Dawn Keefer
Keefer at the 2022 Hazlitt Summit hosted by Young Americans for Liberty Foundation
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
from the 92nd district
Assumed office
January 3, 2017[1]
Preceded byMike Regan
Personal details
Born (1972-10-06) October 6, 1972 (age 51)
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseTom
Children3
Residence(s)Dillsburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.

Dawn Wetzel Keefer[2] (born October 6, 1972) is an American politician from Pennsylvania, currently representing the 92nd District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

Early life and education

Keefer 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

Keefer has served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing the 92nd district, since 2017. She was initially elected 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.[6] She was one of 26 Pennsylvania House Republicans who signed a letter requesting the disqualification of Pennsylvania's electoral votes.[7] 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.[8]

Keefer is the inaugural chairwoman of the Pennsylvania State Freedom Caucus.[9] 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.[10] The caucus also sued the administration of Governor Josh Shapiro in 2024 after Shapiro implemented automatic voter registration in the state, claiming it to be executive overreach.[11]

On January 11, 2024, Keefer announced her candidacy for the Pennsylvania State Senate in the 31st district following the retirement of Mike Regan.[12]

Political positions

Keefer is frequently described as a small government conservative due to her efforts to cut back and restrict government spending.[13][14] She was recognized by the Conservative Political Action Committee (CPAC) for her high score on their Award for Conservative Excellence.[15]

Personal life

Keefer's husband is Tom. They have three children and live in Dillsburg, Pennsylvania.[16]

References

  1. ^ "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.
  2. ^ a b c d "Dawn Keefer". Pennsylvania House of Representatives Archives. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  3. ^ Klar, Rebecca (November 7, 2018). "Keefer wins second term in 92nd District House seat". yorkdispatch.com. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  4. ^ "York County business woman Dawn Keefer announces bid for Pa. legislature". PennLive.com. 2015-12-15. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ Enright, Matt (January 11, 2024). "Rep. Dawn Keefer announces bid for Sen. Mike Regan's seat". York Dispatch. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  7. ^ Murphy, Jan (27 November 2020). "26 Pa. House Republicans call for withdrawing certification of presidential electors". PennLIVE Patriot-News.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ Enright, Matt (December 8, 2022). "What can we expect from Pa.'s new House Freedom Caucus?". York Dispatch. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  10. ^ Wasserstein, Ben (July 27, 2023). "Pennsylvania Freedom Caucus calls for libraries to leave the American Library Association". 90.5 WESA. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  11. ^ Murphy, Jan (January 25, 2024). "Pa. lawmakers file lawsuit against Shapiro, Biden over election-related orders". PennLive Patriot-News. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  12. ^ "Dawn Keefer running for Pennsylvania State Senate". ABC27. 2024-01-11. Retrieved 2024-01-11.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ Johnson, Kayleigh (January 11, 2024). "Representative Dawn Keefer will run for Pennsylvania Senate". Fox43 WPMT. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ "About Dawn". PA State Rep. Dawn Keefer. PA House Republican Caucus. Retrieved 10 December 2022.


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