Gun Control Leader To Run For U.S. Congress In Montco's New 4th

ABINGTON, PA — An Abington native is running for U.S. Congress in the newly created 4th District of Pennsylvania.

Shira Goodman, a Democrat and graduate of Abington High School and Yale Law School, announced her run this week.

The new 4th District contains most of Montgomery County and part of Berks County. Its creation came about as a result of the state's redrawn congressional maps, after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court found that the existing gerrymandered map was unconstitutional.

Goodman is the executive director of CeaseFire PA, one of the state's largest gun control groups. And in announcing her campaign, Goodman confirmed this would her issue of focus.

"I'm tired of the weak politicians in Washington offering thoughts and prayers while they turn a blind eye to the murder of our children and ignore the pain of grieving families," she said. "This year, when Democrats take back the majority, I will stop at nothing to hold Congress and this administration accountable for the human costs of their failure to act."

Goodman said that she has raised $80,000 since telling supporters about her campaign three days ago.

Most of the area of the new 4th district is presently represented by U.S. Reps. Brendan Boyle (D-13) and Dwight Evans (D-2). However, parts of the severely gerrymandered region were also represented by Republican U.S. Reps. Ryan Costello (R-6) and Pat Meehan (R-7).

The new map is more clearly divided by township and county lines, and, while it favors Democrats (the old map favored Republicans), supporters say that it is not gerrymandered. Republicans, lead by President Trump and receiving local support from lawmakers like Rep. Costello, say that the move must be challenged in court.

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