MaryLouise Isaacson
2018 - Present
2024
5
MaryLouise Isaacson (Democratic Party) is a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing District 175. She assumed office on December 1, 2018. Her current term ends on November 30, 2024.
Isaacson (Democratic Party) is running for re-election to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to represent District 175. She is on the ballot in the general election on November 5, 2024. She advanced from the Democratic primary on April 23, 2024.
Isaacson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
MaryLouise Isaacson earned a bachelor's degree from the State University of New York, Oneonta. Her career experience includes working as a legislator.[1]
Committee assignments
Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes yearly updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: [email protected]
2023-2024
Isaacson was assigned to the following committees:
- House Education Committee, Subcommittee Chair on Higher Education
- House Environmental Resources & Energy Committee
- Committee On Ethics
- Liquor Control Committee, Subcommittee Chair on Licensing
2021-2022
Isaacson was assigned to the following committees:
2019-2020
Isaacson was assigned to the following committees:
- House Education Committee, Secretary
- House Environmental Resources & Energy Committee, Subcommittee Chair on Energy
- Liquor Control Committee
- Urban Affairs Committee
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
2024
See also: Pennsylvania House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
General election for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 175
Incumbent MaryLouise Isaacson is running in the general election for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 175 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | ||
 | MaryLouise Isaacson (D)  | |
| ||||
| = 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 House of Representatives District 175
Incumbent MaryLouise Isaacson advanced from the Democratic primary for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 175 on April 23, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | MaryLouise Isaacson | 98.9 | 7,925 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 1.1 | 88 | ||
| Total votes: 8,013 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign finance
Endorsements
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2022
See also: Pennsylvania House of Representatives elections, 2022
General election
General election for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 175
Incumbent MaryLouise Isaacson won election in the general election for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 175 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | MaryLouise Isaacson (D) | 100.0 | 23,904 |
| Total votes: 23,904 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 175
Incumbent MaryLouise Isaacson advanced from the Democratic primary for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 175 on May 17, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | MaryLouise Isaacson | 99.5 | 10,889 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.5 | 56 | ||
| Total votes: 10,945 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign finance
2020
See also: Pennsylvania House of Representatives elections, 2020
General election
General election for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 175
Incumbent MaryLouise Isaacson won election in the general election for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 175 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | MaryLouise Isaacson (D) | 100.0 | 30,233 |
| Total votes: 30,233 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Audrey McLain (Independent)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 175
Incumbent MaryLouise Isaacson defeated Vanessa McGrath, Jeff Dempsey, and Andre Del Valle in the Democratic primary for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 175 on June 2, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | MaryLouise Isaacson | 37.4 | 5,361 |
 | Vanessa McGrath | 29.7 | 4,253 | |
| Jeff Dempsey | 20.5 | 2,943 | |
| Andre Del Valle | 12.4 | 1,779 | |
| Total votes: 14,336 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Endorsements
To view Isaacson's endorsements in the 2020 election, please click here.
2018
General election
General election for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 175
MaryLouise Isaacson won election in the general election for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 175 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | MaryLouise Isaacson (D) | 100.0 | 24,538 |
| Total votes: 24,538 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Michael O'Brien (D)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 175
Incumbent Michael O'Brien defeated Deborah Derricks in the Democratic primary for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 175 on May 15, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Michael O'Brien | 57.6 | 4,207 |
| Deborah Derricks | 42.4 | 3,096 | |
| Total votes: 7,303 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
MaryLouise Isaacson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Isaacson's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I am currently running for a fourth term in the PA House of Representatives as a proud and passionate fighter for the 175th legislative district. Prior to serving as state representative, I worked as a staffer in the PA House Democratic Caucus for 12 years, working on a range of issues from constituent services to drafting bills to bringing home resources. In year past, I was honored to be ranked the Least Conservative Member in the House and also was ranked first in the entire state for bringing home state funding to my district.
As a person who believes that policy can push social change, I have introduced over 40 bills this session, taking on issues from charter school reform to an economic bill of rights to pay range disclosures to environmental initiatives to local regulations on gun control. I serve on the Environmental Resources, Education, Consumer Protections, Ethics and Liquor Control Committees in Harrisburg and am also Vice Chair of the Democratic Policy Committee, a member of the Basic Education Funding Commission, newly appointed to serve on PHEAA, and Democratic Chair of the Community College Caucus.
- I proudly served on the Basic Education Funding Committee that voted for a groundbreaking plan that will finally level the playing field by fully funding our schools. We recommended $6 billion in targeted investments over seven years to address inadequacies in funding. We also recommended delivering equity and predictability for all schools with at least an additional $1.4 billion in dedicated basic education funding -- $200 million per year for seven years. Further, because Pennsylvania school buildings have been neglected and school districts cannot be expected to absorb the massive costs of construction and renovations $2.1 billion was allotted to fix school buildings so students are free to learn in safe and healthy environments.
