Izzy was born and raised in Lancaster. After graduating from Carnegie Mellon University, Izzy returned to his hometown and began working in Lancaster's nonprofit sector to deliver relief to vulnerable people, first in behavioral health and drug and alcohol rehabilitation, then as a grant writer and researcher.

Biography | Representative Ismail Smith-Wade-El

SMITH-WADE-EL, Ismail Muhammed, “Izzy,” a Representative from Lancaster County; born, Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pa.; graduated, West Nottingham Academy; B.H.A., anthropology and dramatic theory, Carnegie Mellon University, 2014; engaged, behavioral health and drug and alcohol rehabilitation; grant writer and researcher; homelessness service specialist; appointed, Lancaster mayor’s Commission to Combat Poverty (2015-2016); elected, city council, Lancaster (2017-2022; president, 2020-2022); elected as a Democrat to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 2023 and 2025 terms; appointed, board, Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) (2023-present); appointed, Local Government Commission (2023-present); elected, delegate, Democratic National Convention (2024).

Official Website - PA House Archives Official Website

Izzy Smith-Wade-El was born and raised in Lancaster. He earned a bachelor's degree in anthropology and dramatic theory from Carnegie Mellon University in 2014.

Rep. Ismail Smith-Wade-El - Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

Izzy was born and raised in Lancaster. After graduating from Carnegie Mellon University, Izzy returned to his hometown and began working in Lancaster's nonprofit sector to deliver relief to vulnerable people, first in behavioral health and drug and alcohol rehabilitation, then as a grant writer and researcher. As a program specialist at Lancaster County Homeless Coalition, he coordinated services and support for Lancaster County's housing insecure community. Most recently, Izzy launched "Refresh Lancaster," a mobile hygiene unit which delivers showers, social services, and medical attention to homeless Lancastrians.

As a program specialist at Lancaster County Homeless Coalition, he coordinated services and support for Lancaster County's housing insecure community. Most recently, Izzy launched "Refresh Lancaster," a mobile hygiene unit which delivers showers, social services, and medical attention to homeless Lancastrians.

Izzy most recently launched Refresh Lancaster, a mobile hygiene unit that delivers showers, social services, and medical attention to people experiencing homelessness in Lancaster. He previously worked as a program specialist at Lancaster County Homeless Coalition and in behavioral health and drug and alcohol rehabilitation, as a grant writer and researcher, and as a homelessness service specialist.

Izzy was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 2023 and 2025 terms. He previously served on Lancaster City Council from 2017 to 2022.

2026 Pennsylvania General Election 

Diversify our revenue streams and decrease our reliance on property taxes, which disproportionately burden low-income families and Black and Brown homeowners. We could do this by increasing the Local Services Tax and earned income tax and adding a minimal business tax. Institute a progressive property tax, so that we’re not forced to raise taxes on our most vulnerable residents at the same rate as our wealthiest ones.

Issues | Izzy for Lancaster

Raising the minimum wage to at least $15/hr across PA. The right of every worker to unionize and exercise their collective rights. Safe staffing ratios for our healthcare workers. Ending wage theft and workplace discrimination.

The right of every worker to unionize and exercise their collective rights. Safe staffing ratios for our healthcare workers. Ending wage theft and workplace discrimination. Demanding equal pay for equal work.

Proposes a progressive property tax so lower-income residents are not taxed at the same rate as wealthier residents.

Supports every worker's right to unionize and exercise collective rights.

Advocates for ending wage theft and workplace discrimination.

- Proposes a progressive property tax so lower-income residents are not taxed at the same rate as wealthier residents.
- Supports every worker's right to unionize and exercise collective rights.
- Advocates for ending wage theft and workplace discrimination.

Economy

Public Health

Pennsylvania should take steps to restrict PFAs in consumer products. I would look to scientific experts in this field to weigh in on what those steps would best be, but believe strongly that we should protect Pennsylvanians from toxic substances.

Izzy Smith-Wade-El - Scientist Network for Advancing Policy

My district is majority people of color and given the history of the relationship with medical experimentation in this country, we know there are some big information gaps as well as some mistrust which negatively impacts some of my neighbors and constituents.

In addition to using my voice as a bully pulpit to advocate for their medical needs, I would also use my position to let them know that vaccines are safe and necessary. I also strongly support increasing community-based and home-based inoculation programs for common and necessary vaccine regimens including MMR, TDAP, and COVID vaccines.

Continue to demand a public health advocate at the state level. Support Medicare for All legislation at the state and federal level to make sure everyone has access to good quality healthcare. Fight for increased funding for Medicaid, CHIP, and other life-saving healthcare that the state provides.

Support Medicare for All legislation at the state and federal level to make sure everyone has access to good quality healthcare. Fight for increased funding for Medicaid, CHIP, and other life-saving healthcare that the state provides. Ban conversion therapy across the Commonwealth.

Institute tenant protections, including tenant right of refusal and sealing eviction records. Oppose any and all efforts to curb access to abortion on demand without apology. Support legislation that will make prenatal and postnatal care more affordable to all.

Fight for increased funding for Medicaid, CHIP, and other life-saving healthcare that the state provides. Ban conversion therapy across the Commonwealth. Invest more in affordable housing and specifically, in housing accessible to LGBTQ+ youth. Support doctors and healthcare facilities that offer gender-affirming care.

Ban conversion therapy across the Commonwealth. Invest more in affordable housing and specifically, in housing accessible to LGBTQ+ youth. Support doctors and healthcare facilities that offer gender-affirming care. Prohibit the use of gender identity or sexual orientation for housing or workplace discrimination.

