Todd Rowley

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Todd Rowley

Democratic Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 3, 2020

Education

Bachelor's

Washington College, 1986

Personal

Birthplace

Cumberland, Md.

Religion

Christian

Profession

FBI Special Agent

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

Campaign YouTube

Personal Facebook

Personal Twitter

Todd Rowley (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District. He lost in the general election on November 3, 2020.

Rowley completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Todd Rowley was born in Cumberland, Maryland. He obtained an undergraduate degree from Washington College in Chestertown in May 1986. Rowley began working as a substitute teacher for K-12 schools in 2014. Below is a brief timeline of Rowley's other professional experience:

• 2015-2017: Park ranger
• 1990-2014: FBI special agent
• 1987-1990: State trooper/flight paramedic
• 1986: Police officer

Rowley obtained the following professional credentials during his career: FBI special agent, supervisory special agent, and unit chief; FBI intelligence officer; and national registered EMT-paramedic. He is a member of the FBI Agents Association and the Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI and a volunteer for Somerset County Meals On Wheels and the Westmoreland County Food Bank.

Elections

2020

See also: Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District election, 2020

Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District election, 2020 (June 2 Republican primary)

Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District election, 2020 (June 2 Democratic primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House Pennsylvania District 13

Incumbent John Joyce defeated Todd Rowley in the general election for U.S. House Pennsylvania District 13 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		John Joyce (R)	73.5	267,789
		Todd Rowley (D)	26.5	96,612

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 364,401
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Pennsylvania District 13

Todd Rowley advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Pennsylvania District 13 on June 2, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Todd Rowley	100.0	41,988

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 41,988
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Pennsylvania District 13

Incumbent John Joyce advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Pennsylvania District 13 on June 2, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		John Joyce	100.0	94,171

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 94,171
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Todd Rowley completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Rowley's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Todd was born in Cumberland, Maryland and he and his family currently reside in Jones Mills, Donegal Township, Westmoreland County. Todd spent his childhood years on a family farm in Meyersdale, Somerset County, Pennsylvania and he and his younger sister were raised by a single mother. Todd comes from a union family of humble, modest means and he knows firsthand the struggles of working class families. Todd has spent most of his life in service to his community and country with nearly a 30-year career in law enforcement retiring after 24 years as a FBI Special Agent. Todd is currently a K-12 substitute teacher and active in his community in the fight against hunger and food insecurity.

The hardworking citizens of PA-13 deserve a representative in Congress, a voice in Washington who will always have the courage to speak truth to power and never use rhetoric of fear, untruths and disinformation, or hate to divide us as Americans. Todd is a leader who will restore our country's national sense of unity and our shared values of civility, decency, equality, fairness, tolerance, respect for each other and the rule of law. Todd will always place the interests of our country and the American people above political party, any individual leader or personal self-interest.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Todd will always fight for working class Americans - hardworking men, women and families of PA-13 to ensure access and availability of good, sustainable jobs, providing livable, family wages and benefits; access to affordable, quality healthcare where pre-existing health conditions are covered and the cost of life-saving prescription medications are affordable.
• Todd supports legislation to protect and strengthen Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
• Todd will protect existing manufacturing and energy jobs while creating new 21st century jobs; embracing and investing in renewable energy innovation, technology and production which will transform our overall U.S. energy sector; supports a bold, robust infrastructure legislation and appropriations package to rebuild our roads, bridges, tunnels, airports, railways, electrical grid, utilities, schools, hospitals and manufacturing and transportation industries; investment in our current and future workforce so that they receive the education and training required to support these new manufacturing, transportation and energy jobs.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

At the time of completing this questionnaire, our country and the world are in the midst of a deadly viral pandemic which has caused the U.S. and world economies to contract to record-setting levels with record unemployment. Despite this unprecedented global economic crisis, the U.S. economy is (and will again) remain the leader of a dynamic, global economy and it is strongest when we embrace free trade and open market economic policies. By doing so, the U.S. workforce and corporate America can thrive and grow. We must always ensure that economic trade policies benefit our workers and companies first; however, pursuing isolationist and closed market, tariff-based economic policies will only stagnate our economy. The U.S. economy is an integral part of a global economy and we must continue to lead and not surrender this role.

Other public policy priorities include:
• Restoring our economy by prioritizing workers' wages and benefits, above big corporations, CEO's and wealthy donors.
• Defending and protecting organized labor and unions.
• Investing in public education; supporting teachers and education support staff for the appropriate wages and benefits they deserve.
• Protecting our Veterans and supporting the brave men and women serving in our military.
• Equality and opportunity - Protecting Women's Rights, Civil Rights and LGBTQ Rights.
• Bipartisan Immigration reform.

• Protecting our elections; supporting campaign finance reform and term limits.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

As a representative and voice of the people - the citizens who place their trust and faith in someone by electing them to office - deserve nothing less that one's honesty, integrity, commitment, humility, courage, empathy and responsibility to their office.

My commitment to the hardworking men, women and families of PA-13 and Americans across our country is to always have courage to speak truth to power and never use rhetoric of fear, untruths and disinformation, or hate to divide us as Americans. I will be a leader who will fight to restore our country's national sense of unity and our shared values of civility, decency, equality, fairness, tolerance, respect for each other and the rule of law. I will always place the interests of our country and the American people above political party, any individual leader or personal self-interest.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I was raised by a single mother who taught me the values of hard work, being responsible and accountable, truthful and honest, integrity, empathy for those less fortunate and a commitment to doing what is right. I have been very fortunate and blessed to have had the opportunities afforded to me during my personal and professional life. These life experiences have prepared me to take on this tremendous responsibility of representing my fellow citizens. The trust and faith of my constituency is a responsibility that I deeply respect and will never take for granted.

