Frank Ryan (politician)

Ryan was born on May 1, 1951, in Baltimore, Maryland. He graduated from Fairfield High School in 1969. Ryan graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mount St. Mary's University in 1973, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Maryland in 1977. He is a Certified Public Accountant.^[2]

Ryan began his service in the United States Marine Corps Reserve in 1969,^[3] and retired at the rank of colonel in 2002. He was recalled to active duty in 2004, serving with the Multi-National Force – Iraq until the following year. He had previously served as Central Command Special Operations Officer during Operation Enduring Freedom in 2002.^[4] In total Ryan received three Legions of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal, and the United States Army Commendation Medal.^[2]

Ryan worked for Pat Toomey's first United States Senate campaign. He also worked at the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry and the U.S. Department of Labor.^[4]

Ryan was first elected to represent the 101st District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2016, and won re-election in 2018 and 2020.^[2]

Following the 2020 United States presidential election, Ryan supported false claims of massive voter fraud, pushing a discredited claim that there were more votes than voters in Pennsylvania.^[5][6] He was also one of 26 Pennsylvania House Republicans who called for the reversal of Joe Biden's certification as the winner of Pennsylvania's electoral votes.^[7]

In 2021, he proposed an amendment to a bill whereby only elected officials in Philadelphia, a Democratic stronghold, could be recalled. Prior to Ryan's amendment, the bill allowed for recalls of elected officials statewide.^[8]

In 2022, Ryan announced he would not seek reelection to a fourth term.^[9]

He is a member of the Pennsylvania Freedom Caucus.^[10]

Ryan is married to his wife, Sherrie. He has four children and nine grandchildren.^[4][11]