“I am humbled and honored to have been selected to the Democratic Steering and Policy committee, where I will continue to bring my perspective to the senior leadership team in the U.S. House of Representatives. I look forward to working closely with my Democratic colleagues, our party’s new leaders, while reaching across the aisle to shape a national agenda that strengthens America’s middle class, protects seniors, and supports our nation’s veterans and military families.” (Facebook, 11/6/22)

                        

BACKGROUND + EXPERIENCE

Cartwright has served in Congress since 2013. He represented PA 17 from 2013-2019 and PA 08 from 2019 to the present. He entered Congress self-described as an “FDR Democrat” and “from the Democratic wing of the Democratic party.”

 

An experienced lawyer, Cartwright received his BA from Hamilton College, Magna Cum Laude and his law degree from the University of Pennsylvania where he served two years as editor of the Law Review. He attended the London School of Economics and is co-author of Litigating Business and Commercial Tort Cases, 2011 to the present. Cartwright has volunteered with a number of organizations including Boy Scouts of America, Hope Center Legal Clinic and Victim’s Compensation Fund.

 

Rep. Cartwright won in 2020 with 51.8% of the vote with a 3.6% margin of victory. Pennsylvania 08 was carried by Trump in 2020. Cartwright was one of only five incumbent Democrats to win in a district carried by Trump in ’20.

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ISSUES

Matt Cartwright has spent his entire career defending working people, first as a trial attorney and now as Congressperson in Pennsylvania’s Eighth District. He is a fighter for all northeastern Pennsylvanians, especially in protecting and expanding access to health care and growing the local economy.

• Committed to protecting and expanding access to quality, affordable health care for all northeastern Pennsylvanians

• Puts the people of northeastern Pennsylvania first — not big corporate interests

• Committed to bringing down prices to ease the burden on working families

• Ensures maintaining the strongest armed forces in the world and that service members get the rewards and benefits they deserve

• Focused on strengthening and growing the local economy

• Fights to tackle the climate crisis with the urgency it demands

• Continues to fight for police to give them the tools and resources they need to protect communities

• Sees education as the key to  bright futures for children and for the economy

• Fights to end the opioid crisis in northeastern Pennsylvania.

                                                                                                                          POLITICS IN PENNSYLVANIA + DISTRICT 08

Pennsylvania has increasingly become a presidential battleground state and promises to be so in 2024. Democrats have done well in the state recently, winning a second Senate seat and flipping the lower legislative chamber.

 

Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District is comprised of parts of five counties. It is a mix of rural and urban communities with Scranton and Wilkes- Barre being the major urban centers. It is predominantly white and middle class: 79.5% White, 12.4% Hispanic, 6 % Black, 2 % Asian and .1% Native American. Democrats in the district are populist leaning.

 

Significantly, the district is the second most Republican-learning district held by a Democrat and the most Republican-leaning district held by a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus based on the Cook Partisan voting Index.

 

COMMITTEES + CAUCUSES

Appropriations Committee (Ranking Member on Commerce, Justice, and Science Subcommittee)

Democratic Committee on Steering and Policy

Progressive Caucus

Military Depot and Industrial Facilities Caucus

Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition Caucus (Vice Chair)

Veterinary Medicine Caucus

Climate Solutions Caucus

Blue Collar Caucus

International Conservation Caucus

Pro-Choice Caucus​

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As Rep. Cartwright prepares for the 2024 election cycle against a yet-to-be named opponent, he had $52,620 cash on hand as of the end of ’22.