2026 Pennsylvania General Election 

Ed Neilson

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NEILSON, Edward James, a Representative from Philadelphia County; graduated, Abraham Lincoln High School, 1981; attended, Comey Institute, St. Joseph's University, 2004; electrician; member and political director, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 98; Deputy Secretary of Labor, Philadelphia; Director of Government Affairs and Business Development, Chartwell Law Offices; elected as a Democrat to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives' 169th District in a Special Election on April 24, 2012; Sworn-In, May 8, 2012 to serve the remaining 2011 term; reelected to the House to serve the 2013 term; resigned from the House, August 14, 2014; elected, city council, Philadelphia (2014-2015); elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives' 174th District in a Special Election on August 11, 2015 to serve the remaining 2015 term; Sworn-In, August 25, 2015; reelected to the House to serve 5 more consecutive terms.

Official Website - PA House Archives Official Website

Neilson and his wife, Doris, are the proud parents of five sons. They continue to reside in Northeast Philadelphia.

Ed Neilson Biography

Ed Neilson attended Comey Institute and St. Joseph's University. He lives in Northeast Philadelphia with his wife, Doris, and their five sons.

Rep. Ed Neilson - Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

Neilson also served as Executive Deputy Secretary of Labor and Industry during Gov. Ed Rendell’s administration. In this role, he oversaw a staff of more than 6,000 employees and worked to secure workforce development resources and funding to benefit Pennsylvanians.

Ed worked as an electrician and served as a member and political director of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 98. He also served as Deputy Secretary of Labor in Philadelphia, Executive Deputy Secretary of Labor and Industry, and director of government affairs and business development at Chartwell Law Offices.

Ed was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives’ 174th District in a 2015 special election to serve the remaining term and was reelected to serve five more consecutive terms. He previously served on Philadelphia’s city council from 2014 to 2015. He was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives’ 169th District in a 2012 special election, was reelected for the 2013 term, and resigned in 2014.

As of October 16, 2026, Ed Neilson’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Economy

Healthcare

Dyslexia is a language-based reading disorder that affects the ability of children to succeed academically, and such children are at a higher risk of dropping out of school. Further, children with dyslexia often go for years without being properly diagnosed. However, there is much hope for students who are correctly diagnosed with this disorder, given that with proper teaching methods these students can learn successfully. Moreover, the earlier this reading disorder is diagnosed, the better chance the student has to succeed academically and otherwise. With this in mind, I will be re-introducing legislation that would create requirements for teachers and specialists in order to better familiarize them with screening, intervention, accommodation, and use of technology for students with reading disabilities.

House Co-Sponsorship Memo 40353 Information; 2023-2024 Regular Session - PA House of Representatives

Sponsored legislation creating Pennsylvania's first dyslexia screening pilot program.

Since beginning his career in public service, Neilson has worked on various initiatives to highlight the importance of literacy programs in Pennsylvania. In 2014, Neilson’s legislation to create a dyslexia screening pilot program was signed into law by Gov. Tom Corbett, making it the first program of its kind in the commonwealth.

Neilson applauds literacy advocates working to endorse literacy programs across the state

Proposes requirements for teachers and specialists regarding screening, intervention, accommodations, and technology for students with reading disabilities.

- Proposes requirements for teachers and specialists regarding screening, intervention, accommodations, and technology for students with reading disabilities.

Education

Energy & the Environment

Public Safety

Voting & Elections

- Your state representative represents the interests of your local district in the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives. The State House of Representatives, along with the State Senate, makes up your state lawmaking body: the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
- Your state representative can author, sponsor, and vote on bills that may become state laws, including introducing tax bills. 
- State representatives and their staff respond to constituent concerns and questions through emails, phone calls, and website announcements. 
- State representatives oversee the executive branch and can vote to overrule a veto by the Governor.  
- They are elected to two-year terms and have a salary of $106,000, with a 1-3% annual increase

Your representative and state lawmaker in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives