Delco-Philly State Rep First Women Elected To PA House Speaker Role

SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA — On the heels of State Rep. Mark Rozzi resigning from his role as the Speaker of the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, the House elected the first woman to even hold the role.

State Rep. Joanna McClinton (D-Delaware County/Philadelphia) was chosen for the role with a 102-99 vote Tuesday.

She is also the second black representative to lead the general assembly in its 200-year history.

"In my career, I’ve been blessed to achieve other ‘firsts’ in this chamber, and I am equally honored to serve as this historic body’s first woman speaker," McClinton said. "I stand before you today, humbled and honored to be elected your speaker, and most importantly, my election today makes me more hopeful about the future of our commonwealth and our communities."

McClinton is a former waitress and public defender.

She was first elected in 2015 and represents areas of west and southwest Philadelphia, as well as Yeadon and Darby boroughs in Delaware County.

"I’m confident if we collaborate rather than criticize, debate rather than disparage and replace shortsighted political gain with sincere cooperation - this body can do better - and will do better," she said. "Today can be our fresh start. Each of us is here because our neighbors have placed their trust in us. And that collective trust is what empowers us to act in the interest of our communities and to advance Pennsylvania for the common good."

The Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus celebrated McClinton's historic election.

"This milestone of not only a woman speaker of the House but a Black woman, is long overdue and very deserved," the group said. "Joanna McClinton has worked her way through the ranks of the legislature with savvy and grace and always with the knowledge of the tasks before her. We are confident she is ready to lead our chamber into this next two years and beyond. We beam with pride at the accomplishments and the history that is made today with our new Speaker Joanna McClinton."

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner called McClinton's election "a remarkable personal and professional achievement."

"As a former public defender in Philly, Speaker McClinton knows intimately that fully and equitably funded public education is the most effective form of violence prevention," he said. "Speaker McClinton knows that access to skills training and employment is the most effective way to reduce recidivism among people who are held accountable for harming their communities. Speaker McClinton knows that poverty wages and exploitation of workers are rampant in Pennsylvania, which has the lowest minimum wage in the country, and that accountability for abusive employers and corporations within Pennsylvania’s crimes statutes is severely lacking."

In 2013, McClinton became chief counsel to State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams.

In that role she developed policy and legislation, organized expungement fairs and public policy forums, and assisted constituents.

McClinton was elected the first woman and first African American to be elected as House Democratic Caucus chair in 2018 and again in 2020, when she was the first woman elected House Democratic leader.

She also recently became the first woman to serve as majority leader.