Dan K. Williams

Williams was born on September 23, 1956, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,^[1] to Willa and Wallace Williams.^[2] Williams grew up in West Philadelphia.^[3] He graduated from Overbrook High School. In 1992, Williams earned a bachelor of science degree in management from Geneva College.^[1]

Since the 1990s, Williams has served as senior pastor at New Life Christ Fellowship Church in Coatesville, Pennsylvania.^[1][4] Williams earned his Master of Divinity and his Doctor of Ministry from Biblical Theological Seminary in 2006 and 2010, respectively.^[1] He would later become assistant professor of practical theology at the seminary, and become the first African American on its Board of Trustees.^[4]

Following the retirement of Pennsylvania State Representative Harry Lewis Jr., in 2018, Williams ran to fill the now open 74th District seat. A lifelong Democrat, Williams emerged victorious in a three-way primary election,^[5] and later defeated Republican Amber Little-Turner in the general election.^[6] Williams won reelection in 2020 and 2022, besting Republican challenger Dale Hensel both times.^[7][8]

During his first term, Williams wrote a bill focused on updating police training requirements in regards to de-escalation techniques, appropriate use of force, and communicating with individuals of varying backgrounds. The bill was in response to calls for police reform following the murder of George Floyd,^[2] and passed unanimously in both the Pennsylvania State House and Pennsylvania Senate.^[9] On July 14, 2020, Governor Tom Wolf signed Williams' bill into law as Act 59 of 2020.^[10][11]

Williams and his wife, Baleria Alston, have three children.^[12] He resides in Sadsbury Township in Chester County, Pennsylvania.^[3]