhouse while continuing to support businesses, workers, families, and communities.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · mad4pa.com/issues/protecting-our-planet