Early life Reed was born David Leroy Reed in
Blairsville, Pennsylvania. He attended and graduated from
Homer-Center High School, where he played football and baseball. After high school, Reed attended
Indiana University of Pennsylvania, receiving a bachelor's degree in mathematics/economics. He later earned a master's degree in government administration from the
University of Pennsylvania. Reed completed an internship in the
Governor's Policy Office for Community and Economic Development in
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Both candidates made improving the local economic climate part of their platforms. Reed was inspired to challenge Steelman after seeing fellow 20-something
Jeff Coleman defeat another long-term Democrat in the adjacent
60th legislative district. As a challenger, Reed followed the campaign blueprint established in
2000 by when young
Jeff Coleman defeated Tim Pesci in nearby Armstrong County. Coleman personally assisted Reed in his campaign, from recruiting campaign help to advising him on his campaign statements. The political news site
PoliticsPA named Reed's campaign website the "sixth best website" in Pennsylvania during the election season. During the campaign, Steelman "erupted" on the district's airwaves with taxpayer-funded "
public service announcements" for the first time in a decade. His website was praised by
PoliticsPA as being among the best in that election cycle.
U.S. congressional campaign In January 2018, Reed announced he would campaign for the
United States Congress in
Pennsylvania's 9th congressional district after
Bill Shuster announced he would not run for re-election in 2018. However, he ended his campaign several months later when the
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania ruled the current district maps illegal and established new district maps. The new maps placed Reed's residence in Indiana, Pennsylvania in a new
15th congressional district alongside current Representative
Glenn Thompson.
Personal life Reed is married to the former Heather Camp, whom he met during his first election campaign. They have a son and two daughters, and reside in
White Township, Pennsylvania. ==References==