Lang set to run against Fattah

Adam Lang, a 30-year-old network engineer and ward chairman from North Philadelphia, will run against U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-Philadelphia) in the fall, Lang and the city's GOP announced Wednesday.

PolitickerPa.com reported last week that Lang was being considered as a possible candidate to run against the longtime incumbent Fattah after Republican Michael Livingston dropped out of the race in June.

It remains unclear who else, if anyone, was under serious consideration to replace Livingston on the ballot. But despite the near impossibility of a Republican beating Fattah in an overwhelmingly Democratic district, the 30-year-old Lang could provide some welcome energy in a city where Republican candidates rarely make much noise.

The 2nd Congressional District is largely made up of areas in Philadelphia, but also includes small parts of Montgomery County.

"Philadelphia and Montgomery County need an effective voice in Congress," Lang said in a statement. "I'm ready to help find solutions to the problems our region will face in the 21st century."

In a statement released with the announcement, Al Schmidt, executive director of the Philadelphia Republican City Committee, said: "Adam Lang represents the best of a new generation of Republican candidates stepping forward to challenge an unacceptable status quo."

Lang is chairman of the city's 29th ward in the Brewerytown and Sharswood neighborhoods. He also serves on the board of the Brewerytown Sharswood Community Civic Assoction, and is also a member of the Loyal Opposition, a new group of young Republicans pushing conservative and Republican ideas.

Fattah has never faced a serious reelection challenge since winning the seat 18 years ago.