State House: | Pennsylvania |
District: | 32nd |
Term Start: | February 21, 2023[1] |
Predecessor: | Tony DeLuca |
Party: | Democratic |
Birth Place: | Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
Spouse: | Michelle[2] |
Joseph Melvin McAndrew (born)[3] is an American politician. A Democrat, he is currently a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing the 32nd district since 2023.
McAndrew was born in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Fox Chapel Area High School in 2008. McAndrew earned his bachelor of arts degree in political science from the University of Dayton in 2012.
From 2012 to 2014, he was a research analyst for the Democratic caucus in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.In 2017, McAndrew unsuccessfully ran for mayor of Oakmont, Pennsylvania.[4] In 2021, McAndrew was the executive director of the Allegheny County Democratic Party.
Following the death of State Representative Tony DeLuca, McAndrew, then the chair of the Penn Hills Democratic Committee,[5] was nominated by the Allegheny County Democratic Party to replace the late representative.[6] He defeated Republican candidate Clayton Walker in the February 2023 special election to represent the 32nd district. In addition to two other simultaneous special elections, McAndrew's victory affirmed Democrats' one-seat majority in the State House following the 2022 election.[7] In 2024, McAndrew beat Penn Hills Mayor Pauline Calabrese in the Democratic primary election. Calabrese had previously vied against McAndrew in 2023 for the Democratic nomination in the special election. McAndrew is facing no Republican opposition in the primary election.[8]
In February 2024, McAndrew was made chair of the House Subcommittee on Public Transportation.[9]
McAndrew supports legalizing marijuana and expanding abortion access. He also supports concealed-carry permits for gun owners and expanding background checks.[10]