Judy Schwank is a Democratic state senator representing Pennsylvania's 11th Senatorial District since her election in 2011, following the unexpected passing of the previous long-serving senator. Born in 1951 and residing in Fleetwood, Pennsylvania, she has dedicated her career to public service, with a strong focus on agriculture, responsible land use, and the health and well-being of women and children. Notable achievements include becoming the first woman elected as Berks County Commissioner in 2000, leading 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania to promote sustainable development and agricultural heritage, and serving as dean of agricultural and environmental sciences at Delaware Valley College. In the Senate, she spearheaded industrial hemp research in 2016, helped pass the 2019 Farm Bill investing $24 million in agriculture, and currently serves as Democratic chair of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, administrator of the Senate Democratic Caucus , and member of Appropriations, Game & Fisheries, and Health and Human Services committees.

Education and Political Experience

Schwank worked as a Berks County horticultural agent for Penn State Cooperative Extension after college, establishing the Master Gardener Program, and became director of the Berks County Cooperative Extension Program in 1991. Her political experience includes her historic role as Berks County Commissioner , president of 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania, and her ongoing Senate service since 2011, where she continues advocating for agriculture and family issues.