With a year-and-a-half to go before the 2020 election, a Butler County congressman already faces a challenger.

Daniel Smith, 43, of Adams Township announced Tuesday that he is seeking the Democratic nomination for the 2020 election in Pennsylvania's 16th congressional district.

Smith lost to state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-12th, last year, but he believes his platform proved strong enough in 2018 to unseat incumbent Rep. Mike Kelly, R, next year.

“I'm wanting to make a difference,” Smith said. “It's the same thing we did with the state race, but on a larger level.”

Smith, a Democrat, grew up in Zelienople. He thinks his Butler County ties will help him reach more voters.

“Any Democrat can win the primary up in Erie,” Smith said. “They have to work double as hard down here in the southern end of the district.”

In 2018, Kelly defeated Ron DiNicola by about 4 percent of the vote. DiNicola won a tall margin over Kelly in Erie County, but Kelly won the rest of the 16th, which includes Mercer, Lawrence, Crawford and Butler counties.

In explaining his candidacy, Smith criticized Kelly for routinely voting in step with President Donald Trump. He is critical in particular of previous Republican moves to alter or end the Affordable Care Act.

Smith has not held elected office. In addition to state representative, he also ran unopposed in May for the Democratic nomination for Butler County protonotary. He said he is withdrawing from that race ahead of the November general election.

Smith has worked in banking for about 24 years, he said, and started in customer service.