Joe Sestak (PA-07)

Congressman Joe Sestak has a lifetime of experience serving our country bravely.

Before running for Congress, Joe spent 31 years in the U.S. Navy, rising to the rank of three-star Admiral. During his distinguished career in the Navy, he led a series of operational commands, culminating in the command of the George Washington aircraft carrier battle group (30 ships, 100 aircraft, 15,000 Sailors/Aviators/Marines/SEALS) that combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Joe also served in President Clinton’s Director for Defense Policy on the National Security Council in the White House. After 9/11, he was selected to serve as the first Director of "Deep Blue," the Navy's anti-terrorism unit.

Joe is the senior military veteran serving in Congress and the highest-ranking former military officer ever elected to Congress.  He served as “National Co-Chair of Veterans for Senator Clinton” during the Senator’s historic campaign for the presidency.

Joe has dedicated his first term to working on strengthening national security, which he believes begins at home with health, education, and the economic promise of working families. Joe is one of few Congressmen to sit on three House Committees: Armed Services; Education & Labor; and, Small Business (of which he is Vice-Chairman).  He was named the "most productive" freshman Congressman for legislation passed.

Joe graduated from the US Naval Academy (2nd in his class) and earned a Masters Degree in Public Administration and Ph.D. in Political Economy and Government from Harvard University.  Joe lives with his wife, Susan, and their daughter Alexandra.

Having defeated a 20-year Republican Congress in 2006, Joe is only the 2nd Democratic Congressman to hold this seat since President Abraham Lincoln was in office.  Of all the PA Congressmen, Joe faces the toughest re-election to climb as he has the lowest registration of Democrats (36%) and the highest of Republicans (53%).

Due to the 60,000 Republican registration advantage in Joe’s District, the RNC (flush with $100 million because of Senator McCain opting for public-financing of his campaign) has now decided to puts its financial resources into Joe’s District in support of a coordinated campaign for Senator McCain and Joe’s opponent.  The New York Times has called Joe’s District the "battleground within the battleground" -- because the District encompasses 3 of the 4 suburban counties surrounding Philadelphia, where the presidential elections in PA have been decided.

Senator McCain has already made 6 visits to the District (including one with Gov. Palin), the most visited of any Congressional District in the nation.  Also, Joe’s opponent grew up in Alaska with, and is personal friends with Gov. Palin, and Joe’s opponent’s brother was Gov. Palin’s speechwriter when she successfully ran for Governor.

Congressman Sestak has the endorsement of President Clinton, General Wesley Clark, VetPAC, AFL-CIO, and NEA among many other officials and organizations.

It is Democrats like Joe, defending swing districts in key battleground states, that will help keep the majority in Congress that President Obama will need.  We must do everything we can to help re-elect Joe Sestak. You can help his campaign by contributing now. If you live near Joe and would like to help you can also sign up to volunteer and we will help connect with his campaign. The stakes are too high, the time is short – get involved today.