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Federal

U.S. Representative, 12th Congressional District

Vote for
1
Term
2 years
Candidates
2
Election
Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A member of the U.S. House of Representatives votes on federal laws, taxes and spending on behalf of the district.

Covers all of Pittsburgh and most of Allegheny County's eastern and southern suburbs, including McKeesport, Monroeville, Plum, West Mifflin, Bethel Park, Upper St. Clair, Baldwin, Whitehall, Clairton and the Mon Valley boroughs, plus part of Swissvale. Also includes part of Westmoreland County.

CandidatesCompare by issue

Taxes & budget

  • James HayesRepublican

    • Calls for reining in government spending, more transparency and a balanced budget.

  • Summer LeeDemocratic

    No documented position found.

Public safety

  • James HayesRepublican

    • Supports law enforcement, crime prevention funding and holding repeat violent offenders accountable.

  • Summer LeeDemocratic

    • Supports an assault weapons ban, expanded background checks and ending legal protections for gun manufacturers.

Education

  • James HayesRepublican

    • Supports expanding school choice for families.

  • Summer LeeDemocratic

    • Calls for tuition-free public colleges and vocational programs and cancellation of all student loan debt.

Housing

  • James HayesRepublican

    No documented position found.

  • Summer LeeDemocratic

    • Helped lead the Stop Wall Street Landlords Act to limit corporate investor purchases of homes.In office

Economy & jobs

  • James HayesRepublican

    • Calls for reducing regulation and improving permitting to bring back union jobs and protect small businesses.
    • Supports an all-of-the-above energy strategy and greater use of Pennsylvania's natural gas.

  • Summer LeeDemocratic

    • Supports Allegheny County's proposed paid parental leave policy and a national paid family leave program.In office

Environment & parks

  • James HayesRepublican

    • Says environmental protection and business growth are not a tradeoff.

  • Summer LeeDemocratic

    • Supports a Green New Deal transition to 100% clean and renewable energy, including ending fracking.
    • Introduced a bill to end coal-company 'self-bonding' so mine cleanup costs are secured up front.In office

Health & human services

  • James HayesRepublican

    No documented position found.

  • Summer LeeDemocratic

    • Supports Medicare for All, eliminating copays, deductibles and premiums.
    • Co-leads the Drug Deal Disclosure Act to make public the administration's drug-pricing deals with manufacturers.In office

Government & transparency

  • James HayesRepublican

    • Says he will work across the aisle to bring accountability and civility back to Congress.

  • Summer LeeDemocratic

    • Sponsors the Abolish Super PACs Act and supports ending Citizens United.
    • Backs automatic and same-day voter registration, nationwide early and mail voting, and a federal right to vote.

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 8 issues covered in this race.