10/21/2026
Candidate Spotlight: Ray Bilger for Congress
Vote Tuesday Nov. 3rd for Ray or beforehand by mail-in ballot.
Online at www.raybilgerforcongress.com .
Ray's Background and Early Life
- Born in Bellefonte, PA, and raised in Pleasant Gap, a small rural town in Centre County.
- Father was a factory worker, machinist, and veteran who enjoyed road trips.
- Mother raised three children and was a talented cake decorator.
- Raised with strong working-class values of self-reliance, hard work, and helping others.
- Developed leadership and service values through Boy Scouts, Bellefonte High School, and the military.
Military and Intelligence Career
- Joined the U.S. Air Force in August 1986 as an Airborne Cryptologic Linguist.
- Served in both Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
- Dedicated 35 years to military service, national security, and intelligence.
- Worked in nearly 35 countries throughout his career.
- Served as a security officer, intelligence analyst, and team leader for:
- U.S. Air Force
- National Security Agency (NSA)
- U.S. State Department
- Served as NSA Technical Director for Cyber Analysis from 2015–2017.
Connection to Central Pennsylvania
- Maintained strong ties to central Pennsylvania despite spending much of his career overseas.
- Frequently returned home to visit family.
- Helped renovate the family home on the slopes of Mount Nittany.
- Ray and his wife have lived in the home since his mother's passing in 2020.
Why Ray Is Running for Congress
- Running for Congress to honor his family's working-class legacy.
- Inspired by his parents' sacrifices to provide a better future for their three children.
- Believes the American Dream is increasingly out of reach for many families.
- Concerned about rising hardships across central Pennsylvania and younger generations leaving the region.
- Wants to restore economic opportunity, hope, and prosperity to rural Pennsylvania.
- Seeks to rebuild Pennsylvania's 15th Congressional District.
- Committed to listening to residents regardless of political affiliation—Republican, Democrat, or Independent.
Pennsylvania's 15th Congressional District
- Largest congressional district geographically in Pennsylvania.
- Represents more than 750,000 constituents.
- District boundaries were redrawn in 2018 following a Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling.
- Glenn Thompson has poorly represented the area in Congress since 2009, following his election in 2008.
- Ray is challenging the longstanding representation and advocating for new leadership in Washington.
