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Joseph Hohenstein
Joseph Hohenstein (Democratic Party) is a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing District 177. He assumed office on December 1, 2018. His current term ends on November 30, 2026.
Hohenstein (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to represent District 177. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Biography
Joseph Hohenstein earned a bachelor's degree from Earlham College in 1989 and a J.D. from the University of Minnesota in 1993. His professional experience includes working as an immigration attorney, in nonprofit organizations, and in private practice. He also taught at Temple University's Beasley School of Law. He was the clerk (chair) on the Board of Frankford Friends School and served on the National Amicus Committee of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA).[1]
Committee assignments
Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.
2023-2024
Hohenstein was assigned to the following committees:
- House Environmental Resources & Energy Committee
- House Game & Fisheries Committee, Secretary
- House Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee Chair on Courts
- House Transportation Committee, Subcommittee Chair on Ports
2021-2022
Hohenstein was assigned to the following committees:
- House Transportation Committee
- House Environmental Resources & Energy Committee
- House Game & Fisheries Committee
- House Judiciary Committee
2019-2020
Hohenstein was assigned to the following committees:
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
General election for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 177
Incumbent Joseph Hohenstein won election in the general election for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 177 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Joseph Hohenstein (D) | 98.4 | 17,234 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 1.6 | 289 | ||
| Total votes: 17,523 | |||
 = 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 177
Incumbent Joseph Hohenstein advanced from the Democratic primary for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 177 on April 23, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Joseph Hohenstein | 98.7 | 3,683 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 1.3 | 50 | ||
| Total votes: 3,733 | |||
| = 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
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Hohenstein in this election.
2022
See also: Pennsylvania House of Representatives elections, 2022
General election
General election for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 177
Incumbent Joseph Hohenstein defeated Mark Lavelle in the general election for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 177 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Joseph Hohenstein (D) | 65.8 | 11,070 |
| Mark Lavelle (R) | 34.2 | 5,751 | ||
| Total votes: 16,821 | |||
| = 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 177
Incumbent Joseph Hohenstein advanced from the Democratic primary for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 177 on May 17, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Joseph Hohenstein | 98.6 | 4,339 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 1.4 | 60 | ||
| Total votes: 4,399 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 177
Mark Lavelle advanced from the Republican primary for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 177 on May 17, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Mark Lavelle | 99.2 | 1,711 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.8 | 13 | ||
| Total votes: 1,724 | |||
| = 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 177
Incumbent Joseph Hohenstein defeated John Nungesser in the general election for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 177 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Joseph Hohenstein (D) | 59.9 | 15,640 |
| John Nungesser (R) | 40.1 | 10,470 | ||
| Total votes: 26,110 | |||
| = 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 177
Incumbent Joseph Hohenstein advanced from the Democratic primary for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 177 on June 2, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Joseph Hohenstein | 100.0 | 6,268 |
| Total votes: 6,268 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 177
John Nungesser advanced from the Republican primary for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 177 on June 2, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | John Nungesser | 100.0 | 2,184 | |
| Total votes: 2,184 | |||
| = 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
To view Hohenstein's endorsements in the 2020 election, please click here.
2018
General election
General election for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 177
Joseph Hohenstein defeated Patty Kozlowski in the general election for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 177 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Joseph Hohenstein (D) | 59.4 | 11,436 |
| Patty Kozlowski (R) | 40.6 | 7,808 | ||
| Total votes: 19,244 | |||
| = 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 177
Joseph Hohenstein defeated Margaret Borski, Sean Kilkenny, and Daniel Martino in the Democratic primary for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 177 on May 15, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Joseph Hohenstein | 37.3 | 1,690 |
| Margaret Borski | 23.9 | 1,084 | ||
| Sean Kilkenny | 23.8 | 1,081 | ||
| Daniel Martino | 15.0 | 678 | ||
| Total votes: 4,533 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 177
Patty Kozlowski advanced from the Republican primary for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 177 on May 15, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Patty Kozlowski | 100.0 | 1,541 | |
| Total votes: 1,541 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
2016
| Obama endorsement |
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| During the 2016 election cycle Hohenstein was one of the candidates endorsed by President Barack Obama |
Full list of Obama's 2016 endorsements |
Elections for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election was held on April 26, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was February 16, 2016.
