Lamb, Parnell Face Off In PA's 17th Congressional District

ROSS TOWNSHIP, PA — Democratic U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb will square off against Republican Fox News contributor Sean Parnell for Pennsylvania's 17th Congressional District seat.

Lamb , 36, of Mt. Lebanon is a U.S. Marine Corps Reserve veteran and a former federal prosecutor in the Department of Justice's Pittsburgh office in Pennsylvania's Western District.

In 2017, Lamb was the Democratic nominee for a special election in the state's 18th Congressional District after Republican Rep. Tim Murphy resigned following an alleged extramarital affair. Lamb defeated Republican Rick Saccone by less than 500 votes to capture the former 18th District.

After the state's congressional map was redrawn in 2018 after a court order, Lamb defeated Republican Keith Rothfus in the new 17th Congressional District. Lamb serves as vice-chair of the House Committees on Veterans Affairs and is on the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Lamb has been adamant in insisting on a federal investigation of the Brighton Rehab and Wellness Center in Beaver County, where more than 70 residents have died during the coronavirus outbreak.

Parnell, 41, is a U.S. Army veteran who was wounded in a 2006 firefight and was forced to retire from the military. A recipient of a Purple Heart and two Bronze Stars, Parnell is the co-founder of the American Warrior Initiative, a veterans advocacy organization.

"We live in unprecedented times," Parnell states on his website.

"America needs true leadership now more than ever. My philosophy of servant leadership, of leading from the front, was forged in the mountains of Afghanistan fighting America’s enemies. That is the kind of leadership Western Pennsylvania deserves. I hope you will join our movement to defend freedom and give a voice back to the people."

The 17th Congressional District is located in western Pennsylvania does not include Pittsburgh, but does encompass part of the state's southwestern border outside of the city. It includes all of Beaver County, a section of Allegheny County, and a small portion of Butler County.

According to the Center For Responsive Politics, Lamb has raised $3.2 million thus far and spent $2.1 million. Parnell has raised $2.8 million and spent $1.8 million.

According to the Cook Political Report, the race is leaning toward Lamb. Inside Elections and Sabatao's Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia Center for Politics also like Lamb's chances.

This article originally appeared on the Pittsburgh Patch