Longtime Republican Pennsylvania Representative Mike Kelly has a challenger in the 2024 election. 

Democrat Preston Nouri formally announced his candidacy to challenge incumbent Congressman Mike Kelly in Pennsylvania's 16th Congressional District Thursday. 

Nouri is a born and raised Pennsylvanian, who grew up in Erie and graduated from Fairview High School and the University of Pittsburgh. 

After college, Nouri moved to Washington D.C., where he worked in the U.S. House of Representatives, the Department of State, Partnership for a Secure America, and currently works in International Affairs and Defense policymaking. 

Nouri started and runs Lawrence Park and Go, a small convenience store in Lawrence Park, Erie, which served as an essential business throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. 

He plans to focus on increasing access to quality, affordable health care, including access to mental health services and addiction treatment. Nouri also plans to prioritize rebuilding and growing manufacturing jobs while investing in vocational training. 

"Young people like me are forced to leave Western Pennsylvania because Mike Kelly and other corrupt politicians have shipped jobs to other countries while failing to bring investments and development back home. I was born here, my friends and family live here, and I'm choosing to fight back because this is my home," Nouri said in a statement. 

In June, Kelly announced he re-election bid in 2024, asking the people of Western Pennsylvania for another round of support. 

"Together we have accomplished so much, and I would like the opportunity to continue to bring our values to Washington, D.C. while bringing our taxpayer dollars back home," said Kelly when he announced his bid for re-election. 

Kelly defeated Republican Kathy Dahlkemper in 2010, kicking off his first term in Congress. 

In 2022, Kelly won re-election by more than 19 points against challenger Dan Pastore. It followed his 2020 victory over Kristy Gnibus, where he won by 18 points. 

If Kelly wins re-election in 2024, it will be his 8th term in Congress. 

Pennsylvania's 16th Congressional District covers all of Mercer, Lawrence, Erie, Crawford, and Butler counties and a third of Venango.