2026 Pennsylvania General Election 

Malcolm Kenyatta

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Representative Malcolm Kenyatta, a third-generation North Philadelphia native, is a legislator currently serving in the Pennsylvania General Assembly.

In 2025, he was chosen by his peers to help shape legislative policy at the national level.

Biography | Representative Malcolm Kenyatta

He earned a B.A. in Public Communications and a minor in Political Science from Temple University, an M.S. in Strategic and Digital Communications from Drexel University and completed the Harvard Kennedy School’s Executives in State and Local Government program.

Representative Kenyatta lives in North Philadelphia with his husband, Dr. Matthew Kenyatta, and their dog, Cleo.

Malcolm Kenyatta is a third-generation North Philadelphia native. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in public communications, with a minor in political science, from Temple University; a Master of Science in strategic and digital communications from Drexel University; and completed Harvard Kennedy School’s Executives in State and Local Government program. He lives with his husband, Dr. Matthew Kenyatta.

Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta | About the District

A native of Philadelphia, Kenyatta graduated from Temple University and Drexel University before working as a community activist and on diversity and inclusion efforts at the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia.

He was elected to his North Philly-based seat in 2018 and became the first openly LGBTQ person of color to serve in the General Assembly. Elected at 28, he was also one of the state’s youngest-ever representatives.

Malcolm Kenyatta wants to be Pennsylvania’s next auditor general

Malcolm Kenyatta previously worked as a community activist and worked on diversity and inclusion efforts at the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia.

Who is Malcolm Kenyatta, a Democrat running for Pa. auditor general?

Malcolm Kenyatta is a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing the 181st District since 2019. He is the first openly LGBTQ person of color elected to the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Kenyatta was born on July 22, 1990, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He graduated from the University of the Arts in 2012 with a degree in theater. Before his election to the House, Kenyatta worked as a community organizer and served as the director of the Pennsylvania chapter of the National Black Justice Coalition.

Kenyatta ran for the U.S. Senate in 2022 but was not successful in the primary election. He continues to serve in the Pennsylvania House and remains an influential voice in state politics.

Malcolm currently serves as a state representative for Pennsylvania's 181st District. He was elected to the seat in 2018. He ran for the U.S. Senate in 2022 but was unsuccessful in the primary election.

Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 181 - Ballotpedia

Proposes a Bureau of Labor and Worker Protections to investigate wage theft and union busting and enforce labor laws for independent contractors.

According to his campaign website, Kenyatta would do the following if elected:
- Create a Bureau of Labor and Worker Protections to investigate “wage theft and union busting,” and ensure businesses follow labor laws concerning independent contractors.
- Take back responsibility for annual school compliance audits from the Pennsylvania Department of Education, a change the current auditor general made in 2022.
- Ensure hospital nonprofits and long-term care providers disclose their use of state dollars.
- Review the state’s approach to reducing gun violence.

Economy

Proposes requiring hospital nonprofits and long-term care providers to disclose their use of state funds.

Healthcare

Proposes returning responsibility for annual school compliance audits from the Pennsylvania Department of Education to the auditor general.

Education

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

Energy & the Environment

Plans to review Pennsylvania’s approach to reducing gun violence.

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