Madeleine Dean — Democrat Candidate for U.S. House in Pennsylvania, 2026

Madeleine Dean co-sponsored the Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act in December 2025, legislation aimed at ending inhumane immigration detention conditions. In February 2026, she advocated for reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). She also opposed amendments in June 2024 that would have stripped rights and status from long-term members of the workforce. She joined other Catholic Democrats in rebuking Speaker Johnson's defense of ICE.

Representative Madeleine Dean voted to extend Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies, aiming to prevent premium hikes and ensure health coverage for Pennsylvanians. She implored the Senate to also extend ACA tax credits, noting that their expiration forced thousands to drop health insurance. Dean opposes Republican proposals that would not restore or replace ACA funding, aligning with broader support for expanding the ACA.

“Seniors, small business owners, young adults — working people who are now without coverage. Yesterday I voted to extend the ACA subsidies. I implore our Senators to do the same. (Rep. Madeleine Dean, Glenside Local, January 10th, 2026)”

Representative Madeleine Dean views environmental stewardship as a core government responsibility, reflected in her support for protecting natural spaces and vulnerable species. She introduced H. Res. 410, recognizing Pennsylvania’s Environmental Rights Amendment. Dean was a cosponsor of the THRIVE Act, which aimed to drastically cut climate pollution, and the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, designed to implement a rising fee on carbon pollution to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

Madeleine Dean opposes abortion restrictions and supports reproductive rights. She voted against the Discharge Petition to hold a vote on the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (H.R. 962), which aimed to require medical care for infants surviving abortions.

Madeleine Dean supported the Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act (H.R. 8035) and the Korean American Divided Families National Registry Act (H.R. 7152). She voted against prohibiting the reduction of nuclear ICBMs below 400, favoring flexibility for arms control. Dean advocates for a War Powers resolution for the war with Iran, citing Congress's duty to declare war and define objectives. She also defends the importance of NATO.

“There's a big problem with that statement. We have not been told the president's objectives. The American people were not briefed on the president's objectives. Congress was not briefed even though he was four days before in front of the American people and a joint session of Congress at the State of the Union address where he had I believe the obligation the duty to make the case to us. Uh Congress we are the one who can declare war under article 1 section 8 and he and his adviserss know that uh and also make the case to the American people. After all, they are the president has demanded and has made uh American lives at risk. We've already seen some [...] on Iran. And please understand uh nobody uh is shedding a tear for Ayat Maini. Nobody uh is shedding a tear to an end to some part of the madness and the state sponsored terror in the region. Uh we're just now trying to keep together the fragile peace plan after all the sponsorship of Hamas in Gaza in the West Bank. And so um I I'm not confused about that. But this is an act of war. You go in, you use our military uh with a joint operation with Israel. Uh you don't define the mission. Is it about ballistic missiles? Is it about the nuclear program? Is it about regime change? Uh th this this was a war of choice and it is so incendiary, so dangerous. I worry about our military members. Uh I worry about civilians. We've already seen loss of life in Israel. I was just in Israel two weeks ago”

Congresswoman Madeleine Dean supports education funding bills, having voted to demonstrate her belief in these appropriations. She has also opposed the Trump administration's efforts to dismantle the Department of Education, characterizing such actions as disruptive. Dean previously supported the Education funding bill when it was last presented, noting improvements due to Democratic leadership.

““I believe in the five remaining funding bills — Defense; Financial Services; Labor; Health & Human Services; Education, State & Foreign Operations; and THUD — and have demonstrated that support with my votes. I supported these five bills when we were last here. They are better because of Democratic leadership.” - Congresswoman Madeleine Dean, Statement on Republican Funding Package Opposition, February 3, 2026.”

Congresswoman Madeleine Dean has actively worked to restore funding for gun violence prevention and community safety initiatives, citing the need to keep communities safe and prevent criminals from obtaining firearms. She filed amendments in September 2025 to reinstate funding for these programs. Dean has also supported universal background checks by voting for H.R. 8 and closing the Charleston loophole via H.R. 1446. She is endorsed by Giffords, an organization focused on gun violence prevention.

““The time for thoughts and prayers is over — we need a budget that delivers action to end our gun violence epidemic. This funding bill not only weakens prevention programs, intervention that we know works, it also guts funding for law enforcement,” Rep. Dean said. “My amendments would ensure that communities have the resources they need to keep residents safe and prevent criminals from obtaining firearms. Now more than ever, we must defend justice, democracy, and the rule of law.” (Rep. Madeleine Dean, dean.house.gov, September 10, 2025)”