Incumbent John Taylor defeated Joseph Hohenstein in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 177 general election.[2][3]
| Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 177, General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  John Taylor Incumbent |
55.15% | 14,128 | |
| Democratic | Joseph Hohenstein | 44.85% | 11,491 | |
| Total Votes | 25,619 | |||
| Source: Pennsylvania Department of State | ||||
Joseph Hohenstein ran unopposed in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 177 Democratic primary.[4][5]
| Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 177 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Joseph Hohenstein (unopposed) | |
Incumbent John Taylor ran unopposed in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 177 Republican primary.[4][5]
| Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 177 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | John Taylor Incumbent (unopposed) | |
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Joseph Hohenstein did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2022
Joseph Hohenstein did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Video for Ballotpedia
| Video submitted to Ballotpedia Released September 18, 2020 |
Joseph Hohenstein completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Hohenstein's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
| Collapse all
I seek to give voice to a community that has often felt overlooked and neglected. My district consists of traditional working class neighborhoods whose interests historically have not been protected and whose concerns have gone unheard. But I am working hard to ensure my constituents' needs are met and to help their vision for a better community become a reality.
My top priorities include fighting for education funding, worker protections, raising the minimum wage, affordable healthcare, criminal justice reform, environmental protections, ending gun violence, addressing the opioid epidemic, supporting equal rights (including women, LGBTQ+, and those with disabilities), fair districts, and government transparency and accountability.
Before assuming office, I served our community as an attorney and small business owner. Nationally renowned for my experience solving challenging immigration cases, my work focused on keeping families united and protecting their rights. Notably, when President Trump signed the infamous Travel Ban in early 2017, my legal team successfully reunited a Syrian Christian family who was legally immigrating but ruled ineligible mid-flight.- I believe we must respond to the COVID pandemic and prioritize public health and safety. This means investing in PPE, supporting hazard pay and paid sick leave, and doing everything we can to provide sufficient unemployment compensation for working families. Economic recovery has to start with our workers, not corporations.
- I will support working families with simple, but powerful policies that: establish and provide early childhood education and fair funding for Philadelphia's public schools; protect and value workers by securing safe worksites and living wages; and create a comprehensive safety net through universal health care and a functioning unemployment system.
- I am dedicated to working to address the systemic inequalities in our society to create a brighter future for everyone. Justice for all includes creating safer communities by addressing the opioid epidemic, ending gun violence, and protecting our environment.
I am passionate about providing a brighter future for all. Everyone should have affordable access to food, housing, healthcare, education, and public transportation.
In the longer term, three issues will be the focus: 1) funding our state pensions and continuing to pay for years of neglect; 2) a transition from Act 89 to fund infrastructure and transportation; and 3) completing the implementation of the fair funding formula for public education.
State Government - I joined this committee because I knew it would be a place where larger questions of state policy, like election security, redistricting, and equality would be resolved. During COVID, it has become the place where all the legislation relating to reopening of the economy has been debated.
Bob O'Donnell - He was willing to re-examine his views and work with everyone to come to a solution.
I was in Port Richmond one day, helping get people mail-in voting applications and talking with them about the importance of voting. Not everyone is voting by mail, but they are all making their plans.
On my way back to my car, I saw an older woman working in a nice, well-tended garden with a lot of plants and flowers in large pots. I commented on how beautiful it was. Her husband came to the door and told me he was going to vote in person at his polling place. He pointed to his POW/MIA flag. He told me about his service in Vietnam as a machine gunner on river boats. I told him my uncle had served on those same boats after graduating from Annapolis.
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 editor@ballotpedia.org.
2024
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2024, click [show]. |
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In 2024, the Pennsylvania State Legislature was in session from January 2 to November 14.
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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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Noteworthy events
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|---|
| Coronavirus pandemic |
| Select a topic from the dropdown below to learn more.
|
Hohenstein announced on December 13, 2021, that he tested positive for COVID-19.[6]
See also
2024 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 177 |
Officeholder Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 177 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 18, 2020
- ↑ Pennsylvania Voter Services, "Candidate listing," accessed August 31, 2016
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "November 8, 2016, official election results," accessed May 17, 2017
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Pennsylvania Secretary of State, "Election Information," accessed February 18, 2016
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Pennsylvania Department of State, "2016 Presidential Primary," accessed August 2, 2016
- ↑ Pennsylvania Capital-Star, "State Rep. Joe Hohenstein and staffer test positive for COVID-19," December 13, 2021
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by John Taylor (R) |
Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 177 2018-Present |
Succeeded by - |
