Chrissy Houlahan

Voters in the 6th Congressional District have a choice at the polls.

Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan and Republican challenger Marty Young are competing for the seat in the Nov. 3 election. The district includes all of Chester County and parts of Berks County, including Reading.

U.S. representatives serve a two-year term and receive an annual salary of $174,000.

We asked the candidates to respond to three questions:

Chrissy Houlahan

Party: Democrat.

Residence: Chester County.

Age: 59.

Background: Houlahan was first elected to serve in Congress in 2018. She previously served as an Air Force officer, was a businesswoman and engineer, had taught chemistry with Teach For America and served as an executive for a nonprofit literacy organization.

Website: chrissyhoulahanforcongress.com

Question 1: Recent polls show a majority of Pennsylvanians are increasingly worried about the high cost of utilities, groceries, gas and housing. What would you do to address those economic concerns?

Response: Congress must be responsible and take back constitutional authority of the power of the purse and stop this cycle of governing by executive order, regardless of who is in the White House.

President Trump and the Republicans are responsible for the biggest contributors to high prices right now — the chaotic tariffs, health care cuts and the war of choice in Iran. The Republicans’ priority legislation caused health care premiums to skyrocket while giving tax breaks to the wealthiest among us. I will work to lower prices on care and on prescription drugs. Health care is a right, not a privilege.

Next, Congress (not the president) should set reasonable tariffs and not start trade wars with our allies, causing price hikes for consumers and businesses. President Trump is responsible for the war with Iran, causing historic increases in gas and diesel fuel prices that disproportionately hurt American farmers and food distribution systems. Time and again, the Republican majority in Washington has refused to reign him in.

I’m proud to run the New Democrat Coalition’s affordability task force and have co-authored the Affordability Agenda, a policy roadmap to lower prices on health care, housing, energy, family care and groceries. Read more about it here.

Question 2: Artificial intelligence and the proliferation of massive data centers needed to power it have become major topics of discussion recently. What should government do to address the impact these centers have on local communities?

Response: Americans are right to be concerned about AI and data centers, and I understand their apprehension. Technology is moving head-spinningly fast and more needs to be done quickly by every level of government and industry to address land development, energy and water use and the rapid development of AI.

To start, Congress should pass the Stopping Hikes in Electricity from Large Load Demands (SHIELD) Act. Communities should not be responsible for grid updates required by data centers — the centers should pay for the upgrades themselves. Additionally, this bill creates a federal standard for consumer price protection and incentivizes data center facilities to use zero-emission electricity.

We know that AI is already changing and improving lives, and we also know that it can wreak havoc in real and dangerous ways. Congress should establish guardrails to make sure we maintain our competitive edge and protect our national security while keeping us all safe. After calling for Speaker Johnson to address this, I was disappointed that he dismissed the House two weeks early with this critical work unaddressed.

Question 3: Organizations that track political violence in America say that incidents have risen sharply over the last several years. As a candidate for office, how are you helping to foster a climate of peaceful dialogue and disagreement?

Response: Unfortunately, these organizations are right. After receiving bomb and death threats (including from President Trump), staff and public safety are increasingly important considerations in planning congressional events.

Each of us has a right to be heard and a responsibility to express ourselves with civility, especially when we disagree. I hold myself to a high standard and it begins with being accessible and open. I’ve held more than 100 public town halls, our offices are open to the public, real people answer the phone when you call my office and my team and I are regularly out in the community for events, meetings and listening sessions. Setting expectations of respectful dialogue is an important part of how I serve our community.

Violence or language that incites violence must be called out for the destructive force that it is. It cannot be tolerated and has no place in our country. Each of us is a role model, for each other and especially for the generations following us.

My actions represent more than just myself. Whether as a U.S. Air Force veteran, a teacher for AmeriCorps, an entrepreneur and now as a member of Congress, I try to walk that walk every day.

Marty Young

Party: Republican.

Residence: Chester County.

Age: 54.

Background: Young is a native of West Chester, a West Point graduate, an Army chaplain and turnaround executive.

Website: voteyoung.com

Question 1: Recent polls show a majority of Pennsylvanians are increasingly worried about the high cost of utilities, groceries, gas and housing. What would you do to address those economic concerns?

Response: Utilities, groceries, gas and housing are rising together because government, companies and households are buried in debt. As interest rates rise, costs go up from farm to table and everywhere else.

Health care must be addressed. America spends about 18% of GDP on care; peer countries cover people for closer to 12%. My Young Americans Healthcare Plan starts with universal coverage for every child, young adult and expectant mother using the TRICARE model — so a pregnancy or a broken bone does not become a second mortgage, and a typical family can save thousands a year. Cutting waste frees hundreds of billions for households, small businesses and taxpayers. You cannot balance those books if health care stays this expensive.

Housing is the wealth trap. I support zero-interest, 15-year refinancing for qualifying families in the home they already live in — and the same terms for a starter purchase. The point is outright ownership, not 30+ years of interest payments. Give families the credit support Washington already gives banks and asset managers. No new cost to taxpayers. Own the house free and clear in 15 years.

As for energy costs, we should produce more power here and stop putting data center costs on Pennsylvania ratepayers.

Question 2: Artificial intelligence and the proliferation of massive data centers needed to power it have become major topics of discussion recently. What should government do to address the impact these centers have on local communities?

Response: Data centers are middlemen. The question is who uses the power, who pays and what “bring your own power” means.

I was chief restructuring officer of IAP, then the second-largest temporary power company in the world. We generated power for Kandahar. On-site diesel is how “bring your own power” often gets done, and it is part of why so many troops later filed PACT Act claims. Families in Chester and Berks should not inherit a civilian version of that bargain.

Loudoun County, Virginia, hosts roughly 250 data centers. A large share of that load serves the federal government and hyperscalers. Pennsylvania is the nation’s largest electricity exporter, yet our bills rise as that PJM demand is socialized across the grid. That is not fair.

If the user is the federal government, Washington pays its own way. If the user is a hyperscaler, it brings real incremental power — not a diesel farm next to a township — and pays 100% of the upgrades. Build only where communities want them, inside federal and state guardrails. When these campuses go dark, neighbors should not be left holding the bag.

Question 3: Organizations that track political violence in America say that incidents have risen sharply over the last several years. As a candidate for office, how are you helping to foster a climate of peaceful dialogue and disagreement?

Response: A member of Congress works for the people of this district. The job is to give them a voice and force the conversations that need to be had — on costs, schools, safety and the country’s direction — so frustration does not harden into rage. Silence and 30-second ads are how people conclude that no one is listening.

That is why I invited Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan to an open forum with the people of the 6th District. We are both veterans. Our neighbors deserve two people who have worn the uniform answering hard questions in the same room. I offered flexibility on date, place and format because the point is the conversation, not the clip.

Political violence is a crime, not a cause. It is never legitimate — not protest, not speech. After January 6th I deployed to Washington as an Army chaplain to keep the transfer of power peaceful. I have sat with people who were angry, grieving or ashamed of what they did in a crowd. They did not feel heard until someone listened. Politicians must lead with courage — out in the community, accessible to everyone, especially those who disagree or even dislike us.