Joe Pittman (politician)

Joseph A. Pittman (born March 31, 1977) is the Majority Leader of the Pennsylvania State Senate. He has represented the 41st district as a state senator since June 2019. Prior to being elected by his colleagues to serve as Majority Leader in 2022, Joe served as chairman of the Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee, vice chairman of the Senate Environmental Resources & Energy Committee, and as a member of the Appropriations, Banking & Insurance, Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure, and Judiciary committees. He was also a member of the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) Board of Directors.

Early life
Pittman graduated from Purchase Line High School in 1995 and was appointed to the local school board at age 18; he continued in service on the board until his graduation from Pennsylvania State University in December 1998 with a bachelor's degree in political science. After a brief employment in Bedford County, Pittman joined Donald C. White's successful campaign for state senator in 2000 and was named his chief of staff at age 23.

State senator
White resigned as state senator in late February 2019 and a special election was scheduled for May 21, 2019, to determine his successor. Pittman announced his candidacy for the seat in March 2019 and the Republican Party of Pennsylvania supported him unanimously as their candidate. Pittman won nearly two-thirds of the vote against Democratic challenger Susan Boser and became the next state senator for the 41st district.

Personal life
Pittman and his wife Gina live in Indiana, Pennsylvania, with their two sons and twin daughters.