Jessica Benham

Jessica Benham is the State Representative for Pennsylvania House District 36, covering portions of the City of Pittsburgh and its suburbs. As a state representative, she has focused on increasing public safety, fighting for access to healthcare, a clean and healthy environment, fair funding for education, and LGBTQ and disability rights. When she was elected in 2020, Jessica was the first out woman from the LGBTQ+ community elected to the PA General Assembly. Since her election, Jessica has brought millions of dollars into the district to invest in infrastructure, green spaces, education, violence prevention, and public safety. Prior to her election, Jessica was the Director of Development for the Pittsburgh Center for Autistic Advocacy (PCAA). Jessica is an alum of the University of Pittsburgh, where she was involved in the effort to organize a union of graduate workers. She knows firsthand the importance of organizing and the power that collective bargaining can have. Jessica has BA degrees in Political Science and in Communication Studies from Bethel University, an MA in Communication from Minnesota State University, and an MA in Bioethics from the University of Pittsburgh. She lives in the Southside Slopes with her cat, Ravi.