Representative Mary Isaacson

MaryLouise Isaacson was born on November 15, 1970, and is a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives serving the 175th District since 2019. She represents the River Wards area of Philadelphia along the Delaware River, including neighborhoods from Old Richmond to Queen Village, Chinatown, and historic Washington Square.

Isaacson was initially selected by the Philadelphia Democratic Committee to replace State Representative Michael H. O'Brien in 2018 after health issues prevented him from continuing his candidacy. She won the general election that year and has been reelected in 2020 and 2022. She is currently running for a fourth term.

Education

Isaacson holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science from State University of New York at Oneonta and an Associate degree in Early Childhood Education from State University of New York at Farmingdale. She is also certified by the Temple Real Estate Institute.

Political Experience

Prior to becoming a state legislator, Isaacson served 12 years as Chief of Staff to State Representative Michael H. O'Brien, working to serve constituents and advance community improvement initiatives. She has served more than eight years on the Democratic State Committee of Pennsylvania and 14 years as a member of the local Philadelphia Democratic Committee.

Before entering elected office, she worked as a coordinator of zoning and land practice at a law firm in Philadelphia, supporting quality-of-life issues for local residents.

Notable Achievements and Priorities

Isaacson has been ranked among the top legislators in Pennsylvania for investing in her district. She has championed projects including the I-95 cap and waterfront revitalization. Her key policy priorities include education funding, environmental protection, commonsense gun legislation, LGBTQ+ and women's rights, affordable healthcare, and government transparency and accountability, particularly in redistricting and campaign finance reform.