Abigail Salisbury

American politician

Abigail Salisbury
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
from the 34th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
February 21, 2023[1]
Preceded bySummer Lee
Personal details
BornOhio, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseAndrew Horowitz[2]
Residence(s)Swissvale, Pennsylvania, U.S.
EducationCase Western Reserve University (B.A.)
University of Pittsburgh (J.D., M.P.P.M.)

Abigail Salisbury is an American politician who represents the 34th district in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives since 2023. She is a member of the Democratic Party.

Early life and education

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 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 faces 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]

Personal life

Salisbury is Jewish. Both her and her husband are involved in their congregation.[4] She identifies as bisexual and is on the autism spectrum.[13][14]

Electoral history

2017 Swissvale council Democratic primary election[15][16]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Abigail Salisbury 799 21.90
Democratic Julie A. Grose (incumbent) 748 20.50
Democratic David Petrarca (incumbent) 629 17.24
Democratic Michele Kotula Stanton (incumbent) 528 14.47
Democratic Martin F. Busch (incumbent) 512 14.04
Democratic Sean L. Ruppert 413 11.23
Write-in 19 0.52
Total votes 3,648 100.00
2017 Swissvale council election[17]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Abigail Salisbury 1,296 25.09
Democratic David Petrarca (incumbent) 1,287 24.92
Democratic Julie A. Grose (incumbent) 1,275 24.69
Democratic Michele Kotula Stanton (incumbent) 1,248 24.16
Write-in 59 1.14
Total votes 5,165 100.00
2021 Swissvale council Democratic primary election[18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Abigail Salisbury (incumbent) 1,091 21.58
Democratic Shawn Alfonso Wells 1,034 20.45
Democratic Joshua Miser 640 12.66
Democratic Angela D. Stribling 598 11.83
Democratic Martin F. Busch 506 10.01
Democratic Frank Berry 489 9.67
Democratic Fred Lee Quinn III 434 8.58
Democratic John Wilson 237 4.69
Write-in 27 0.57
Total votes 5,056 100.00
2021 Swissvale council election[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Abigail Salisbury (incumbent) 1,488 23.04
Democratic Shawn Alfonso Wells 1,415 21.91
Democratic Joshua Miser 1,315 20.37
Democratic Angela D. Stribling 1,299 20.12
Republican Martin F. Busch 487 7,54
No Affiliation Brandon Mahler 432 6.69
Write-in 21 0.33
Total votes 6,457 100.00
2022 Pennsylvania House of Representatives Democratic primary election, District 34[20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Summer Lee (incumbent) 9,168 65.59
Democratic Abigail Salisbury 4,767 34.11
Write-in 42 0.30
Total votes 13,977 100.00
2023 Pennsylvania House of Representatives special election, District 34[21]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Abigail Salisbury 10,282 87.60
Republican Robert Pagane 1,416 12.06
Write-in 39 0.33
Total votes 11,737 100.00
Democratic hold
2024 Pennsylvania House of Representatives Democratic primary election, District 34[22]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Abigail Salisbury (incumbent) 8,111 62.86
Democratic Ashley Comans 4,756 36.86
Write-in 36 0.28
Total votes 12,903 100.00

References

  1. ^ Murphy, Jan (February 21, 2023). "Pa. House, now at full complement, focuses on legal relief for childhood sexual abuse survivors". PennLIVE Patriot-News. Advance Local Media LLC. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  2. ^ "Representative Abigail Salisbury". Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "Abigail Salisbury". Pennsylvania House of Representatives Archives. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d Rullo, David (December 23, 2022). "Jewish candidate runs for Summer Lee's vacant PA House seat". Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
  5. ^ a b Routh, Julian (December 16, 2021). "Swissvale attorney, borough council president Abigail Salisbury eyes run for Pa. House 34th District". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  6. ^ a b Ulrich, Steve (December 19, 2022). "Salisbury, Gergely Tabbed By Allegheny Dems". PoliticsPA. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  7. ^ Vigdor, Neil (February 7, 2023). "Sweep in 3 Special Elections Gives Democrats Control of Pennsylvania House". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  8. ^ "Rep. Abigail Salisbury challenged by progressive wing of Democratic Party in 34th House District". CBS News Pittsburgh. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  9. ^ Cole, John (November 17, 2023). "Election 2024 Government & Politics Comans to mount primary challenge to Pa. Rep. Salisbury". Pennsylvania Capital-Star. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  10. ^ Potter, Chris (April 17, 2024). "Fueled by deep-pocketed progressives, Comans outraises incumbent Salisbury in HD-34". 90.5 WESA. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  11. ^ Wereschagin, Mike; Lauer, Hallie (April 23, 2024). "State Rep. Abigail Salisbury, challenged by progressive Democrat, wins primary". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  12. ^ Zenkevich, Julia (March 25, 2024). "Voter guide to Pennsylvania State House 34th District Democratic primary: Comans v. Salisbury". 90.5 WESA. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  13. ^ a b Morrison, Oliver (February 1, 2023). "Former cop Pagane faces attorney Salisbury in 34th District special election to replace Summer Lee". 90.5 WESA. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  14. ^ Potter, Chris (March 20, 2024). "Gainey, Innamorato endorsement in House contest raises eyebrows along with challenger's hopes". 90.5 WESA. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  15. ^ "Member of Council SWISSVALE(Vote For 4)". Allegheny County, PA MAY 16, 2017 2017 PRIMARY ELECTION. March 5, 2018. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  16. ^ "SUMMARY REPORT Allegheny County Official Results Run Date:11/25/13 Elections Division" (PDF). Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. p. 37. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  17. ^ "Member of Council SWISSVALE(Vote For 4)". Allegheny County, PA November 7, 2017 General Election. March 5, 2018. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  18. ^ "DEM Member of Council Swissvale". Allegheny County, PA MAY 18, 2021 PRIMARY ELECTION. June 8, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  19. ^ "Member of Council Swissvale". Allegheny County, PA NOVEMBER 2, 2021 MUNICIPAL ELECTION. December 17, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  20. ^ "DEM Representative in the General Assembly District 34". Allegheny County, PA May 17, 2022 2022 PRIMARY ELECTION. June 7, 2022. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  21. ^ "2023 Special Election Results - 34th Legislative District". Allegheny County Elections Division. February 7, 2023. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  22. ^ "DEM Representative in the General Assembly District 34". Allegheny County, PA 2024 GENERAL PRIMARY April 23, 2024. May 13, 2024. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  • Abigail Salisbury at Ballotpedia
  • Abigail Salisbury, Pennsylvania House of Representatives (official website)
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