Anthony Williams (Pennsylvania)
1998 - Present
2026
25
Anthony Williams (Democratic Party) is a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate, representing District 8. He assumed office on December 1, 1998. His current term ends on November 30, 2026.
Williams (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Pennsylvania State Senate to represent District 8. He won in the general election on November 8, 2022.
Williams served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1988 to 1998, when he was first elected to the state senate.
Biography
Williams earned his bachelor's degree in economics from Franklin and Marshall in 1979. His professional experience includes working as an executive at PepsiCo.[1]
Committee assignments
2023-2024
Williams was assigned to the following committees:
- Banking & Insurance Committee
- Community, Economic & Recreational Development Committee, Chair
- Senate Education Committee
- Senate State Government Committee
2021-2022
Williams was assigned to the following committees:
- Communications & Technology Committee
- Intergovernmental Operations Committee, Minority Chair
- Law & Justice Committee
- Rules & Executive Nominations Committee
- Senate State Government Committee
2019-2020
Williams was assigned to the following committees:
- Senate Environmental Resources & Energy Committee
- Law & Justice Committee
- Rules & Executive Nominations Committee
- Senate State Government Committee, Minority Chair
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Pennsylvania committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Intergovernmental Operations, Minority chair |
| • State Government, Minority chair |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Williams served on the following committees:
| Pennsylvania committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • State Government, Minority Chair |
| • Communications & Technology |
| • Education |
| • Law & Justice |
| • Rules & Executive Nominations |
| • Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness |
| • Joint State Government Commission |
| • Legislative Data Processing Center |
2013-2014
In the 2013-2014 legislative session, Williams served on the following committees:
| Pennsylvania committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Banking & Insurance |
| • Education |
| • Law & Justice |
| • Rules & Executive Nominations |
| • State Government |
| • Joint State Government Commission |
| • Legislative Data Processing Center |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Williams served on these committees:
| Pennsylvania committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Legislative Data Processing Center |
| • Banking & Insurance |
| • Communications & Technology |
| • Education |
| • Rules & Executive Nominations |
| • State Government, Minority Chair |
| • Joint State Government Commission |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Williams served on these committees:
| Pennsylvania committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Banking & Insurance |
| • Finance |
| • State Government, Ranking Democratic Member |
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2022
See also: Pennsylvania State Senate elections, 2022
General election
General election for Pennsylvania State Senate District 8
Incumbent Anthony Williams defeated John Hayes in the general election for Pennsylvania State Senate District 8 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Anthony Williams (D) | 86.6 | 70,557 |
 | John Hayes (R) | 13.4 | 10,911 | |
| Total votes: 81,468 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Pennsylvania State Senate District 8
Incumbent Anthony Williams defeated Paul Prescod in the Democratic primary for Pennsylvania State Senate District 8 on May 17, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Anthony Williams | 60.0 | 19,201 |
 | Paul Prescod | 39.9 | 12,767 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 53 | ||
| Total votes: 32,021 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Pennsylvania State Senate District 8
John Hayes advanced from the Republican primary for Pennsylvania State Senate District 8 on May 17, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | John Hayes (Write-in) | 73.2 | 582 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 26.8 | 213 | ||
| Total votes: 795 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Campaign finance
2019
See also: Mayoral election in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2019)
General election
General election for Mayor of Philadelphia
Incumbent James Kenney defeated William Ciancaglini in the general election for Mayor of Philadelphia on November 5, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | James Kenney (D) | 80.0 | 213,390 |
 | William Ciancaglini (R) | 19.7 | 52,537 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.3 | 724 | ||
| Total votes: 266,651 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Mayor of Philadelphia
Incumbent James Kenney defeated Anthony Williams and Alan Butkovitz in the Democratic primary for Mayor of Philadelphia on May 21, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | James Kenney | 66.9 | 133,966 |
| Anthony Williams | 24.3 | 48,672 | |
 | Alan Butkovitz | 8.8 | 17,517 | |
| Total votes: 200,155 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Mayor of Philadelphia
William Ciancaglini advanced from the Republican primary for Mayor of Philadelphia on May 21, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | William Ciancaglini | 99.6 | 17,291 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.4 | 68 | ||
