The Gist
Home

State

State Representative, 179th District

Vote for
1
Term
2 years
Candidates
1
Election
Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A state representative votes on Pennsylvania laws and the state budget in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

Philadelphia only, in the lower Northeast (including parts of Frankford, Northwood and Summerdale): parts of Wards 23, 33, 35, 42 and 62. Uncontested: no Republican candidate is on the ballot.

Photo of Jason T Dawkins
Jason T DawkinsOfficial portrait — PA House Democratic Caucus

Jason T Dawkins

DemocraticIncumbent

State representative · Philadelphia

The gist

  • Sponsored the House-passed bill raising the minimum wage to $11 in 2027 and $15 by 2029, then indexing it.In office
  • Urges the state Senate to vote on raising the minimum wage.In office
  • Sponsored a law making domestic violence victims who leave work for safety reasons eligible for unemployment.In office
  • Sponsored a bill closing prevailing-wage loopholes for split rates and off-site custom fabrication (2024).In office
  • Proposes stronger penalties for grooming or sexually extorting children online, plus restitution for victims.In office
  • Proposes legislation to protect Philadelphia's $100,000 business tax (BIRT) exclusion for small businesses.In office
  • Sponsored legislation to let people serving life sentences petition a parole board.In office
  • Said the 2025 city contract raise for DC 33 workers lagged inflation and urged more support for city workers.In office

In office = from the candidate's own official statements or legislation as an officeholder, not their campaign.

More about Jason
View sources (8)
  1. Sponsored the House-passed bill raising the minimum wage to $11 in 2027 and $15 by 2029, then indexing it.

    PA House passes Dawkins' bill to raise minimum wage

    Public statement · Office of Rep. Jason Dawkins · Mar 24, 2026 · News release, March 24, 2026 · pahouse.com

    “would increase the statewide minimum wage from $7.25 per hour to $11 per hour, effective Jan. 1, 2027 … The minimum wage would then increase to $13 per hour in 2028 and $15 per hour in 2029”
  2. Urges the state Senate to vote on raising the minimum wage.

    House and Senate Democrats call for minimum wage increase

    Public statement · Office of Rep. Jason Dawkins · Jun 30, 2026 · News release, June 30, 2026 · pahouse.com

    “When you raise the wage, you raise all of us in this commonwealth.”
  3. Sponsored a law making domestic violence victims who leave work for safety reasons eligible for unemployment.

    Bill to help domestic violence victims receive unemployment heads to Gov's desk

    Public statement · Office of Rep. Jason Dawkins · Dec 17, 2025 · News release, Dec. 17, 2025 · pahouse.com

    “allow victims of domestic violence to qualify for unemployment benefits if they leave their jobs due to safety concerns”
  4. Sponsored a bill closing prevailing-wage loopholes for split rates and off-site custom fabrication (2024).

    Dawkins prevailing wage legislation passes Pa. House

    Public statement · Office of Rep. Jason Dawkins · Jun 24, 2024 · News release, June 24, 2024 · pahouse.com

    “prohibit the practice of paying "split rates" on publicly funded construction projects and ensure that custom fabrication work”
  5. Proposes stronger penalties for grooming or sexually extorting children online, plus restitution for victims.

    Co-Sponsorship Memo: Protecting Children from Online Exploitation

    Government record · Pennsylvania House of Representatives · Feb 9, 2026 · Co-sponsorship memo, Feb. 9, 2026 · palegis.us

    “strengthens penalties for using the internet to groom or sexually extort a child”
  6. Proposes legislation to protect Philadelphia's $100,000 business tax (BIRT) exclusion for small businesses.

    Co-Sponsorship Memo: Protect Small Businesses in Philadelphia

    Government record · Pennsylvania House of Representatives · Mar 24, 2025 · Co-sponsorship memo, March 24, 2025 · palegis.us

    “we will soon be introducing legislation to clarify that the city's BIRT exclusion does not violate the uniformity clause”
  7. Sponsored legislation to let people serving life sentences petition a parole board.

    Rep. Jason T Dawkins' Biography

    Government record · Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus · Biography · pahouse.com

    “This bill would allow all Pennsylvanians currently serving sentences of life imprisonment to go before a parole board and petition their cases.”
  8. Said the 2025 city contract raise for DC 33 workers lagged inflation and urged more support for city workers.

    Statement of Pennsylvania House Majority Labor Chair Jason Dawkins on the Tentative Agreement between AFSCME District Council 33 and Mayor Cherelle Parker

    Public statement · Office of Rep. Jason Dawkins · Jul 9, 2025 · Statement, July 9, 2025 · pahouse.com

    “a nine-percent raise spread over three years lags behind every credible projection of inflation”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown.