# Aerion Abney > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Aerion_Abney > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Aerion_Abney.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerion_Abney > Source revision: 1354851337 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) **Aerion Andrew Abney** is an American politician who has served in the [Pennsylvania House of Representatives](/source/Pennsylvania_House_of_Representatives) since 2022. A member of the [Democratic Party](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States)), he represents [the 19th district](/source/Pennsylvania_House_of_Representatives,_District_19), which contains parts of [Pittsburgh](/source/Pittsburgh). Before his election to the state legislature, Abney was a social worker and community activist involved in local politics. He twice ran unsuccessfully to unseat incumbent state representative [Jake Wheatley](/source/Jake_Wheatley). When Wheatley resigned in 2022 to become chief of staff to Pittsburgh's newly-elected mayor [Ed Gainey](/source/Ed_Gainey), Abney won the special election to succeed him. ## Early life and education Abney was raised in [Philadelphia](/source/Philadelphia), [Pennsylvania](/source/Pennsylvania), and attended [Cardinal O'Hara High School](/source/Cardinal_O'Hara_High_School_(Springfield,_Pennsylvania)).[1] He then attended the [University of Pittsburgh](/source/University_of_Pittsburgh), earning a [Bachelor of Arts](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts) degree in [communications](/source/Communication_studies) in 2010 and a [Master of Social Work](/source/Master_of_Social_Work) degree from the university's [School of Social Work](/source/University_of_Pittsburgh_School_of_Social_Work) in 2012.[1] ## Pennsylvania House of Representatives (2022–present) ### Elections #### 2016 Abney first ran for the 19th district seat in the [Pennsylvania House of Representatives](/source/Pennsylvania_House_of_Representatives) in 2016, but he withdrew before facing incumbent Rep. [Jake Wheatley](/source/Jake_Wheatley) in the primary.[2] #### 2018 In 2018, Abney ran against Wheatley, who had held the seat since 2003. He criticized Wheatley for a lack of "political will" to push for the construction of new affordable housing units, especially in the [Hill District](/source/Hill_District_(Pittsburgh)), a historically [African-American neighborhood](/source/African-American_neighborhood) of Pittsburgh.[3] He lost the Democratic primary to Wheatley by a margin of 367 votes out of 5,777 total votes, or about 6 percentage points.[4] #### 2020 In 2020, Abney ran in a rematch against Wheatley. Abney campaigned on the promise that he would advocate more strongly for the residents of the [Hill District](/source/Hill_District_(Pittsburgh)). He pointed to various statistics showing a decline in quality of life for residents of the Hill despite Wheatley's efforts. Indeed, the neighborhood had been a [food desert](/source/Food_desert) since 2018, when its only grocery store had closed after just five years of operation; the store had received incentives upon opening in 2013 from the state's Fresh Food Financing Initiative targeting food deserts.[2] Abney was again defeated, this time by a margin of 2,501 votes out of 10,467 total votes, or about 24 percentage points.[5] #### 2022 (special) In 2022, Abney was widely expected to challenge Wheatley yet again.[6][7] However, Wheatley resigned on January 31, 2022, midway through his 10th term, to become chief of staff to [Ed Gainey](/source/Ed_Gainey), who was elected [mayor of Pittsburgh](/source/Mayor_of_Pittsburgh) [in 2021](/source/2021_Pittsburgh_mayoral_election).[7] In the special election to succeed him, Abney won the Democratic nomination on February 10 by a vote of local Democratic committee members;[7][8] he tied Rev. Glenn Grayson in the balloting with each receiving the support of 55 members,[8][9] so the nomination was decided by drawing lots.[7][8][9] Abney ran unopposed in the special general election on April 5; he received 2,643 votes, or about 87% of the total with the remaining votes scattered among write-in candidates.[10][11] Following his victory, he will be sworn in to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to finish Wheatley's term. #### 2022 (regular) In the regular Democratic primary on May 17 for the next two-year term, Abney will face Rev. Glenn Grayson in a rematch.[7][10][12] ### Committee assignments For the 2025-2026 Session, Abney sits on the following committees:[13] - Appropriations - Subcommittee on Health & Human Services Chair - Education - Subcommittee on Career & Technical Education Chair - Finance - Housing & Community Development - Insurance ## Personal life Abney resides in the [Manchester](/source/Manchester_(Pittsburgh)) neighborhood of Pittsburgh with his wife Tamara Abney, and their two sons.[1] ## Electoral history | colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| **Democratic committee vote** | colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| **General election** | colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| **Democratic primary election** ## References 1. ["Rep. Aerion Andrew Abney | Biography"](https://www.pahouse.com/Abney/About/Biography). *PAhouse.com — Democratic caucus of the [Pennsylvania House of Representatives](/source/Pennsylvania_House_of_Representatives)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220424033145/https://www.pahouse.com/Abney/About/Biography) April 24, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 24, 2022. 1. Worthy, Ariel (May 27, 2020). ["Familiar foes offer different visions in 19th House district"](https://www.wesa.fm/politics-government/2020-05-27/familiar-foes-offer-different-visions-in-19th-house-district). *[WESA](/source/WESA_(FM))*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220424054559/https://www.wesa.fm/politics-government/2020-05-27/familiar-foes-offer-different-visions-in-19th-house-district) April 24, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 24, 2022. 