Tarik Khan breaks barriers with election win for State Representative
On November 8, 2022, Tarik Khan (D) defeated Torren Danowski (LIB) by over 22,000 votes to become the next state representative in the 194th district, including Roxborough and Manayunk and the majority of East Falls and Chestnut Hill. Tarik will be sworn into office on January 3, 2023.
Khan’s election is historic, as he will be both the first advanced practice nurse and the first Pakistani American ever to serve in the Pennsylvania legislature.
Khan said that his priorities will be fighting for children to have healthy futures and opportunities, including investing in our public schools to offer the same high-quality education and experience as in the suburbs. Khan will focus on improving access to quality healthcare, including mental health services, and getting funds for the community from the legislature so residents can get a good return from their tax dollars.
Khan has served as a nurse practitioner in nearby Abbotsford Falls Family Practice East Fall/Nicetown since 2022. He will graduate with his Ph.D. at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing this December.
Khan was born in Philadelphia and lives in the Roxborough/ Manayunk neighborhood. “I fell in love with Roxborough when I went to Roxborough School of Nursing two decades ago. There was something special about the people and the strong sense of community I’ve honestly never found anywhere else. In my wildest dreams, I never imagined I’d be fortunate enough to represent our community in the legislature.”
Khan cites his mother, Pat Khan, as a strong influence in his life. “I admired that as a nurse, she didn’t let patriarchal systems or red tape get between what she needed for her patients.” Tarik attended public schools through Central
High School. When he volunteered at Einstein’s ER and a nearby skilled nursing rehab, he learned that his calling was serving the community.
Khan has worked as a telemetry nurse at Abington Memorial Hospital and Lankenau Medical Center and as a nurse practitioner at the Department on Disability Services in Washington D.C, serving persons with intellectual disabilities. Tarik has also served as founder and chairperson of Enabling Minds for children living with developmental disabilities in Haiti and President of the Pennsylvania Nurses Association, where he reports that he prioritized improving access to education and opportunities for all, in addition for pushing for better inclusion and diversity.
Khan reports that as a representative in the 194th district, he will continue to work a handful of hours a week at the health center to keep his finger on the pulse of the needs of our underserved.
“I want to thank State Representative Pam DeLissio for her years serving the district,” Khan said. “I’m grateful to Representative DeLissio for her work keeping residents informed of what was going on in Harrisburg.”
As of the writing of this piece, Khan reports that he is looking for a permanent office that is centrally located in the community and accessible to those taking transit and using a wheelchair and other motorized devices. Khan is excited to serve and looks forward to making Roxborough proud.