Tarik Khan

Tarik Khan (born October 14, 1978) is an American politician and healthcare worker. He is a current Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing the 194th District since 2023.

Early life and education Tarik Khan was born on October 14, 1978 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His father Sharif Khan is a Pakistani immigrant who came to the United States in 1964 and worked as an engineer in Pennsylvania. His mother belongs to the Catholic faith. Khan earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Theater from Davidson College in 2000. 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 establishment of a mobile vaccine clinic and more in-home inoculations.

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. He then won in the general election, defeating Libertarian nominee Torren Danowski with 90% of the vote.

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 TRAP 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.

Khan called for Pennsylvania's U.S. Senators to vote against the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Health and Human Services secretary citing Kennedy's anti-vaccine activism and having "neither the experience nor competence to take on this immense national responsibility."

Electoral history

Publications