Biography

George Joseph "Mike" Kelly Jr. was born on May 10, 1948, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was raised in Butler, Pennsylvania, where he has resided for more than 50 years. Kelly is a businessman and politician who has served as a U.S. representative since 2011.

Prior to his election to Congress, Kelly worked in the automotive industry. He joined Kelly Chevrolet-Cadillac, Inc., a company founded by his father in the early 1950s. He took ownership of the dealership in the mid-1990s and expanded operations to include Hyundai and KIA franchises. His dealerships employ more than 100 people from the region. Kelly's entry into politics was influenced by the 2009 federal government takeover of General Motors, which impacted his dealership's ability to sell Cadillacs. He successfully arbitrated the dispute with GM before running for office.

Kelly is married to Victoria, a former elementary school teacher. They have four children and ten grandchildren. The couple has been involved in various charitable and educational initiatives, including the establishment of the Mary McTighe Kelly Creative Teaching Grant and the Lighthouse Foundation's One Warm Coat Program. Kelly founded the Butler Quarterback Club and The Golden Tornado Scholastic Foundation to support students in the Butler Area School District. He has also served on the boards of the Housing Authority of Butler County, the Redevelopment Authority of Butler County, and the Moraine Trails Council of Boys Scouts of America.

During his business career, Kelly's dealerships received Paycheck Protection Program loans during the coronavirus pandemic, which were later forgiven. In 2019, reports indicated that vehicles with active safety recalls were for sale at his dealerships. In 2021, a congressional ethics watchdog recommended subpoenaing Kelly regarding an ethics violation involving his wife's purchase