Madeleine Dean

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Madeleine Dean
BornMadeleine Dean Cunnane
6 6, 1959
BirthplaceGlenside, Pennsylvania, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationPolitician, lawyer
Known forU.S. Representative for Pennsylvania's 4th congressional district
EducationWidener University (JD)
La Salle University (BA)
Montgomery County Community College
University of Pennsylvania
Spouse(s)Patrick Cunnane
Children3
Website[https://dean.house.gov/ Official site]

Madeleine Dean Cunnane (born June 6, 1959) is an American politician and lawyer who has served as the U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania's 4th congressional district since January 3, 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, Dean represents a district that encompasses nearly all of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, a suburban county north of Philadelphia, as well as a northeastern portion of Berks County. Before her election to Congress, she served as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing the 153rd district from 2012 to 2018, a seat previously held by Josh Shapiro, who went on to become Governor of Pennsylvania.[1] In Congress, Dean has served on the House Appropriations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee, where she has focused on issues including healthcare affordability, criminal justice reform, government spending, and foreign policy.[2] Born and raised in the Philadelphia suburbs, Dean built a career in law and academia before entering public life, and she has become a prominent voice in the Pennsylvania Democratic delegation.

Early Life

Madeleine Dean was born on June 6, 1959, in Glenside, Pennsylvania, a community in the suburban Philadelphia area of Montgomery County.[3] She grew up in the region that she would later represent in both the state legislature and the United States Congress. Montgomery County, one of the most populous and affluent suburban counties in Pennsylvania, has long been a politically significant area in statewide and national elections.

Dean's upbringing in the Philadelphia suburbs shaped her civic engagement and interest in public service. She remained rooted in the Montgomery County area throughout her educational and professional career, establishing deep ties to the community that would form the foundation of her later political life.[3]

Education

Dean's educational background spans several institutions in the greater Philadelphia area. She began her higher education at Montgomery County Community College, a two-year institution in her home county.[3] She subsequently transferred to La Salle University, a private Catholic university in Philadelphia, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree.[3] Dean went on to obtain her Juris Doctor degree from the Delaware Law School at Widener University, qualifying her to practice law in Pennsylvania.[3] She also attended the University of Pennsylvania, one of the Ivy League institutions located in Philadelphia.[4]

Her educational trajectory, beginning at a community college and progressing through a four-year university and law school, provided Dean with both legal credentials and a perspective informed by different tiers of the higher education system.

Career

Legal and Academic Career

Before entering elected office, Dean worked as a lawyer and in academia. Her legal training at Widener University's law school prepared her for a career that bridged the legal profession and public policy. Dean also held positions in higher education, which gave her experience in institutional settings prior to her transition to politics.[3]

Pennsylvania House of Representatives (2012–2018)

Dean's career in elected office began in 2012 when she won a special election to represent the 153rd district in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. She succeeded Josh Shapiro, who had vacated the seat. Dean took office on April 24, 2012, and would serve in the state legislature until November 30, 2018.[5]

During her tenure in the Pennsylvania House, Dean focused on a range of policy issues, with education emerging as a priority. She was among state lawmakers who placed education policy at the center of their legislative agendas.[6] She also worked on public safety issues during her time in the state legislature.[7]

Dean was also involved in broader legislative efforts through the Southeast Delegation of the Pennsylvania House, working on issues of regional concern to the greater Philadelphia area.[8]

In addition to her legislative work, Dean was named by Governor Tom Wolf to serve on the Pennsylvania Commission for Women, reflecting her engagement with issues of gender equity and women's participation in public life.[9]

Consideration for Lieutenant Governor

In late 2017, Dean considered running for Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania in the 2018 election cycle. Her potential candidacy attracted media attention, though she ultimately decided not to pursue the race.[10] Instead, Dean set her sights on a seat in the United States Congress, a decision that would prove consequential for her political career.

2018 Congressional Campaign

Following a court-ordered redistricting of Pennsylvania's congressional map in 2018, Dean ran for the newly drawn Pennsylvania's 4th congressional district. The redistricting created a seat centered on Montgomery County that was considered favorable to Democratic candidates. Dean entered the Democratic primary for the seat and won the nomination in the May 2018 primary election.[11]

In the general election held on November 6, 2018, Dean defeated her opponents to win the seat.[12][13] She succeeded Scott Perry in representing the area, though Perry's former district had been substantially redrawn as part of the redistricting process. Her predecessor in the state House, Ben Sanchez, succeeded her in the 153rd district seat.[14]

U.S. House of Representatives (2019–present)

Dean took office on January 3, 2019, at the start of the 116th United States Congress.[4] She has since been reelected multiple times and continues to serve as the representative for Pennsylvania's 4th congressional district.[15]

Committee Assignments

In Congress, Dean has served on significant committees that shape domestic spending and international policy. She is a member of the House Appropriations Committee, which oversees federal government spending, and the House Foreign Affairs Committee, which handles legislation and oversight related to U.S. foreign policy and international relations.[16]

Impeachment of Donald Trump

Dean served as one of the impeachment managers during the second impeachment trial of President Donald Trump in 2021. She was selected by Speaker Nancy Pelosi to be among the House members who presented the case for impeachment to the United States Senate.[17] This role placed Dean in a prominent national position during one of the most consequential constitutional proceedings in modern American history.

