Emily Kinkead

Emily Kinkead is a native Northsider who is driven by a passion to empower Pennsylvanians and break down barriers for working families. Emily knew early on that she wanted to spend her life advocating on behalf of people needing a strong voice. After attending Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania she went to Washington, D.C., where she started out advocating on behalf of people with disabilities. Wanting to advocate more forcefully on behalf of underserved and vulnerable populations, Emily then attended law school at the University of Pittsburgh. While working toward her law degree, Emily interned with a legal aid clinic in Eldoret, Kenya, protecting the rights of HIV+ individuals and victims of gender or domestic violence. She also interned at Neighborhood Legal Services in Pittsburgh, assisting low-income tenants in landlord-tenant disputes across the region, and at the Pitt Law Immigration Clinic, helping clients seeking asylum in the United States. Emily clerked for Commonwealth Court Judge Michael Wojcik for two years before entering private practice.

A staunch believer that government must work for the people, Emily is pursuing legislative priorities that promote a living wage, responsible development and infrastructure, criminal justice reform, reproductive justice, LGBTQIA+ equality, and clean air and water for everyone. She is also working to make the Pittsburgh area a more livable region for Black people, and especially Black women. Emily serves Pennsylvania’s 20th Legislative District in Allegheny County, which includes parts of the city of Pittsburgh; Ross Township; and Avalon, Bellevue and West View boroughs.