Justin Wagner: The Democratic Candidate of District 16

Justin Wagner for Congress Media Team

Wagner meets with constituents on the campaign trail, something he says he will continue to do if elected. 'I think the best way to [engage with constituents] is get out there and show them your face and talk to them,” Wagner stated.

Democratic candidate for US House of Representatives Justin Wagner is challenging incumbent Republican representative Mike Kelly for Pennsylvania's 16th district seat. Wagner grew up in Mercer County. After graduating from high school, he balanced his education at ITT Technical Institute during the day and worked at Trinity Industries, a steel car plant, in the evenings. He joined the Army in 2006 and was deployed to Iraq and South Korea. Following his military service, Wagner started his career as an automation engineer. 

He met his wife in the Army, and they have four daughters. He said his daughters are one reason he started his campaign for congress. "I want to make sure that they have a country that they can grow up in, thrive in, and achieve the American dream," he said.

Since the start of his campaign, Wagner has held multiple town halls across the 16th District and said he will continue to do so in office if elected. "I think the best way to [engage with constituents] is get out there and show them your face and talk to them," Wagner stated.

I talked to Wagner about some key issues affecting Pennsylvanians today and how he plans to address them. The Trump Administration's tariffs in 2025 and rising input costs are still affecting Pennsylvania farmers. Wagner said in order to prevent costs from rising even further, the country should "take a look at bringing this war [with Iran] to an end because that's driving up the cost of diesel, fertilizer, and our farmer's input costs that they have to then pass on to us." Wagner also disagreed with prioritizing imported beef. "This administration is importing beef instead of making sure that our farmers have a great way to sell their own product here in the United States," Wagner said. "We need to be investing in our manufacturing."

Wagner has pledged not to accept money from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) or any other organization acting on behalf of Israel. Most of the $66,591.30 he raised, according to Federal Election Commission data through June 30, comes from individual donations, election committees, or labor union PACs such as the Machinists Non Partisan Political League, which gave the largest single contribution of $5,000. "I believe in labor. I believe in the right for the workers to have collective bargaining," he said. "My job is to be held accountable to the people of this district, not to whoever writes the biggest check." 

Kelly, his opponent, has received nearly $21,000 from AIPAC since Jan. 1, according to Federal Election Commission data. I called Kelly's team at his Erie office and sent a request for comment to his official campaign email but did not receive a response. 

When I asked Wagner about the rise of artificial intelligence technology and the construction of data center infrastructure, he told me that communities are being asked to absorb these costs, both environmental and financial. "I'm not anti-technology. I'm not specifically anti-AI even, but these data centers are in many communities that they're not wanted in. They're kind of being pushed everywhere," Wagner said. 

As an engineer, Wagner sees potential for semiconductor manufacturing in the U.S.

"These data centers are eating up all of our semiconductors. Consumer electricity prices are going to go through the roof," he said. "I think we are well positioned to kind of usher in that next wave of technology and to bring that kind of manufacturing here." 

Though he supports industry and manufacturing, Wagner said the country "can invest in renewable energy" and environmental protection. "We have such a great asset in Lake Erie and it needs to be protected," he said. "We need to make sure that we are funding the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and make sure that it has teeth." In President Trump's 2027 budget proposal, the EPA's discretionary funding would be decreased by 52 percent. 

I asked Wagner about the increase in ICE activity across the nation and District 16 since 2025, including 52 recorded deaths in ICE custody nationally from Jan. 2025 to June 2026. There have been no recorded deaths at ICE facilities in District 16. "What I see from ICE is just absolute lawlessness," Wagner said. Expanding on this, he also advocated for immigration reform and constitutional safeguards: "There needs to be transparency and accountability." 

That's the word that continued to come up in our conversation: accountability. Wagner said if elected, he will be accountable to the people of District 16. 

The mail-in ballot request deadline is Oct. 27 and Election Day is Nov. 3, polls close at 8 p.m.