Dawn Wetzel Keefer[2] (born October 6, 1972) is an American politician who represented the 92nd district in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 2017 to 2024. A member of the Republican Party, she is the current state senator-elect from the 31st district.
Dawn Keefer | |
|---|---|
 Keefer at the 2024 Hazlitt Summit hosted by Young Americans for Liberty Foundation | |
| Member-elect of the Pennsylvania Senate from the 31st district | |
| Assuming office January 6, 2025 | |
| Succeeding | Mike Regan |
| Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 92nd district | |
| In office January 3, 2017[1] – November 30, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Mike Regan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 6, 1972 Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Tom |
| Children | 3 |
| Residence(s) | Dillsburg, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
Early life and education
editKeefer was born on October 6, 1972, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Gettysburg Area High School in 1991.[2] In 1995, Keefer earned a BA degree in government and politics from George Mason University.[2]
Career
editKeefer was initially elected to the represent the 92nd district in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2016 and won reelection in 2018, 2020, and 2022.[3][2][4][5]
Following the 2020 United States presidential election, Keefer supported efforts to overturn the election results in Pennsylvania, advocating for an audit of the election and an investigation into claims of election fraud despite lacking evidence.[6][7] She was one of 26 Pennsylvania House Republicans who signed a letter requesting the disqualification of Pennsylvania's electoral votes.[8] Keefer was also one of several lawmakers in contact with Congressman Scott Perry following the election; Perry was one of the chief architects of attempts to reverse the election results to favor then-President Donald Trump.[9]
Keefer is the inaugural chairwoman of the Pennsylvania State Freedom Caucus.[10] Under her leadership, the caucus called for Pennsylvania libraries to withdraw from the American Library Association after its president, Emily Drabinski, referred to herself as a "Marxist" in a social media post.[11] The caucus also sued the administration of Governor Josh Shapiro in 2024 after he implemented automatic voter registration in the state, claiming it to be executive overreach.[12]
On January 11, 2024, Keefer announced her candidacy for the Pennsylvania State Senate in the 31st district following the retirement of Mike Regan.[13] She defeated Democratic candidate Mark Temons in the general election.[14]
Political positions
editKeefer is frequently described as a fiscal conservative and an advocate for small government due to her efforts to cut back and restrict government spending.[15][16][17] She was recognized by the Conservative Political Action Committee (CPAC) for her high score on their Award for Conservative Excellence.[18]
In 2021, Keefer and four other Republicans in the State House sponsored a bill that would have banned transgender athletes participating in the sport of their gender identity.[19]
Keefer was heavily critical of Governor Tom Wolf's efforts to mitigate the growth of the COVID-19 pandemic, chastising him for shuttering businesses to stop the spread of the disease and causing the state's subsequent growth of unemployment. She supported the immediate end of Wolf's public health mandates in 2022.[15]
Personal life
editKeefer's husband is Tom. They have three children and live in Dillsburg, Pennsylvania.[20]
References
edit- ^ "SESSION OF 2017 201ST OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY No. 1" (PDF). Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Legislative Journal. Pennsylvania General Assembly. January 3, 2017. pp. 2, 4–5. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Dawn Keefer". Pennsylvania House of Representatives Archives. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
- ^ Klar, Rebecca (November 7, 2018). "Keefer wins second term in 92nd District House seat". yorkdispatch.com. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
- ^ "York County business woman Dawn Keefer announces bid for Pa. legislature". PennLive.com. 2015-12-15. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
- ^ Urie, Daniel (November 9, 2022). "York County Republican incumbent wins 4th term in Pa. state house". PennLIVE Patriot-News. Advance Local Media LLC. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
- ^ Enright, Matt (January 11, 2024). "Rep. Dawn Keefer announces bid for Sen. Mike Regan's seat". York Dispatch. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
- ^ O'Laughlin, Lindsey (November 10, 2020). "Keefer, other lawmakers call for investigation into election". York Dispatch. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ Murphy, Jan (27 November 2020). "26 Pa. House Republicans call for withdrawing certification of presidential electors". PennLIVE Patriot-News.
- ^ Enright, Matt (November 30, 2023). "Unsealed documents reveal more on Perry's involvement in 2020 election, references other York County lawmakers". York Dispatch. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
- ^ Enright, Matt (December 8, 2022). "What can we expect from Pa.'s new House Freedom Caucus?". York Dispatch. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
- ^ Wasserstein, Ben (July 27, 2023). "Pennsylvania Freedom Caucus calls for libraries to leave the American Library Association". 90.5 WESA. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
- ^ Murphy, Jan (January 25, 2024). "Pa. lawmakers file lawsuit against Shapiro, Biden over election-related orders". PennLive Patriot-News. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
- ^ "Dawn Keefer running for Pennsylvania State Senate". ABC27. 2024-01-11. Retrieved 2024-01-11.
- ^ Bell, Mac; Stockburger, George (November 6, 2024). "Dawn Keefer elected to Pennsylvania State Senate: Election results 2024". abc27. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
- ^ a b Garcia, Bianca (October 23, 2020). "PA House District 92: Dawn Keefer (R) vs. Doug Ross (D)". FOX43. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ Murphy, Jan (November 3, 2022). "Abortion, school choice among issues divide incumbent, challenger in Pa. House race". PennLive Patriot-News. Advance Local Media LLC. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
- ^ Johnson, Kayleigh (January 11, 2024). "Representative Dawn Keefer will run for Pennsylvania Senate". Fox43 WPMT. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
- ^ DeJesus, Ivey (January 11, 2024). "Head of Pa. House Freedom Caucus vies for open state Senate seat". PennLive Patriot-News. Advance Local Media LLC. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
- ^ Hullinger, Logan (April 6, 2021). "Keefer bill would ban trans girls, women from competing in sports based on gender identity". York Dispatch. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ "About Dawn". PA State Rep. Dawn Keefer. PA House Republican Caucus. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
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