Tracing the history of women in Philly politics

Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander was appointed Philadelphia’s assistant city solicitor, the first Black woman in this role, making significant political progress for the Black community through her work.

Anne Brancato was the first woman elected as a Democrat in the Pennsylvania state legislature, representing the 5th District.

Crystal Bird Fauset was the first Black woman legislator elected in the United States, representing Philadelphia’s 18th District in the state House of Representatives.

Dr. Ethel D. Allen became the first Black woman elected to an at-large seat on the Philadelphia City Council.

Margaret Tartaglione was the first woman elected as city commissioner; her 36-year tenure was the longest of any city commissioner since the office was formed. She and Allen were the first women elected to citywide positions.

Blondell Reynolds Brown served as a committee person for the Third Division of Philadelphia’s 24th Ward; from 1999 to 2015, she was the only woman to serve at-large in City Council.

Marian Tasco became the first Black city commissioner.

Lynne Abraham was the first woman elected district attorney.

Marjorie Margolies became the first woman from Pennsylvania elected to Congress in a regular election; three women — Veronica Grace Boland, Vera Daerr Buchanan, and Kathryn Elizabeth Granahan — preceded her by winning special elections after their husbands’ deaths left vacancies.

Leslie Ann Miller was named the first woman president of the Pennsylvania Bar Association; Miller later served as general counsel of Pennsylvania under Gov. Ed Rendell. Currently, she serves on the board of trustees for the Philadelphia Museum of Art and has been recognized over the course of her career for her political influence and commitment to women and the arts.

Anna Verna became the first and only woman to serve as City Council president, a position she held until 2011.

Happy Fernandez was the first woman to run for mayor. In 1991, she was the only Democrat to run a successful citywide campaign for an at-large council seat.

Martina White was elected to represent the 170th District. Her win made her the first new Republican elected in Philadelphia in 25 years.

Helen Gym became the first Asian American woman on City Council.

Rebecca Rhynhart was the first woman elected city controller.

Mary Gay Scanlon was elected in a special election to represent the 7th District in Congress, as well as the regular election to represent the 5th District, which includes a section of South Philadelphia. She was one of four women — along with Susan Wild, Madeleine Dean, and Chrissy Houlahan — sworn into the state’s congressional delegation, which was previously all men.

Katherine Gilmore Richardson became the youngest Black woman to serve on City Council.

Joanna McClinton became the first woman to serve as House minority leader.

Rochelle Bilal became the first woman elected to lead the Sheriff’s Office.