Madeleine Dean

Voters in the 4th Congressional District have a choice at the polls.

Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean and Republican challenger Aurora Stuski are competing in the Nov. 3 election for the House seat. The district includes parts of Montgomery County and all of the central, eastern and northeastern parts of Berks County.

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:

Madeleine Dean

Party: Democrat.

Residence: Montgomery County.

Age: 65.

Background: Dean was first elected to the post in 2018. She previously served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and was an Abington Township commissioner and practiced law at a small firm.

Website: mad4pa.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: Affordability is top of mind for me and my constituents across Montgomery and Berks counties. In order to build an economy that centers working people and businesses, we must bring down the costs families struggle with like housing, utilities, groceries, gas and prescription drugs.

This requires reversing unnecessary tariffs, ending the war of choice with Iran, and reversing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s devastating cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act.

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: People are worried about AI and data centers, and their impacts to utility bills, our economy, our neighborhoods, our air and our water. We have to get this right the first time — and make sure that innovation isn’t happening at the expense of our health, safety and livelihoods — and, instead, only to enrich developers.

It’s our duty to hold data center developers accountable — that means not allowing the billionaires behind these facilities to abuse our communities just so they can turn a bigger profit. They must contribute their fair share, and behave responsibly when it comes to our shared resources.

I also believe that every level of government has an important role to play in ensuring that our communities benefit from any and all new industry coming to our commonwealth. We must all work together at the federal, state and local levels to implement oversight on issues like site selections, utility rates, interstate energy and environmental protection.

The Pennsylvania Constitution states that the people of our commonwealth have a right to clean air, pure water and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment for generations to come.

Congress can and must pass strong legislation to abide by these values.

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: Political violence is never acceptable, and we must never tolerate such despicable acts. I have always denounced hateful rhetoric and political violence in all forms — against anyone, regardless of party or ideology — and will continue to do so.

After the attempt on the president’s life in Butler, I volunteered to join the House of Representatives’ task force investigating this grave lapse in security. I wanted to get to the bottom of what happened that day so that it never repeats, but I also volunteered because preventing political violence starts with a bipartisan effort to condemn these attacks.

I am committed to using my position in Congress to make clear that violence is never the answer. We can disagree, debate, and maybe even exchange heated remarks. But it is never acceptable or effective to threaten or harm a fellow human being.

As a former professor of writing, rhetoric and ethics, I implored my students to rely on facts, truth and decency in an argument. Everyone deserves to share their views without threat of physical violence — that is what makes America so special. I am confident that as a nation, we are capable of better reflecting those values moving forward.

Aurora Stuski

Party: Republican.

Residence: Montgomery County.

Age: Not provided.

Background: Stuski is the founder and owner of AAS Appraisal Lab, serving Montgomery County since 1989.

Website: aurora4pa.com

Stuski did not provide responses.