Brendan Boyle

Brendan F. Boyle
Member of the
U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 13th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2015
Preceded by Allyson Schwartz
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
from the 170th district
In office
January 6, 2009[1] – January 3, 2015
Preceded by George T. Kenney
Succeeded by Martina White
Personal details
Born Brendan Francis Boyle
February 6, 1977
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Jennifer Boyle
Children 1
Alma mater University of Notre Dame
Harvard University
Religion Roman Catholic
Website Representative Brendan Boyle

Brendan Francis Boyle (born February 6, 1977) is a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives for Pennsylvania's 13th congressional district, having won 67% of the vote on November 4, 2014. The district covers parts of Philadelphia and Montgomery County. He was a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 170th District since 2009, and resigned on January 3, 2015 to serve in Congress.[2]

Early life and education

The oldest son of Francis, an Irish immigrant, and Eileen Boyle, Brendan was born and raised in the Olney neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He attended Roman Catholic parochial schools before receiving an academic scholarship to the University of Notre Dame. He graduated from Notre Dame with a degree in Government. He attended graduate school at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government, where he earned a master's degree in Public Policy.[3]

Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Elections

Boyle ran unsuccessfully for the Pennsylvania House in 2004 and 2006, losing both times to then 20 year Republican incumbent George T. Kenney and being outspent by a nearly 10 to 1 margin. On November 4, 2008, Boyle defeated Republican Matthew Taubenberger, son of 2007 mayoral candidate Al Taubenberger, by a margin of 15,442 (59.2%) to 10,632 (40.8%) to win the election.[4] He became the first Democrat ever elected to represent the 170th House district.[3][5][4]

On November 2, 2010, Boyle won re-election, defeating Republican Marc Collazzo by a margin of 64% to 36%.[6][4]

In 2010, his brother, Kevin, was also elected to a seat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.[7] Kevin defeated former Speaker of the House John M. Perzel. Brendan and Kevin Boyle made history as the first brothers to serve together in the Pennsylvania House.[8]

For the 2012 election cycle, Brendan Boyle was selected as Chairman of the House Democratic Campaign Committee, the campaign arm of the House Democratic Caucus.[9]

Tenure

As a state lawmaker, Boyle's focus has been on greater educational access. During his first term in office, he introduced the REACH Scholarship program, which would offer tuition-free public college for qualifying Pennsylvania students. He fought cuts to public K-12 and higher education funding, and has supported greater investment in infrastructure, voting for a 2013 bill that provided the first comprehensive transportation funding overhaul since the 1990s. He was a founding member of the LGBT Equality Caucus during his first term in office. In 2014, he introduced legislation to amend Pennsylvania's hate crimes statutes to include crimes perpetrated based on sexual orientation.[3]

Committee assignments

2014 Congressional campaign

In April 2013, he announced his candidacy for Pennsylvania's 13th congressional district, a seat being vacated by the incumbent congressperson, Allyson Schwartz, who declined to run for reelection to make an unsuccessful run for Governor. Boyle had the support of nearly 30 labor unions across Philadelphia and its environs.[5]

Despite early polling showing a nearly 30 point lead for former Congresswoman Marjorie Margolies in the Democratic primary--the real contest in this heavily Democratic district--Boyle won the May 20, 2014 primary with 41% of the vote. He won the nomination on the strength of taking 69% of the vote in the Philadelphia share of the district. He went on to win the seat in the general election on November 4, 2014, defeating Republican Carson Adcock with 67% of the vote.[10][11]

Personal life

Brendan is married to Jennifer, a Montgomery County public school teacher; the couple has one child. Kevin Boyle serves as a representative of Pennsylvania's 172nd House district, making them currently the only brothers serving simultaneously in the Pennsylvania General Assembly.

In August 2008, Brendan Boyle was named "one of top 10 rising stars" in politics by the Philadelphia Daily News.[12] In 2011, the Aspen Institute chose Boyle as one of its Rodel Fellows,[13] a program that "seeks to enhance our democracy by identifying and bringing together the nation's most promising young political leaders."[14]

References

  1. ↑ "SESSION OF 2009 - 193D OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY - No. 1" (PDF). Legislative Journal. Pennsylvania House of Representatives. January 6, 2009. Retrieved November 9, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Rep. Brendan Boyle". PA House of Representatives Official Website. PA House of Representatives. Retrieved 29 January 2015. Rep. Brendan Boyle resigned his PA House District 170 seat to serve as a member of the U.S. Congress.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Brendan Boyle biodata, voteboyle.com; accessed November 9, 2014.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Pennsylvania election returns (2008); accessed November 9, 2014.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Joe Shaheeli (May 30, 2013). "Pols on the Street: Brendan Boyle Says He's In!". The Philadelphia Public Record. Retrieved November 9, 2014.
  6. ↑ Pennsylvania election returns (2010; accessed November 9, 2014.
  7. ↑ Catherine Lucey (November 3, 2010). "Kevin Boyle trips Perzel for Pa. House seat". Philly.com.
  8. ↑ Monica Yant Kinney (November 14, 2010). "Philadelphia's Brothers Boyle: Outsiders who made it in". Philly.com. Retrieved November 9, 2014.
  9. ↑ Keegan Gibson (June 21, 2011). "Exclusive: Boyle to Chair HDCC". PoliticsPA. Retrieved November 9, 2014.
  10. ↑ Representative Brendan Boyle profile Pennsylvania House of Representatives official website; accessed November 9, 2014.
  11. ↑
  12. ↑ "Here are 10 under 40 who are moving into position". Philly.com. August 4, 2008.
  13. ↑ "Aspen Institute-Rodel Fellowship Class of 2011". The Aspen Institute. Retrieved November 9, 2014.
  14. ↑ "The Aspen Institute Selects "Rising Stars" in Governance for its Rodel Fellowships in Public Leadership Program". Retrieved November 9, 2014.

External links

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
Allyson Schwartz		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 13th congressional district
January 3, 2015 – present 		Incumbent
United States order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by
Mike Bost
R-Illinois 		United States Representatives by seniority
386th 		Succeeded by
Ken Buck
R-Colorado