| Total votes: 17,359 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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2018
General election
General election for Pennsylvania State Senate District 8
Incumbent Anthony Williams won election in the general election for Pennsylvania State Senate District 8 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Anthony Williams (D) | 100.0 | 86,092 |
| Total votes: 86,092 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Pennsylvania State Senate District 8
Incumbent Anthony Williams advanced from the Democratic primary for Pennsylvania State Senate District 8 on May 15, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Anthony Williams | 100.0 | 22,136 |
| Total votes: 22,136 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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2015
The city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, held elections for mayor and city council on November 3, 2015. A primary election took place on May 19, 2015. The filing deadline for candidates who wished to run in this election was March 10, 2015. In the Democratic primary for mayor, James Kenney defeated Anthony Williams, T. Milton Street, Doug Oliver, Nelson Diaz and Lynne Abraham. In the Republican primary, Melissa Lynn Bailey ran unopposed.[2] Kenney defeated Bailey, Socialist Workers Party candidate Osborne Hart and Independent candidates James Foster and Boris Kindij in the general election. Incumbent Michael Nutter (D) was ineligible to run for re-election after two terms due to term limits.[3]
| Mayor of Philadelphia, General election, 2015 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  James Kenney |
85.4% | 203,730 | |
| Republican | Melissa Lynn Bailey | 13.2% | 31,563 | |
| Independent | James Foster | 0.7% | 1,713 | |
| Socialist Workers | Osborne Hart | 0.5% | 1,234 | |
| Independent | Boris Kindij | 0.1% | 321 | |
| Write-in votes | 0.04% | 103 | ||
| Total Votes | 238,664 | |||
| Source: City of Philadelphia, "Official general election results," accessed November 23, 2015 | ||||
| Mayor of Philadelphia Democratic Primary, 2015 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | ||
|
James Kenney |
55.8% | 130,775 | ||
| Anthony Williams | 26.1% | 61,160 | ||
| Lynne Abraham | 8.4% | 19,782 | ||
| Doug Oliver | 4.2% | 9,934 | ||
| Nelson Diaz | 3.7% | 8,691 | ||
| T. Milton Street | 1.7% | 3,937 | ||
| Write-in | 0% | 24 | ||
| Total Votes | 234,303 | |||
| Source: Philadelphia City Commissioners, "Historical Election Results," accessed August 24, 2015 | ||||
2014
Elections for the Pennsylvania State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 20, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in that election was March 11, 2014. Incumbent Anthony Williams was set to face Christopher Broach in the Democratic primary, but Broach withdrew from the race on March 25, 2014, leaving Williams unopposed. Williams was unchallenged in the general election.[4][5][6]
2010
PA Governor
Williams ran for Governor of Pennsylvania in 2010. Williams was defeated by Dan Onorato in the May 18th Democratic primary.[7]
| Governor of Pennsylvania Democratic primary | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Onorato, Dan (D)
|
463,575 | |||
| Wagner, Jack (D) | 248,338 | |||
| Williams, Anthony Hardy (D) | 185,784 | |||
| Hoeffel, Joseph M. (D) | 130,799 | |||
PA State Senate
Williams won re-election to District 8. He was unopposed in the May 18 Democratic primary and defeated Republican Rhashea Harmon in the November 2 general election.[8]
| Pennsylvania State Senate District 8 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Anthony Williams (D)
|
62,920 | |||
| Rhashea Harmon (R) | 10,326 | |||
2006
On November 7, 2006, Williams was re-elected to Pennsylvania State Senate District 8.[9] Williams raised $328,815 for this campaign in which he ran unopposed.[10]
| Pennsylvania State Senate District 8 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| WILLIAMS, ANTHONY H. (D)
|
58,053 | |||
Campaign themes
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Anthony Williams did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2019
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Anthony Williams did not complete Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign website
2015
In a Q&A series with the Philadelphia Inquirer, Williams gave answers on the following issues. All quotes below are excerpts.[11]
| " | Since 2009, Philadelphia raised the sales, property, and cigarette taxes that provided nearly $400 million in local revenue to the School District. I do not support the mayor’s plan to increase the property-tax rate again, and I have four ways to increase city revenue for schools.[12] | ” |
| " | I believe in mayoral control of all public schools, and a board comprised of leading educators and parents with a stake in the future of the School District of Philadelphia. Based on my experiences in public service, I do not support an elected school board.[12] | ” |
| " | As mayor, I will reauthorize both the chief integrity officer and inspector general positions via executive order, and will forcefully advocate for a charter amendment to make the inspector general position permanent. This is necessary because transparency, ethics, and integrity are not just words, but values to be harnessed as strategic assets by the next mayor.[12] | ” |
| " | As mayor, I will commit to strong pension funding practices, find a dedicated revenue stream to accelerate a path to solvency without raising taxes, end exorbitant fees to Wall Street money managers, and improve long-term returns with diversified fund managers.[12] | ” |