Healthcare and Social Security

Dean has been an advocate for affordable healthcare access and the protection of social programs. In 2026, she invited Lisa Boone Bogacki, described as a champion for affordable healthcare, as her guest to the State of the Union address, highlighting her continued focus on healthcare policy and the preservation of the Affordable Care Act and Social Security.[18]

Criminal Justice Reform

Dean has worked on bipartisan criminal justice legislation. In 2026, she joined with Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Republican Representative Laurel Lee, and Republican Representative Don Bacon to reintroduce legislation aimed at protecting private communication between incarcerated individuals and their attorneys. The bipartisan nature of the bill reflected Dean's efforts to find common ground across party lines on issues related to the criminal justice system.[19]

Foreign Policy

As a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Dean has engaged with a range of international issues. In October 2025, she led a letter signed by 90 members of Congress urging the Trump administration to remain committed to ceasefire efforts and long-term peace in the context of ongoing international conflicts.[20]

Dean also issued a statement marking the second anniversary of the October 7th attack, reflecting on the event and its implications for U.S. foreign policy and international relations.[21]

Government Spending and Budget Issues

Dean has been vocal on matters of government funding and fiscal policy. In October 2025, she released a statement criticizing what she described as a Republican-led government shutdown, drawing attention to the impact of government shutdowns on federal workers and public services.[22] In November 2025, she released a further statement regarding a shutdown deal, reflecting her ongoing engagement with budget and appropriations matters through her seat on the Appropriations Committee.[23]

Technology and Artificial Intelligence

In January 2026, Dean, along with Senator Amy Klobuchar and Representative María Elvira Salazar, called for a Department of Justice investigation into sexually explicit AI-generated images produced by Grok, an artificial intelligence system. The bipartisan and bicameral effort addressed emerging concerns about the misuse of AI technology and its potential for harm.[24]

Media and Commentary

Dean has contributed opinion pieces to national media outlets on political and policy matters. In February 2026, she published an opinion piece in Newsweek regarding the performance of U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, which drew attention from regional media outlets covering her congressional district.[25]

Personal Life

Madeleine Dean is married to Patrick Cunnane, and the couple has three children.[4] Her full married name is Madeleine Dean Cunnane, though she is known professionally and politically as Madeleine Dean. The family has resided in the Montgomery County area, the region she represents in Congress.

Dean's personal experiences have informed some of her policy positions. She has spoken publicly about issues affecting families, including healthcare access and education, topics that have been central to her legislative work at both the state and federal levels.

Electoral History

Dean first won elected office in a 2012 special election for the 153rd district of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, succeeding Josh Shapiro.[26] She won reelection to the state House seat in subsequent cycles.

In the 2018 general election for Pennsylvania's 4th congressional district, Dean won the seat, defeating Republican nominee and other candidates. Her initial congressional victory in a suburban Philadelphia district was part of a broader wave of Democratic gains in suburban areas during the 2018 midterm elections.[27] She has been reelected in subsequent election cycles.[28]

Her initial election to the state House in a 2012 special election was also covered by local media, with Dean defeating Nick Mattiacci and Ken Krawchuk for the seat.[29]

