Rick Telesz

Rick Telesz, of Volant, said he was inspired to run for Congress after Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-16th, challenged the state's mail-in voting law and objected to certification of the 2020 presidential election.

Telesz, a 64-year-old Lawrence County crop and dairy farmer, is seeking the Democratic party nomination to challenge longtime incumbent Kelly, of Butler, to represent the 16th district in the U.S. House of Representatives. This is his first run at public office.

“What he did after the election inspired me to do something,” Telesz said.

He said Kelly was among the representatives who voted against congressional certification of the presidential election and he filed a state lawsuit to have 2.5 million mail-in ballots thrown out, arguing that the state Legislature lacked authority when it expanded mail-in voting.

Certification of the election results that put President Joe Biden into office was disrupted Jan. 6, 2021, by the riot in the Capitol, but the results eventually were certified.

“He voted to disqualify mail-in votes in Pennsylvania, and he was very vocal supporting what people call 'The Big Lie.' He wanted votes thrown out. His motive was to keep one individual in power. He was sacrificing everybody,” Telesz said. “I'm doing this for the future of my kids and everybody else out there.”

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