A lifelong advocate for democracy and justice, Mary Gay Scanlon has represented Delaware County in Pennsylvania’s 5th Congressional District since 2018.
Her path to Congress began as a law student at the University of Pennsylvania, before going on to represent abused and neglected children through the Support Center for Child Advocates. She later served as co-chair of the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Commission on Children at Risk and the Legal Rights of Children Committee and became a founding board member and officer of Philadelphia Legal Assistance.
As national Pro Bono Counsel at Ballard Spahr LLP, Scanlon supervised more than 600 lawyers providing over 50,000 hours of pro bono legal services each year to low-income clients and nonprofit organizations. Her commitment to public service also extended to her local community, where she served on the Wallingford-Swarthmore School Board from 2007 to 2015, including as Vice President and President.
Now in her fourth full term in Congress, Scanlon’s priorities include voting rights, access to justice, education, economic growth, common-sense gun safety, women’s rights, and ending hunger. She serves on the House Judiciary Committee and the House Committee on Rules and is Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government. Scanlon has been a leading voice in defending civil rights and protecting democratic institutions. She also serves as chair of the Legal Aid Caucus and the Youth Mentoring Caucus, co-chair of the Foster Youth Caucus, and vice chair of the LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus.
Scanlon has focused on supporting industry and workers across Southeastern Pennsylvania. She helped secure funding through the National Defense Authorization Act to preserve more than 4,000 jobs at the Boeing plant in Ridley and supported a $650 million contract for new ship construction at the Philadelphia Shipyard.
Scanlon remains committed to protecting democracy, promoting civics education, and fighting for veterans, seniors, workers, and children across Pennsylvania.