Joanna McClinton is a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing District 191. She assumed office on August 25, 2015. Her current term ends on November 30, 2026. McClinton was first elected House speaker on February 28, 2023, becoming the first woman to serve in that position. Democrats won a 102-101 majority in the 2022 elections, but vacancies meant they temporarily ceded a 101-99 majority to Republicans. In the interim, all the chamber's Democrats and 16 Republicans elected Mark Rozzi as speaker, who promised not to caucus with Democrats and act as an independent. When those vacancies were filled, Rozzi resigned as speaker and said he wanted to make way for McClinton to become speaker. McClinton was re-elected House speaker in 2025. McClinton also served as House Democratic Caucus Chair from 2018 to 2020 and as House Democratic Leader from 2020 to 2023. McClinton received her B.A. in political science from LaSalle University and her J.D. from the Villanova University School of Law. Her professional experience includes working as an assistant public defender and as chief counsel to state Sen. Anthony Williams. McClinton was first elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives with 71% of the vote in a 2015 special election following the resignation of Ronald Waters.