| " | As mayor, I’ll push for full funding of the task force budget at the state level, and will increase Philadelphia gun license fees by 50 percent, from $20 to $30, to provide an estimated $350,000 in new, local revenue.[12] | ” |
| " | One idea I support is modeled on Single Stop USA’s Benefits Enrollment Network, a comprehensive database that assesses eligibility for untapped government services. Leveraging the BenePhilly centers across the city, I will explore the implementation of manned or unmanned city service kiosks in schools, libraries, and recreation centers to help citizens sign up for all benefits online.[12] | ” |
| " | As mayor, I will work with City Council to reinstate a responsible wage-tax reduction schedule to put more money in the hands of working Philadelphians, and attract and retain businesses.[12] | ” |
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Pennsylvania scorecards, email suggestions to [email protected].
2023
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show]. |
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In 2023, the Pennsylvania State Legislature was in session from January 3 to December 13.
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2022
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show]. |
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In 2022, the Pennsylvania State Legislature was in session from January 4 to November 30.
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2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
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In 2021, the Pennsylvania State Legislature was in session from January 5 to December 31.
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2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
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In 2020, the Pennsylvania State Legislature was in session from January 7 to November 30.
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2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
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In 2018, the Pennsylvania General Assembly was in session from January 2 through November 30.
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2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the Pennsylvania General Assembly was in session from January 3 through December 31.
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2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the Pennsylvania General Assembly was in session from January 5 through November 30.
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2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the Pennsylvania General Assembly was in session from January 6 through December 31.
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2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
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In 2014, the Pennsylvania General Assembly was in session from January 7 through November 12.
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2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
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In 2013, the Pennsylvania General Assembly was in session from January 2 to December 31.
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2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
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In 2012, the Pennsylvania General Assembly was in session from January 3 to November 30.
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2011
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2011, click [show]. |
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In 2011, the Pennsylvania General Assembly was in session from January 4 through November 30.
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Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Williams and his wife, Shari, have two children. They live in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[1]
Noteworthy events
On July 14, 2020, Williams announced that he tested positive for coronavirus.[13]
See also
2022 Elections
External links
|
Officeholder Pennsylvania State Senate District 8 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Project Vote Smart, "Rep. Anthony Williams," accessed March 11, 2014
- ↑ Philadelphia City Commissioners, "Historical Election Results," accessed August 24, 2015
- ↑ Office of the Philadelphia City Commissioners, "Comprehensive Election Calendar," accessed November 17, 2014
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "Official primary results for May 20, 2014," accessed July 9, 2014
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "2014 Official Candidate Listing," accessed March 19, 2014
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "2014 Unofficial general election results," accessed November 4, 2014
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "2010 General Primary," accessed March 11, 2014
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "2010 General Election," accessed March 11, 2014
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "2006 General Election," accessed March 11, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Report on 2006 campaign contributions," accessed March 11, 2014
- ↑ Philadelphia Inquierer, "The Next Mayor 2015," accessed May 8, 2015
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 12.6 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 27 News, "Pennsylvania state senator tests positive for Covid-19," July 14, 2020
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Pennsylvania State Senate District 8 1998-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Pennsylvania House of Representatives 1988-1998 |
Succeeded by - |