My commitment to the citizens of PA-13 is to lead by example. Working to find compromise and common ground - without abandoning my principles - to address the many issues that confront our country in order to help the American people. I will be a leader who will fight for working class Americans - hardworking men, women and families with these priorities as a focus:

•	Access to affordable, quality healthcare; protecting coverage of pre-existing conditions; lowering costs of prescription medications.

• Protecting and strengthening Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
• Restoring our economy by prioritizing workers' wages and benefits, above big corporations, CEO's and wealthy donors; defending and protecting organized labor and unions.
• Investing in public education and supporting teachers.
• Protecting our Veterans and supporting our military.

• Protecting our elections, supporting campaign finance reform and term limits.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

As a five-year-old in July 1969, I have vivid memories of my family gathered around our black and white television watching the Apollo 11 moon mission and Neil Armstrong walking on the moon. I remember being fascinated by NASA and the thought of space exploration. I still have a book from my childhood that celebrated NASA and the Apollo 11 moon mission, titled "We Came In Peace."

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

"Goodbye to Beauty" by the Mark Lanegan Band

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

At the time of completing this questionnaire, our country and the entire world are in the midst of a global pandemic where millions of people have been infected and hundreds of thousands have died. These statistics are only projected to rise. From a national public health crisis, combined with a devastating economic crisis with millions of Americans unemployed, our immediate challenge will be centered on the mitigation efforts concerning the deadly viral pandemic and restoring our economy. These challenges will not be easy and will require continued sacrifice by all Americans. We must ensure that science and empirical data drives these decisions in order to save lives and eventually return people safely back to work and rebuilding our economy. As a country and as Americans we must find our way back to a national sense of unity and our shared values to address the many challenges we face.

In addition to the global pandemic and economic challenges our country faces, the geopolitical and foreign policy challenges regarding China, Russia, Iran and North Korea will continue to remain priorities for our government. Our country will need to peacefully and strategically contain a rising China - economically and militarily, who is seeking to dominate on the world stage. The Russian Federation will continue its efforts to undermine and weaken the western alliance and democracies throughout the free world with the U.S. at the center of their strategy. Although tough economic sanctions have weakened and isolated the Iranian government, it is a mistake to withdrawal from our diplomatic overtures regarding Iran's continued ambitions to pursue nuclear power and potential nuclear weapon capability. Unfortunately, North Korea will remain a very unstable, dangerous regime with a nuclear capability that must be contained.

These foreign policy challenges are real, and so is the global climate change crisis where we must lead the world to address this existential threat.

If you are not a current representative, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

It would be an honor and privilege to serve on any of the committees within the U.S. House of Representatives on behalf of the citizens of PA-13 and the American people.

I have nearly a 30-year career as a law enforcement and national security officer, 24+ years of which as a FBI Special Agent assigned to the Counterintelligence and Counterterrorism Divisions, including FBI Supervisory Special Agent assignments to the Department of Homeland Security, Central Intelligence Agency and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Based on my extensive background and work experience within law enforcement and the U.S. Intelligence Community, I believe my credentials would serve the U.S. House of Representatives and the American people well within the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and the Judiciary and Homeland Security Committee's.

Representing PA-13 and the agricultural-based economy within the district - hardworking farmers, ranchers and produce growers, while also having grown up on a family farm - being assigned to the Agriculture Committee would be a honor and privilege as well.

Other committees I would be interested in serving on include: Education and Labor, Foreign Affairs and Veterans' Affairs.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

I do support an amendment to the constitution setting reasonable term limits for members of Congress.

This issue is controversial and my view is that our government recognized the need for an amendment to Article II (22nd Amendment) placing term limits upon the Office of the President, and it is appropriate to set reasonable term limits for Article I - Congress. By setting a reasonable term limit for members of both the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate, representatives and candidates will focus on public service and their constituents, as opposed to special interests, lobbyists and staying in office and becoming a "career politician.". I believe having reasonable term limits will also increase the interest by more citizens getting involved and running for office, bringing fresh ideas and voices to our government for and by the people.

In addition to supporting term limits for Congress, I support legislation to strengthen electoral and campaign finance reforms, such as: legislation to prevent the ability of special interest and lobbying entities from funneling "dark money" into our political campaigns; capping corporate PAC contribution amounts; overturning the Citizens United decision; protecting and securing our electronic voting systems and making voting by mail available to every citizen; preventing foreign influence in our elections; establishing a National Voting holiday; and putting an end to gerrymandering by establishing fair districts created by independent, nonpartisan commissions. We must embrace common sense and reasonable campaign finance reform legislation to combat the corruption that pervades our electoral and political system.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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Footnotes

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Pennsylvania's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

John Fetterman (D)

David McCormick (R)

Representatives

District 1

Brian Fitzpatrick (R)

District 2

Brendan Boyle (D)

District 3

Dwight Evans (D)

District 4

Madeleine Dean (D)

District 5

Mary Scanlon (D)

District 6

Chrissy Houlahan (D)

District 7

Ryan Mackenzie (R)

District 8

Rob Bresnahan (R)

District 9

Dan Meuser (R)

District 10

Scott Perry (R)

District 11

Lloyd Smucker (R)

District 12

Summer Lee (D)

District 13

John Joyce (R)

District 14

Guy Reschenthaler (R)

District 15

Glenn Thompson (R)

District 16

Mike Kelly (R)

District 17

Chris Deluzio (D)

Republican Party (11)

Democratic Party (8)