- I am supportive of a Green New Deal for Pennsylvania and have advocated for RGGI for years. I am a cosponsor of legislation to move us to 100 percent renewable energy and work to ending fossil fuel use and dependency. We need to create a green economy so we can replace the dependence of the Commonwealth on the gas industry and as stated earlier, create a blue workforce for new green jobs. While we are moving in this direction, we must also hold companies accountable which is why I introduced a bill to put tracers in fracking fluid to increase accountability for pollution. I also sponsored a bill that would increase the municipal waste tipping fee so that more funds are available for recycling programs.
- I am a mother of two incredible kids - now adults - and I know how hard it is for working families across the state from rising costs of childcare to the lack of paid leave to balancing your job and taking care of little ones. I was extremely proud to have helped increase the child tax credit in Pennsylvania this past year. I am also dedicated to implementing policies and changes that would benefit families and parents such as flexible scheduling, remote work, paid leave, competitive and fair pay, and many others. Priorities of mine include making much-needed improvements and investment in the childcare sector and repairing our school buildings and the toxic hazards.
Education funding, raising the minimum wage, and transitioning Pennsylvania to a green economy have been legislative priorities of mine since I was elected in 2018. I am also dedicated to protecting our waterways, commonsense gun legislation, fighting for LGBTQ and women's rights including protecting Roe, affordable healthcare for all and a government that is transparent and accountable to citizens, particularly in election reforms.
Believe it or not, one of my very first jobs was selling shoes. I did not keep that job for very long, but it did teach me a lot about people and relationships.
I have previously been endorsed by Represent PA, Emily’s List, Pennsylvania NOW, Planned
Parenthood, Sierra Club, PennEnvironment, Clean Water Action, Conservation Voters of PA, PFT, AFL-CIO, AFSCME, HumanePA, 18th Ward Democrats, 5th Ward Democrats,
Philadelphia Democratic City Committee, LEAP FORWARD, IBEW, Sheetmetal Workers, Transportation Workers, Firefighters Local 22, UFCW 1776, Liberty City, PGN, and Mom’s Demand Action.
I serve on the Environmental Resources, Education, Consumer Protections, Ethics and Liquor Control Committees in Harrisburg and am also Vice Chair of the Democratic Policy Committee, a member of the Basic Education Funding Commission, newly appointed to serve on PHEAA, and Democratic Chair of the Community College Caucus.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
2022
MaryLouise Isaacson did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
MaryLouise Isaacson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Isaacson's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I was elected state representative for the 175th District in Philadelphia in November 2018, serving the areas of the River Wards along the Delaware River from Old Richmond to Queen Village and points in between including Chinatown and historic Washington Square. I have worked my entire adult life on issues that impact my neighbors and communities of the district I now represent.
My top priorities include education funding, protecting our waterways and fighting for a green economy, commonsense gun legislation, fighting for LGBTQ and women's rights, affordable healthcare for all and a government that is transparent and accountable to citizens, particularly in redistricting and campaign-finance reform. I am also devoted to working towards more affordable and sustainable housing, fighting the opioid crisis and ensuring that our students' futures aren't overburdened with student loan debt.
Prior to becoming state legislator, I served 12 years as Chief of Staff for the late State Representative Mike O'Brien, working alongside him to serve constituents and identify ways to improve life in the 175th and advance an agenda that puts people before special interests. I have served more than nine years as a member of the Democratic State Committee and 15 years as a local Democratic committee member. I also supported the quality of life of local residents as a coordinator of zoning and land practice at a law firm in Philadelphia prior to joining the 175th District Office.
- I am an environmentalist, fighting for clean air and water every single day at home and in Harrisburg. I am committed to building a sustainable, green economy in Pennsylvania and moving to 100% renewable energy.
- I am an education advocate, dedicated to addressing the inequalities of our public schools by increasing education funding, implementing charter school reform, and removing all toxins out of our schools.
- I will never stop working for economic development and justice for the district so that we can increase the number of jobs with a livable wage, provide affordable housing options, and stabilize our neighborhoods and communities.
I am passionate about achieving constitutional equality, advocating for women's rights and access to reproductive services, protecting the LGBTQ community, implementing gun control, fighting against animal cruelty and neglect, and increasing funding and treatment access to fight the opioid epidemic.
I also do not believe that our current economic systems works for everyone which is why I recently introduced an amendment to Pennsylvania's constitution for an economic bill of rights. We are not really free if we cannot afford to live. Food, housing and health care all cost money. My introduced legislation would protect Pennsylvanian's rights to jobs that pay a living wage, affordable and accessible health care as well as quality education at public schools, safe, efficient and reliable transportation infrastructure, and healthy working conditions. We cannot afford to ignore socioeconomic and class issues, especially during this pandemic.
I am supportive of a Green New Deal for Pennsylvania. I am a cosponsor of legislation to move us to 100 percent renewable energy and work to ending fossil fuel use and dependency. We need to create a green economy so we can replace the dependence of the Commonwealth on the gas industry and create a blue workforce for new green jobs. I am dedicated to advocating for additional revenue to invest in a green economy and expand the alternative energy portfolio to be more dependent on alternative energy sources.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
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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See also
2024 Elections
External links
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Candidate Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 175 |
Officeholder Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 175 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on March 25, 2024
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by Michael O'Brien (D) |
Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 175 2018–present |
Succeeded by NA |
