“Congress needs to do its job, and it really hasn’t done its job in a long time,” Young explained in an interview about his motivation behind running.
Republicans in Pennsylvania’s 6th Congressional District, which encompasses Chester County and part of southeastern Berks County, are rallying behind a new challenger in the 2026 race that they believe could help bring conservative priorities back to Washington.
Marty Young, a West Point graduate, Army chaplain, and business executive, has entered the race to face off against incumbent Democratic Rep. Chrissy Houlahan. Young has quickly built a profile centered on his military service and goal of restoring public trust in government. In recent interviews, Young has argued that local voters are frustrated with Democrats in Washington being out of step with their communities on issues like qualified immunity.
“Congress needs to do its job, and it really hasn’t done its job in a long time,” Young explained in an interview. “It needs people who can actually do the job. And I don’t see that right now.”
A fourth-generation Pennsylvanian, Young has characterized his background as being both a military officer and turnaround specialist in the private sector. His campaign message focuses heavily on supporting veterans and repairing issues in the healthcare system. Republicans in the district see Young as a candidate capable of appealing to sought-after suburban swing voters.
One policy proposal drawing attention is Young’s healthcare initiative aimed at expanding coverage for children and young adults through a system modeled after military TRICARE coverage. Young has argued the proposal would help working families while avoiding a government takeover of healthcare.
“At some point, we have to stop confusing inaction with responsibility,” Young said in a statement about the policy. ” Just as America guarantees public education for every child, we can and must guarantee their health. That isn’t just common sense — it’s the right thing to do.”
Meanwhile, Houlahan, who also previously served in the military, has continued positioning herself as a vocal national critic of President Donald Trump.
In recent months, after Trump accused her and several other Democratic lawmakers of “seditious behavior,” Houlahan made headlines for criticizing Republicans who did not condemn the president’s statements. The dispute stemmed from a video released by Democratic lawmakers with military backgrounds urging service members to refuse orders they believed to be unlawful. Trump responded sharply on social media, igniting another round of partisan conflict in Washington.
“Collectively, we all, of course, have unfortunately had to secure lawyers in this process,” Houlahan said. “And to a person, none of them could come up really with what it was that we had purportedly done.”
Despite the district’s Democratic lean in recent election cycles, Republicans believe changing political dynamics could create a more competitive environment in 2026. Houlahan won her third term in 2024 with a 12-point lead over challenger Neil Young.