References

  1. ↑ "Member Information — Madeleine Dean".Pennsylvania General Assembly.http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/House_bio.cfm?id=1613.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  2. ↑ "Congresswoman Madeleine Dean".Office of Congresswoman Madeleine Dean.https://dean.house.gov/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 "Madeleine Dean — Biography".Vote Smart.http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/136484/madeleine-dean#.UK5iHeRZUZk.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "DEAN, Madeleine — Biographical Directory of the United States Congress".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=D000631.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  5. ↑ "Member Information — Madeleine Dean".Pennsylvania General Assembly.http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/House_bio.cfm?id=1613.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  6. ↑ "PA lawmakers put education at top of agenda in election".Watchdog.org.https://www.watchdog.org/issues/education/pa-lawmakers-put-education-at-top-of-agenda-in-election/article_a41ba011-61ad-54c3-82b5-b4f66cc36d16.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  7. ↑ "PA Safe Caucus News Release".Pennsylvania House of Representatives.http://www.pahouse.com/PASafe/InTheNews/NewsRelease/?id=72304.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  8. ↑ "South East Delegation News Release".Pennsylvania House of Representatives.http://pahouse.com/SouthEastDelegation/InTheNews/NewsRelease/?id=80281.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  9. ↑ "Governor Wolf Names New Members to the Pennsylvania Commission for Women".Office of the Governor of Pennsylvania.https://www.governor.pa.gov/governor-wolf-names-new-members-to-the-pennsylvania-commission-for-women/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  10. ↑ "Suburban Philly lawmaker drops".PennLive.https://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2018/02/suburban_philly_lawmaker_drops.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  11. ↑ "Results: Pennsylvania Primary Elections".The New York Times.2018-05-15.https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/05/15/us/elections/results-pennsylvania-primary-elections.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  12. ↑ "General Election Office Results".Pennsylvania Department of State.https://www.electionreturns.pa.gov/General/OfficeResults?OfficeID=11&ElectionID=63&ElectionType=G&IsActive=1.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  13. ↑ "Pennsylvania House District 4".The New York Times.https://www.nytimes.com/elections/results/pennsylvania-house-district-4.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  14. ↑ "Member Information — Madeleine Dean".Pennsylvania General Assembly.http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/House_bio.cfm?id=1613.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  15. ↑ "Madeleine Dean — Congress.gov".Library of Congress.https://www.congress.gov/member/madeleine-dean/D000631.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  16. ↑ "Congresswoman Dean's Statement on Republican Government Shutdown".Office of Congresswoman Madeleine Dean.2025-10-01.https://dean.house.gov/2025/10/congresswoman-dean-statement-on-republican-government-shutdown.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  17. ↑ "Speaker Pelosi Names Impeachment Managers".Office of the Speaker of the House.https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/11221-0.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  18. ↑ "Congresswoman Dean Welcomes Lisa Boone Bogacki, ACA & Social Security Advocate, as State of the Union Guest".Office of Congresswoman Madeleine Dean.https://dean.house.gov/press-releases?id=0BF8D910-A1D7-4F28-948E-B54876EC50B4.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  19. ↑ "Dean, Jeffries, Lee, Bacon Reintroduce Legislation to Protect Private Communication Between Incarcerated People and Their Lawyers".Office of Congresswoman Madeleine Dean.2026-02-01.https://dean.house.gov/2026/2/dean-jeffries-lee-bacon-reintroduce-legislation-to-protect-private-communication-between-incarcerated-people-and-their-lawyers.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  20. ↑ "Congresswoman Dean Urges Trump Administration to Remain Committed to Ceasefire and Long-Term Peace".Office of Congresswoman Madeleine Dean.2025-10-29.https://dean.house.gov/2025/10/congresswoman-dean-urges-trump-administration-to-remain-committed-to-ceasefire-and-long-term-peace.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  21. ↑ "Congresswoman Dean's Statement On Second Anniversary of October 7th Attack".Office of Congresswoman Madeleine Dean.2025-10-07.https://dean.house.gov/2025/10/congresswoman-madeleine-dean-statement-on-second-anniversary-of-october-7th-attack.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  22. ↑ "Congresswoman Dean's Statement on Republican Government Shutdown".Office of Congresswoman Madeleine Dean.2025-10-01.https://dean.house.gov/2025/10/congresswoman-dean-statement-on-republican-government-shutdown.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  23. ↑ "Congresswoman Dean's Statement on the Shutdown Deal".Office of Congresswoman Madeleine Dean.2025-11-12.https://dean.house.gov/2025/11/congresswoman-dean-s-statement-on-the-shutdown-deal.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  24. ↑ "Dean, Klobuchar, and Salazar Demand DOJ Investigation into Grok's Sexually Explicit AI-Generated Images".Office of Congresswoman Madeleine Dean.2026-01-01.https://dean.house.gov/2026/1/dean-klobuchar-and-salazar-demand-doj-investigation-into-grok-s-sexually-explicit-ai-generated-images.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  25. ↑ "Rep. Dean published an opinion piece in Newsweek titled 'Bad Bondi's Disgraceful Performance'".MoreThanTheCurve.https://morethanthecurve.com/rep-dean-published-an-opinion-piece-in-newsweek-titled-bad-bondis-disgraceful-performance/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  26. ↑ "Member Information — Madeleine Dean".Pennsylvania General Assembly.http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/House_bio.cfm?id=1613.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  27. ↑ "Pennsylvania House District 4".The New York Times.https://www.nytimes.com/elections/results/pennsylvania-house-district-4.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  28. ↑ "Madeleine Dean — FEC".Federal Election Commission.https://www.fec.gov/data/candidate/H8PA04116.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  29. ↑ "Election: Madeleine Dean defeats Nick Mattiacci, Ken Krawchuk for the 153rd".Times Chronicle.http://www.montgomerynews.com/timeschronicle/news/election-madeleine-dean-defeats-nick-mattiacci-ken-krawchuk-for-the/article_4a2ec757-7292-5cbb-9b1e-92bdc4a276ac.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.

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