Mary Scanlon

Mary Gay Scanlon is a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Pennsylvania's 5th congressional district. She was first elected to Congress on November 6, 2018, winning both a special election for the 7th district and a general election for the newly redrawn 5th district. She was sworn into office on November 13, 2018. Scanlon earned her Bachelor of Arts from Colgate University in 1980 and her Juris Doctor from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1984. Before her career in Congress, Scanlon served as a judicial law clerk and worked as an attorney for the Education Law Center of Philadelphia. She later joined the law firm Ballard Spahr as national pro bono counsel, where she directed a program providing tens of thousands of hours of free legal services annually to low-income individuals and nonprofit organizations. Her legal work often focused on child advocacy, immigration, and civil rights. Additionally, she served on the Wallingford-Swarthmore School Board, including a term as president from 2009 to 2011. In the House, Scanlon has served on the Judiciary, Rules, and House Administration committees, emphasizing legislative work related to voting rights and access to justice.

Scanlon's policy platform focuses on expanding healthcare access, protecting civil rights, and economic reform. She is a proponent of the Affordable Care Act and has co-sponsored legislation aimed at lowering prescription drug costs and protecting coverage for pre-existing conditions. Regarding immigration, she advocates for comprehensive reform, including permanent protections for Dreamers and Temporary Protected Status holders, while opposing family separation policies. On economic issues, Scanlon supports strengthening labor unions and protecting Social Security and Medicare from funding cuts. She also prioritizes environmental protection, supporting initiatives to combat climate change and transition to clean energy. Furthermore, she is a vocal advocate for common-sense gun safety legislation, reproductive rights, and federal voting rights protections.