Supports Pennsylvania restricting per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in consumer products.

Supports community- and home-based vaccination programs and says vaccines are safe and necessary.

Supports Medicare for All legislation at the state and federal levels.

Advocates for increased funding for Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program, and other state healthcare.

Opposes efforts to restrict abortion access.

Supports a statewide ban on conversion therapy.

Supports doctors and healthcare facilities that offer gender-affirming care.

- Supports Pennsylvania restricting per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in consumer products.
- Supports community- and home-based vaccination programs and says vaccines are safe and necessary.
- Supports Medicare for All legislation at the state and federal levels.
- Advocates for increased funding for Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program, and other state healthcare.
- Opposes efforts to restrict abortion access.
- Supports a statewide ban on conversion therapy.
- Supports doctors and healthcare facilities that offer gender-affirming care.

Healthcare

As the proud son of a union educator, I believe every child in our community should have access to a beautiful childhood surrounded by adults who care for them. I have been proud to show up to the fight alongside teachers’ unions and school board candidates who believe that every child deserves a fully-funded public school experience.

Fight for every Lancaster school by advocating for fair funding. Fair funding doesn’t just improve the quality of our public schools and level the playing field across the state, it also reduces burden on homeowners and makes housing more affordable for all Lancastrians. Oppose the construction and expansion of charter schools. Support educators as they fight for better wages, safe classrooms, and the freedom to do their jobs.

Believes every child should have a fully funded public-school education.

Opposes the construction and expansion of charter schools.

- Believes every child should have a fully funded public-school education.
- Opposes the construction and expansion of charter schools.

Education

Energy

While I am not opposed to nuclear energy, the Commonwealth must hasten its investment in renewals and diversifying energy and resources must be a priority for capitol investment now as energy costs for everyday Pennsylvanians sky rockets.

Further, I am a strong advocate for publicly owned utilities and would support efforts to make them possible for Pennsylvania families.

Support a statewide ban on fracking. Work to decouple our economy from natural gas extraction. Fight for good-paying, union jobs that transition our state to renewable energy, restore and preserve our farmland, waterways and other natural resources, and make our communities resilient in the face of climate change.

Artificial Intelligence

I’m opposed to new data centers - they present dangers to our air and water, they drive up power costs, and their developers consistently fail basic transparency tests.

Where they’re already in development, we ought to demand: 1. that all associated labor be union labor; 2. that all costs associated with new power infrastructure and increased rates associated with their grid demand be borne by the developer or operator, not by residential consumers 3. that all costs associated with environmental restoration be borne by the developer or operator, not by residential consumers; 4. a transparent community benefit agreement.

Supports greater state investment in renewable and diversified energy resources without opposing nuclear energy.

Advocates for publicly owned utilities and supports efforts to make them available to Pennsylvania families.

Opposes new data centers, citing concerns about air and water, electricity costs, and developer transparency.

- Supports greater state investment in renewable and diversified energy resources without opposing nuclear energy.
- Advocates for publicly owned utilities and supports efforts to make them available to Pennsylvania families.
- Supports a statewide ban on fracking.
- Opposes new data centers, citing concerns about air and water, electricity costs, and developer transparency.

Energy & the Environment

Prior to his election to the PA Legislature, Ismail “Izzy” Smith-Wade-El was the President of Lancaster City Council on which he had served since 2017. During his four years on Council, Izzy helped secure the largest investments in affordable housing and lead removal for the City of Lancaster in its history. He championed the decriminalization of cannabis; a completely revamped use-of-force policy for police officers; and increased police accountability in response to community requests.

CANNABIS DECRIMINALIZATION

As the president of city council, I was proud to vote in favor of decriminalizing cannabis possession. We all agree that the purpose of policing is to keep us safe. But laws that require police officers to arrest people for small amounts of cannabis puts both officers and the public in danger without keeping our community any safer.

Prohibit the use of gender identity or sexual orientation for housing or workplace discrimination. Fully decriminalizing cannabis possession and use at the state level. End the use of cannabis testing to discriminate in the hiring process. Increasing funding for medical research in the commonwealth.

Community-based efforts to end the gun violence epidemic. Ending qualified immunity and life without parole. State funding for public defenders. Taking Philadelphia Councilmember Thomas’ policy limiting pretextual stops statewide.

Solutions to prevent crime, not just punish it. Community-based efforts to end the gun violence epidemic. Ending qualified immunity and life without parole. State funding for public defenders.

As a Lancaster City Council member, championed a revised police use-of-force policy and increased police accountability.

As Lancaster City Council president, voted to decriminalize cannabis possession and supports statewide decriminalization of possession and use.

Advocates for ending qualified immunity and life without parole sentences.

Supports community-based efforts to prevent gun violence.

- As a Lancaster City Council member, championed a revised police use-of-force policy and increased police accountability.
- As Lancaster City Council president, voted to decriminalize cannabis possession and supports statewide decriminalization of possession and use.
- Advocates for ending qualified immunity and life without parole sentences.
- Supports community-based efforts to prevent gun violence.

Public Safety

As of October 16, 2026, Izzy Smith-Wade-El’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Voting & Elections

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Izzy Smith-Wade-El

- As Lancaster City Council president, voted to decriminalize cannabis possession and supports statewide decriminalization of possession and use.
- Advocates for ending qualified immunity and life without parole sentences.
- Supports community-based efforts to prevent gun violence.

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- 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