Abigail Salisbury
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Abigail Salisbury | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 34th district | |
| Assumed office February 21, 2023[1] | |
| Preceded by | Summer Lee |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ohio, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Andrew Horowitz[2] |
| Education | Case Western Reserve University (B.A.) University of Pittsburgh (J.D., M.P.P.M.) |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
Abigail Salisbury is an American politician and lawyer. She is a member of the Democratic Party and has represented the 34th district in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives since 2023.
Salisbury was born in Ohio,[3] but moved to Pennsylvania in grade school.[4] She graduated from Fairview High School in 2000. Salisbury attained a bachelor of arts degree from Case Western Reserve University in 2004 and a juris doctor and a Master of Public Policy and Management (M.P.P.M.) from the University of Pittsburgh in 2007 and 2013, respectively.[3]
Career
An attorney, Salisbury ran a low cost law firm representing nonprofits and small businesses.[4] She was also a First Amendment law professor at the University of Pittsburgh and the executive director of the university's legal news and research service.[5][6] Salisbury previously taught international human rights law in Kosovo and Ethiopia.[5]
From 2018 to 2022, Salisbury served on the borough council of Swissvale, Pennsylvania. She served as council president during her final two years.[3]
In 2022, Salisbury challenged incumbent State Representative Summer Lee in the Democratic primary election. Despite being endorsed by the local Democratic committee, Salisbury was defeated by the incumbent.[6] After Lee was elected to the United States House of Representatives that same year, Salisbury ran in the 2023 special election to fill Lee's vacancy.[4] She defeated Republican Party candidate Robert Pagane. In conjunction with two other simultaneous special elections, Salisbury's victory affirmed Democrats' one-seat majority in the State House following the 2022 election.[7] In 2024, Salisbury faced a primary challenge from Ashley Comans, a progressive ally of Lee.[8][9] Despite Comans outraising Salisbury and earning the endorsements of Lee, Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey, and Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato,[10] Salisbury defeated Comans 65%-35%. She faced no opposition in the general election.[11]
Political positions
Salisbury supports legalizing marijuana and psilocybin. She identifies as pro-choice.[12] Salisbury opposes fracking and wants stricter standards for charter schools.[13]