1. Deto, Ryan (May 8, 2018). ["State rep. candidate Aerion Abney says weak political will is hindering affordable housing at former Civic Arena site"](https://www.pghcitypaper.com/Blogh/archives/2018/05/08/state-rep-candidate-aerion-abney-says-weak-political-will-is-hindering-affordable-housing-at-former-civic-arena-site). *[Pittsburgh City Paper](/source/Pittsburgh_City_Paper)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20201213093259/https://www.pghcitypaper.com/Blogh/archives/2018/05/08/state-rep-candidate-aerion-abney-says-weak-political-will-is-hindering-affordable-housing-at-former-civic-arena-site) December 13, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 24, 2022. 1. ["Pennsylvania House of Representatives Democratic primary election results (19th district, 2018)"](https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=848339). *Our Campaigns*. May 15, 2018. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220424040419/https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=848339) April 24, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 24, 2022. 1. ["Pennsylvania House of Representatives Democratic primary election results (19th district, 2020)"](https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=900898). *Our Campaigns*. June 2, 2020. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220424040505/https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=900898) April 24, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 24, 2022. 1. Potter, Chris (November 8, 2021). ["Local election results suggest new strength — and new opportunity — for Black candidates"](https://www.wesa.fm/politics-government/2021-11-08/election-results-suggest-new-strength-and-new-opportunity-for-black-candidates). *[WESA](/source/WESA_(FM))*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220104210550/https://www.wesa.fm/politics-government/2021-11-08/election-results-suggest-new-strength-and-new-opportunity-for-black-candidates) January 4, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 24, 2022. 1. Felton, Julia (February 25, 2022). ["Two Pittsburgh Democrats vying for Jake Wheatley's former state House seat"](https://triblive.com/news/politics-election/2-pittsburgh-democrats-vying-for-jake-wheatleys-former-state-house-seat/). *[Pittsburgh Tribune-Review](/source/Pittsburgh_Tribune-Review)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220407011418/https://triblive.com/news/politics-election/2-pittsburgh-democrats-vying-for-jake-wheatleys-former-state-house-seat/) April 7, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 24, 2022. 1. Potter, Chris (February 10, 2022). ["Democrats choose nominee to replace Wheatley — by the thinnest of margarines"](https://www.wesa.fm/politics-government/2022-02-10/democrats-choose-nominee-to-replace-wheatley-by-the-thinnest-of-margarines). *[WESA](/source/WESA_(FM))*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220420043104/https://www.wesa.fm/politics-government/2022-02-10/democrats-choose-nominee-to-replace-wheatley-by-the-thinnest-of-margarines) April 20, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 24, 2022. 1. ["Pennsylvania House of Representatives Democratic primary election results (19th district, 2022 special)"](https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=970564). *Our Campaigns*. February 10, 2022. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220424040501/https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=970564) April 24, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 24, 2022. 1. Routh, Julian (April 6, 2022). ["Democrats Aerion Abney, Martell Covington win special elections to fill former seats of Ed Gainey, Jake Wheatley"](https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2022/04/05/pittsburgh-special-election-results-pennsylvania-house-districts-19-24-martell-covington-wilkinsburg-aerion-abney/stories/202204050112). *[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette](/source/Pittsburgh_Post-Gazette)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220417170425/https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2022/04/05/pittsburgh-special-election-results-pennsylvania-house-districts-19-24-martell-covington-wilkinsburg-aerion-abney/stories/202204050112) April 17, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 24, 2022. 1. ["Pennsylvania House of Representatives election results (19th district, 2022 special)"](https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=965414). *Our Campaigns*. April 5, 2022. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220424040503/https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=965414) April 24, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 24, 2022. 1. ["Pennsylvania House of Representatives Democratic primary election results (19th district, 2022 regular)"](https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=979026). *Our Campaigns*. May 17, 2022. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220424040513/https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=979026) April 24, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 24, 2022. 1. ["Aerion Abney"](https://www.palegis.us/house/members/bio/1933/rep-abney). *Pennsylvania House of Representatives*. Retrieved 2025-07-18. ## External links - [House website](https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/House_bio.cfm?id=1933) - [House Democratic caucus profile](https://www.pahouse.com/abney/) - [Campaign website](https://voteaerionabney.com/) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Aerion Abney](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerion_Abney) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerion_Abney?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.