Dwight Evans is a Democratic

Democratic Party (United States)

The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...

 member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Pennsylvania House of Representatives

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two year terms from single member districts....

, representing the 203rd District (Philadelphia County

Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania

-History:Tribes of Lenape were the first known occupants in the area which became Philadelphia County. The first European settlers were Swedes and Finns who arrived in 1638. The Netherlands seized the area in 1655, but permanently lost control to England in 1674...

). He currently serves as Majority Appropriations Committee Chairman.

Early life and education

Evans grew up in the Germantown

Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Germantown is a neighborhood in the northwest section of the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, about 7–8 miles northwest from the center of the city...

 and West Oak Lane sections of Philadelphia  and is a graduate of the Community College of Philadelphia

Community College of Philadelphia

The Community College of Philadelphia is a community college in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. The main campus is located at 1700 Spring Garden Street in a building that was the former Philadelphia Mint...

 and LaSalle University. After graduation, he became a teacher in the School District of Philadelphia

School District of Philadelphia

The School District of Philadelphia is a school district based in the School District of Philadelphia Education Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that includes all public schools in the city of Philadelphia. Established in 1818, it is the eighth largest school district in the nation.The School...

 and a community activist for the Urban League.

Political career

Evans was first elected to office in 1980. His district, which encompasses West Oak Lane in Philadelphia, is heavily Democratic with a 95% African-American population. As a result, he has had minimal GOP opposition in winning re-election to his seat.

Since taking office, Evans has run for higher office four times unsuccessfully. In 1986

Pennsylvania gubernatorial election, 1986

The Pennsylvania Gubernatorial election of 1986 was held on November 4, 1986. Democrat Bob Casey narrowly defeated Republican Bill Scranton III, in a race that featured two very high profile candidates....

, he sought the Democratic nomination for Lieutenant Governor

Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania

The Lieutenant Governor is a constitutional officer of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Lieutenant Governor is elected every four years along with the Governor. Jim Cawley of Bucks County is the incumbent Lieutenant Governor...

 but finished third in the primary election to future Lieutenant Governor Mark Singel

Mark Singel

Mark Stephen Singel served as the Democratic lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania from 1987 to 1995 under Bob Casey He was acting governor from June 14, 1993, to December 13, 1993, during Casey's lengthy battle with amyloidosis and subsequent multiple organ transplant.A graduate of Pennsylvania...

.

In 1994

Pennsylvania gubernatorial election, 1994

The Pennsylvania Gubernatorial election of 1994 was held on November 8, 1994. Incumbent Democratic Governor Bob Casey, Sr. was barred from seeking a third term by the state constitution. The Republican Party nominated Congressman Tom Ridge, while the Democrats nominated Mark Singel, Casey's...

, Evans became the first African American candidate to seek the office of Governor of Pennsylvania. In the Democratic primary election, Evans faced off with Lynn Yeakel

Lynn Yeakel

Lynn Hardy Yeakel is a former Democratic Party politician from Pennsylvania. Yeakel ran for Senate in 1992 against powerful but vulnerable incumbent Arlen Specter; despite leading in the polls early in the campaign, she ultimately lost due to political inexperience.Yeakel is the daughter of Porter...

 and Lt. Governor Singel. He won endorsements from the Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Daily News

Philadelphia Daily News

The Philadelphia Daily News is a tabloid newspaper that serves Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. The newspaper is owned by Philadelphia Media Holdings which also owns Philadelphia's other major newspaper The Philadelphia Inquirer. The Daily News began publishing on March 31, 1925, under...

 and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, also known simply as the "PG," is the largest daily newspaper serving metropolitan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.-Early history:...

. Again, however, Evans finished third in the primary with 22%.

Evans has since made two runs for Mayor of Philadelphia. In 1999

Philadelphia mayoral election, 1999

-Election results:-External links:*...

, in the race to succeed Ed Rendell

Ed Rendell

Edward Gene "Ed" Rendell is an American politician who served as the 45th Governor of Pennsylvania. Rendell, a member of the Democratic Party, was elected Governor of Pennsylvania in 2002, and his term of office began January 21, 2003...

, Evans finished fifth with 4.7% of the vote in a crowded primary won by John Street

John F. Street

John Franklin Street was the 97th Mayor of the City of Philadelphia. He was first elected to a term beginning on January 3, 2000, and was re-elected to a second term beginning in 2004...

. In 2007

Philadelphia mayoral election, 2007

The 2007 Philadelphia mayoral election was held on November 6, 2007 when Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States elected Michael Nutter as the Mayor of Philadelphia starting in 2008. The incumbent mayor, John F. Street was barred from seeking a third term because of term limits...

, despite comments by Governor Rendell that Evans was the "best qualified" for mayor, he finished fifth again taking only 7.82% of the vote.

Evans was elected as the Democratic Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee in 1990 and serves as committee chairman when the Democrats hold the majority in the House.

In 2010, the Philadelphia Tribune

Philadelphia Tribune

The Philadelphia Tribune is an American newspaper, headquartered at 520 South 16th Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that primarily targets the African American community. Published Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday, it is the oldest continually running African-American newspaper,...

 named Evans one of the 10 most influential African-Americans in the city.

Other activities

• Board of Directors, Fox Chase Cancer Center
  Fox Chase Cancer Center
  The Fox Chase Cancer Center is a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center research facility and hospital located in the Fox Chase section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. The main facilities of the center are located on property adjoining Burholme Park...
  
  
• Board of Trustees, Pennsylvania Public School Employees Retirement System
• National Board of Directors, Black Alliance for Educational Options

External links

• Pennsylvania House of Representatives - Dwight Evans official PA House website
• Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus - Rep. Dwight Evans official Party website
• Project Vote Smart - Representative Dwight Evans (PA) profile
• Follow the Money - Dwight Evans
  • 2006 2004 2002 2000 1998 campaign contributions