Tarik Khan (Pennsylvania politician)

Tarik Sharif Khan is an American medical professional and politician. He is a current Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing the 194th District since 2023.

Early life and education
Khan was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of a Pakistani immigrant father and a Catholic mother. Khan grew up as a Muslim in the Jewish neighborhood of Bustleton, Philadelphia. He graduated from Central High School of Philadelphia in 1996. Khan earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Theater from Davidson College in 2000. He graduated from Roxborough Memorial Hospital School of Nursing as a Graduate nurse in 2003, and later earned a Master of Science degree in nursing from the School of Nursing at La Salle University. Khan earned a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania in 2022.

Medical career
Khan was a nurse at Jefferson Abington Hospital from 2005 to 2010. Between 2011 and 2014, he worked as a nurse practitioner in Washington, D.C. In 2015, Khan began working in the same role at Abbottsford-Falls Health Center in Philadelphia. During his studies at University of Pennsylvania, Khan was president of the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association.

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Philadelphia, Khan penned at op-ed in The Philadelphia Inquirer where he lamented the lack of PPE at his health center and criticized the administration of President Donald Trump for perceived inaction.

In an effort to avoid wasting COVID vaccines on the verge of expiring, Khan took it upon himself to individually visit and inoculate over 900 homebound residents in Philadelphia. Khan's delivery of "angel doses" garnered him national media attention and resulted in the established of a mobile vaccine clinic and more in-home inoculations. A documentary titled "Angel Dose" from filmmaker Sami Khan was also made chronicling Khan's deliveries.

Political activities
Khan identifies with the progressive movement. His political activism and advocacy has included supporting the passage of the Affordable Care Act, advocating for universal pre-kindergarten in Philadelphia, and opposing the construction of a gas plant in Nicetown, Pennsylvania. Khan has also supported implementing Medicare-for-all and the Green New Deal in Pennsylvania.

In 2022, Khan defeated incumbent Pennsylvania State Representative Pam DeLissio from the 194th District in a Democratic primary challenge. He then won in the general election, defeating Libertarian nominee Torren Danowski with 90% of the vote.

Khan is both the first Pakistani-American lawmaker and first advanced practice nurse ever elected to the Pennsylvania legislature.

In 2024, Khan led a group of Pennsylvania lawmakers to propose a bill to outlaw the use of deepfakes by political campaigns.

The same year, Khan proposed legislation that would repeal laws that require abortion centers to operate within the same standards as surgical centers. He contends these laws, known as Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers laws, or TARP laws, are unnecessary, excessive, and only serve to close down abortion centers.

Khan co-signed a statement expressing support for pro-Palestinian student protesters and criticizing the police response to the protest encampments.