Kinkead sworn in for first term in office
Rep. Emily Kinkead January 5, 2021 | 4:48 PM
HARRISBURG, Jan. 5 – State Rep. Emily Kinkead, D-Allegheny, has been sworn into office for her first term representing the 20th Legislative District.
“I was proud and honored to take the oath of office today and I am committed to being your voice in Harrisburg,” said Kinkead. “We have a lot of work ahead of us in this session, and that includes helping people who are out of work and struggling due to the pandemic. I am committed to fighting for the changes we need, including raising our state’s minimum wage, affordable health care, criminal justice reforms and supporting much-needed economic development in our communities. I promise to work together with my colleagues to bring needed relief and changes to benefit all residents of our great state.”
Prior to her election in November 2020, Kinkead worked as an attorney in private practice. While earning her law degree at the University of Pittsburgh, she interned with a legal aid clinic in Eldoret, Kenya, protecting the rights of HIV+ individuals and victims of domestic and gender violence. She also interned at Neighborhood Legal Services in Pittsburgh, helping low-income tenants in landlord-tenant disputes and at the Pitt Law Immigration Clinic, assisting clients seeking asylum in the United States. Prior to entering private practice, Kinkead clerked for Commonwealth Court Judge Michael Wojcik.
She is an active volunteer with the Junior League of Pittsburgh, the Women in the Law Division of the Allegheny County Bar Association and serves on the board of Social Venture Partners and Scenic Pittsburgh. Kinkead was a member of Pittsburgh’s 50 Finest 2019, which was focused on increasing awareness of cystic fibrosis and raising money for research to find a cure.
Known as First Tuesday, today begins the 205th legislative session of the state House.