Matt Cartwright

Matt Cartwright has represented Pennsylvania's 8th congressional district since 2013. A lawyer and former businessman, Cartwright brings a pragmatic approach and a commitment to bipartisanship to Congress.

Born and raised in Erie, Pennsylvania, Cartwright graduated magna cum laude with a history degree from Hamilton College and earned his J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where he was a member of law review.

Cartwright worked as a lawyer in private practice, specializing in commercial litigation and environmental law. He also served as a member of the board of directors of several nonprofit organizations and as a member of the Board of Governors of the American Association for Justice.

In 2012, Cartwright challenged the incumbent Democratic representative in Pennsylvania's 17th district (now PA-08). Cartwright emphasized his background in business and law, his commitment to job creation and economic growth, and his willingness to work across the aisle to get things done.

In Congress, Cartwright has introduced more bills with Democratic and Republican support than any other House Democrat and was named one of the most effective House Democrats by the nonpartisan Center for Effective Lawmaking.

As a member of the House Committee on Appropriations, he worked to secure funding for local infrastructure projects, support small businesses and manufacturers, and invest in education and workforce development. Cartwright has also been a leading voice on issues related to government accountability and transparency on the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, pushing for policies to crack down on waste, fraud, and abuse in federal programs.

He has been a member of the House Problem Solvers Caucus, a group of moderate Democrats and Republicans who work together to find bipartisan solutions to the country's challenges.