U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta is seeking a fourth consecutive term representing the 11th Congressional District.
“It has been an honor and privilege to represent the people of Pennsylvania’s 11th Congressional District,” Barletta said in a statement released Saturday announcing his candidacy.
“While I have made significant progress on a number of important issues, including fighting against illegal immigration, strengthening our national security and saving taxpayer dollars, it’s clear that there is still work to be done.”
In his candidacy announcement, he asked for the public’s support “so that I can continue to fight for these and other commonsense policies that will strengthen our communities and this great nation.”
A former Hazleton mayor, Barletta and his wife, Mary Grace, live in Hazleton. They have four daughters and three grandchildren.
Barletta is seeking the Republican nomination for the seat in the April 26 primary.
He was first elected to Congress in 2010, defeating 13-term incumbent Democrat Paul Kanjorski, and was re-elected in 2012 and 2014.
On the Democratic side, Michael Marsicano, also a former Hazleton mayor, announced last July that he would be a candidate for the seat.
The 11th Congressional District is comprised of all of Columbia, Montour and Wyoming counties and parts of Luzerne, Carbon, Cumberland, Dauphin, Northumberland and Perry counties.