Pennsylvania House Speaker Joanna McClinton, the first Black woman to hold that position, is fighting for more progress in 2024, writes Sean Kitchen for The Keystone.

McClinton, a Southwest Philadelphia native, started her public service career more than a decade ago as a staffer in State Sen. Tony Williams’ office.

“I came to this job hoping to be able to influence a criminal justice reform platform,” said McClinton.

In 2015, she was approached by Williams and her retiring state representative, Ronald Waters, to run for his seat.

She was apprehensive at first about running in a special election at the time, but in the end, she believes it was very fortunate that she decided to run.

Her journey led her to become the first female speaker and the second African American speaker in the commonwealth’s history, which is of huge importance for those who are not used to seeing themselves represented in the legislature and politics in general.

“There is a saying that representation matters and it does,” she said. “There’s so many times when we think of a position of power, we do not see women and we definitely do not see women of color.”

Read more about Joanna McClinton’s first year as House Speaker and advocacy for women in The Keystone.

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