The Gist
State Representative, 20th District
Photo of Emily Kinkead
Emily KinkeadOfficial portrait — Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Emily Kinkead

Candidate for State Representative, 20th District

DemocraticIncumbent

Background

Occupation
State representative; attorney
Lives in
Pittsburgh (Brighton Heights)
Campaign website
emily4pa20.com

State representative for the 20th District, first elected in 2020; she chairs the Legislative Hunger Caucus. An attorney, she previously clerked for Commonwealth Court Judge Michael H. Wojcik and worked for Common Cause.

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Photo: Official portrait — Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Documented positions

Taxes & budget

  • Supports requiring regular property reassessments in all 67 counties.In office

    Plans a bill with Rep. Jen Mazzocco to mandate reassessment on a 10-year cycle, similar to S.B. 567.

    Kinkead, Mazzocco to introduce bill requiring regular property assessments

    Public statement · Office of Rep. Emily Kinkead · Aug 18, 2026 · pahouse.com

    “that means requiring regular reassessments for all 67 counties”
    Report

Education

  • Calls for a larger state share of K-12 funding and opposes current cyber charter school funding.

    Issues - Emily Kinkead for State Representative District 20

    Campaign website · People for Emily Kinkead · Public Education … Public Education · emily4pa20.com

    “We need to do more to increase the state share of education funding for our local schools. … the current scheme of funneling taxpayer dollars to prop up failing cyber charter schools is a complete disgrace”
    Report

  • Sponsored a House-passed bill doubling the special education contingency fund for high-cost students.In office

    H.B. 2307 raises the contingency share of the Special Education Fund from 1% to 2%; passed the House June 16, 2026.

    Kinkead bill for special education funding reform passes PA House

    Public statement · Office of Rep. Emily Kinkead · Jun 16, 2026 · pahouse.com

    “These reforms would help make sure contingency funding reaches the schools and students who need it most”
    Report

Economy & jobs

  • Supports raising the minimum wage and tying future increases to legislators' cost-of-living raises.

    Her campaign site backs a $15 minimum wage indexed to inflation; in March 2026 she introduced H.B. 2312 to apply lawmakers' annual COLA to the minimum wage.

    Issues - Emily Kinkead for State Representative District 20

    Campaign website · People for Emily Kinkead · Living Wage · emily4pa20.com

    “she supports a $15 minimum wage in Pennsylvania as the essential first step to a true living wage”
    Kinkead, Green unveil bill tying legislator COLA to minimum wage increases

    Public statement · Office of Rep. Emily Kinkead · Mar 24, 2026 · pahouse.com

    “Taxpayers are funding annual raises for elected officials. Those same taxpayers deserve to see their wages grow as well.”
    Report

  • Opposes right-to-work laws and supports tougher penalties on employers that fight unionizing.

    Issues - Emily Kinkead for State Representative District 20

    Campaign website · People for Emily Kinkead · Labor … Labor · emily4pa20.com

    “Emily opposes right-to-work (for less) legislation. … She will work to protect collective bargaining rights, expand penalties for union-busting employers”
    Report

Health & human services

  • Supports writing abortion rights into Pennsylvania law.

    Issues - Emily Kinkead for State Representative District 20

    Campaign website · People for Emily Kinkead · Reproductive Justice · emily4pa20.com

    “she will fight to enshrine the protections of a woman's right to have a safe, legal abortion unencumbered by government interference or other barriers”
    Report

  • Sponsored a bill to hold insurance CEOs criminally liable when care denials cause serious harm or death.In office

    H.B. 2611 would create a new category of aggravated assault for insurance company CEOs; referred to the House Judiciary Committee.

    Kinkead, Friel launch bill to hold healthcare executives accountable

    Public statement · Office of Rep. Emily Kinkead · Jun 8, 2026 · pahouse.com

    “a decision to deny care leads to serious harm or death, there must be accountability”
    Report

Government & transparency

  • Supports campaign contribution limits, public financing of elections and an independent redistricting commission.

    Issues - Emily Kinkead for State Representative District 20

    Campaign website · People for Emily Kinkead · Government Reform … Government Reform · emily4pa20.com

    “Emily has fought to put caps on campaign contributions and fight to establish a system of public financing for elections … Emily supports establishing an independent citizens redistricting commission to redraw the boundaries of our legislative districts”
    Report

Courts & justice

  • Supports abolishing cash bail for non-violent offenses and expanding restorative justice programs.

    Issues - Emily Kinkead for State Representative District 20

    Campaign website · People for Emily Kinkead · Criminal Justice Reform … Criminal Justice Reform · emily4pa20.com

    “She believes that cash bail should be abolished for all non-violent offenses … Emily is also committed to expanding restorative justice programs”
    Report

  • Co-sponsored a House-passed bill shielding people who aid overdose victims from criminal charges.In office

    H.B. 1944 passed the House June 17, 2026.

    Friel, Kinkead bill to protect good Samaritans in drug, alcohol overdoses passes House

    Public statement · Office of Rep. Emily Kinkead · Jun 17, 2026 · pahouse.com

    “Fear of legal repercussions should never stand in the way of a person doing the right thing”
    Report

All sources (11)

Positions are summarized from the sources listed and are not inferred from party affiliation. Items marked “Provided by” were published by the candidate's verified campaign or party office under our campaign content standards. See something wrong? Use the Report link beside it, or contact us.