Joanna McClinton

(Elected to replace Mark Rozzi following his resignation)

Born: August 19, 1982, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA.  Member of the House: 191st Legislative District, representing parts of Philadelphia and Delaware Counties, August 2015-current.  Affiliation: Democrat.

Before her meteoric rise and historic election as the first woman Speaker of the House in 2023, Representative Joanna McClinton had already earned an undeniable reputation for hard work, shattering longstanding barriers, and her commitment to servant leadership.

Growing up in southwest Philadelphia, McClinton was influenced by the determination and lived experiences of her mother and grandmother and quicky learned the value of public service.

As a student at Grace Temple Christian Academy, McClinton had a two-year internship with local Gospel station, WDAS-FM, where she discovered her voice, and developed a passion for discussing issues that affected people in her community.

McClinton went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Leadership in Global Understanding from LaSalle University in 2003 and a Juris Doctor degree from the Villanova University School of Law in 2006.  She became a practicing attorney and served seven years as a public defender and for two years as chief counsel to state Senator Anthony Hardy Williams.  McClinton won a special election to the House of Representatives on August 11, 2015, and was sworn in on August 25, 2015.  McClinton has been re-elected to the House for four additional consecutive terms.

As a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, McClinton championed voting reform, equality measures and violence prevention.  During her tenure as Speaker, the House adopted the most robust set of operating rules in more than a generation, ensuring that all voices are heard on the issues, that constitutional amendments are vetted through a public hearing before ending up on the ballot, and expanding anti-discrimination and anti-harassment protections for everyone who does work with the legislature.

Before being the first woman elected Speaker, McClinton was the first woman to serve as Democratic Caucus Chair, 2018-2020, and the first woman elected as Floor Leader for either party, serving as Democratic Leader, 2020-2023.  McClinton was elected the 141st Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives on February 28, 2023. 

In addition to her legislative leadership positions, McClinton is an ordained minister at a West Philadelphia church and has earned credits toward her master's degree in Bible Studies at a Philadelphia-area seminary.

Speaker McClinton has received several awards for her commitment to public service, including City and State PA's 40 Under 40 and its Power of Diversity: Black 100 list; the Barristers' Association of Philadelphia's Outstanding Young Lawyer of the Year award; Fun Time Magazine's Women of Influence Award; the PRE-K for PA Champion award; the Lucien E. Blackwell Guiding Light Community award; the Black Gala Women of Excellence award, and Politico’s Recast Power List 2022.

While McClinton has already claimed her place in Pennsylvania history, her legacy is still being written.

McClinton resides in southwest Philadelphia.