Jennifer O'Mara
American politician (b. 1989)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jennifer O'Mara (born November 12, 1989) is a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing the 165th Legislative District. The district includes parts of Springfield Township, Marple Township, Radnor Township and the borough of Morton.[1]
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Jennifer O'Mara | |
|---|---|
| |
| Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 165th district | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Alex Charlton |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 12, 1989 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Bradford Bitting (m. 2017) |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | West Chester University (BA) University of Pennsylvania (MLA) |
| Occupation | |
Website | Official website Campaign website |
Early life and education
The oldest of three children, O'Mara was born in Southwest Philadelphia. She moved to Delaware County with her mother and siblings after her father, a Philadelphia firefighter, died by gun suicide. O'Mara cites the importance of her father's pension and public program such as CHIP in supporting her family while she was a teenager. She graduated from Interboro High School in 2007 and became the first in her family to attend college.[2]
She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and a certificate in Secondary Education from West Chester University in 2011. In 2017, She received a Master's degree in liberal studies from the University of Pennsylvania, her master's thesis was centered around creative methods for childhood grief.[3][4]
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Elections
2018
On November 19, 2017, O'Mara launched her campaign for the 165th District.[5] The district had never elected a Democratic representative before, and had previously been represented by one-term Republican Alex Charlton.
O'Mara was unopposed in the Democratic primary, while Charlton defeated primary challenger Regina Scheerer with 65.7% of the Republican vote.[6] O'Mara upset Charlton in the 2018 general election, becoming the first Democrat and first woman to represent the district.[7]
2020
O'Mara ran for re-election in 2020.[8] She was unopposed in the Democratic primary and faced Republican Robert Smythe Jr. in the general election. O'Mara retained her seat by defeating Smythe with 51.5% of the vote.[9]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Jennifer O'Mara | 16,627 | 50.8% | |
| Republican | Alex Charlton (incumbent) | 16,096 | 49.2% | |
| Total votes | 32,723 | 100% | ||
| Democratic gain from Republican | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Jennifer O'Mara (incumbent) | 21,529 | 51.5% | |
| Republican | Robert Smythe Jr | 20,222 | 48.4% | |
| Write-in | 43 | 0.1% | ||
| Total votes | 41,794 | 100% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Jennifer O'Mara (incumbent) | 20,936 | 60.9% | |
| Republican | Nichole Missino | 13,027 | 37.9% | |
| Independent | William Foster | 402 | 1.2% | |
| Total votes | 34,365 | 100% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
Tenure
O'Mara was sworn in on January 1, 2019, and was elected first vice-chair for the Democratic Caucus's Southeast delegation.[12]
Committee assignments
- Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness
- Transportation
- Aging and Older Adult Services