Dan Frankel was first elected in 1998 to represent the 23rd Legislative District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He currently serves as the House Democratic Caucus chairman.

Rep. Frankel graduated from Pennington School in 1974. He earned his bachelor's degree in political science in 1978 from Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. In 2000, he completed a certificate program for senior executives in state and local government at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. Formerly an insurance executive, he served as vice president of Hilb, Rogal and Hamilton Co., and as vice president of the Frankel Co., a regional insurance brokerage firm.

An active community leader, Rep. Frankel is dedicated to promoting youth, environmental, and urban development initiatives and has been recognized for his community service through numerous awards. Most recently, he was named Legislator of the Year by the Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. His other honors include the Greenfield Organization Special Recognition Award, the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition Citizen of the Year Award, the Stark Leadership Award from the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, the Dr. Howard A. Mermelstein Leadership Award from Jewish Family and Children's Service of Pittsburgh, and the Levinson Community Relations Award from the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh.

Also an ardent advocate for civil rights, Rep. Frankel has championed legislation to amend the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. He is a past recipient of the Marjorie H. Matson Award, presented by the Greater Pittsburgh Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania, in recognition of his tireless defense of civil liberties.

Rep. Frankel serves on the board of directors for the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy and the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. He is a past vice chair of the Pittsburgh Convention and Visitors Bureau, a Commonwealth Trustee for the University of Pittsburgh, and a former treasurer of the Urban Redevelopment Authority of the City of Pittsburgh.

Rep. Frankel serves on the board of directors for Magee-Womens Research Institute and Foundation and is a former trustee of the Jewish Healthcare Foundation. A dedicated proponent of health care access, he has sponsored legislation that would increase access to palliative care, women’s health care and mental health care.

He is a former chairman of the Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition, and served as president of the Jewish Family and Children’s Service from 1997-1999, where he remains as a board member. Currently, he serves on the board of WQED Multimedia and the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s Board of Trustees.

A strong supporter of proven public health measures, Rep. Frankel has proposed legislation to enhance public safety by restoring the motorcycle helmet law. He has also sponsored a bill to limit second-hand smoke exposure by allowing local governments to enact stronger smoke-free laws than the state, and wants to close a tax loophole that makes Pennsylvania the only state not to tax some tobacco products, such as snuff and cigars.

Rep. Frankel is a vocal advocate of gun safety, working to create safer neighborhoods throughout his district and the Commonwealth. To fulfill that goal, he has sponsored numerous pieces of legislation and continues to participate in hearings and legislative events around the state.

He is also a member of the Early Childhood Education Caucus, the Diabetes Caucus, and the Life Sciences and Biotechnology Caucus.

He and his wife Debra have three children.