Brian Sims (Pennsylvania)

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Brian Sims
Image of Brian Sims
Prior offices
Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 182
Successor: Benjamin Waxman

Elections and appointments
Last election

May 17, 2022

Education

Bachelor's

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania

Law

Michigan State University

Personal
Profession
Attorney
Contact

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Brian Sims (Democratic Party) was a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing District 182. He assumed office on December 1, 2012. He left office on November 30, 2022.

Sims (Democratic Party) ran for election for Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania. He lost in the Democratic primary on May 17, 2022.


Biography

Email [email protected] to notify us of updates to this biography.

Sims' earned his bachelor's degree from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania and his J.D. from Michigan State University. His professional experience includes working as staff counsel for policy and planning for the Philadelphia Bar, president of the Board of Directors for Equality Pennsylvania, as the chairman of GALLOP, as a disability attorney and as a clerk for the Environmental Protection Agency. As of 2012, he served on the GLSEN Sports Advisory Council and contributed to The Advocate Magazine. Sims was the first former NCAA football captain to come out.[1]

Committee assignments

2021-2022

Sims was assigned to the following committees:

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2019-2020

Sims was assigned to the following committees:

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2017 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:

Pennsylvania committee assignments, 2017
Game & Fisheries
Human Services
State Government
Tourism & Recreational Development

2015 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Sims served on the following committees:

2013-2014

In the 2013-2014 legislative session, Sims served on the following committees:

The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.


Elections

2022

See also: Pennsylvania gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2022

General election

General election for Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania

Austin Davis defeated Carrie DelRosso, Timothy McMaster, Michael Bagdes-Canning, and Nicole Shultz in the general election for Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Austin Davis
Austin Davis (D)
 
56.5
 
3,031,137
Image of Carrie DelRosso
Carrie DelRosso (R)
 
41.7
 
2,238,477
Image of Timothy McMaster
Timothy McMaster (L) Candidate Connection
 
1.0
 
51,611
Image of Michael Bagdes-Canning
Michael Bagdes-Canning (G)
 
0.5
 
24,436
Image of Nicole Shultz
Nicole Shultz (Keystone Party of Pennsylvania) Candidate Connection
 
0.4
 
20,518

Total votes: 5,366,179
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania

Austin Davis defeated Brian Sims and Ray Sosa in the Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania on May 17, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Austin Davis
Austin Davis
 
63.0
 
768,141
Image of Brian Sims
Brian Sims
 
25.1
 
305,959
Image of Ray Sosa
Ray Sosa Candidate Connection
 
11.9
 
145,228

Total votes: 1,219,328
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania on May 17, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Carrie DelRosso
Carrie DelRosso
 
25.6
 
318,970
Image of Rick Saccone
Rick Saccone
 
15.7
 
195,774
Image of Teddy Daniels
Teddy Daniels
 
12.1
 
150,935
Image of Clarice Schillinger
Clarice Schillinger
 
11.9
 
148,442
Image of Jeff Coleman
Jeff Coleman
 
10.1
 
126,072
Image of James Jones
James Jones Candidate Connection
 
9.1
 
113,966
Image of Russell Diamond
Russell Diamond
 
6.0
 
74,265
Image of John Brown
John Brown
 
4.8
 
59,267
Image of Chris Frye
Chris Frye
 
4.7
 
58,752

Total votes: 1,246,443
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Campaign finance

2020

See also: Pennsylvania House of Representatives elections, 2020

General election

General election for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 182

Incumbent Brian Sims defeated Drew Murray in the general election for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 182 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Brian Sims
Brian Sims (D)
 
83.1
 
34,225
Image of Drew Murray
Drew Murray (R)
 
16.9
 
6,969

Total votes: 41,194
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 182

Incumbent Brian Sims defeated Marisa Shaaban in the Democratic primary for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 182 on June 2, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Brian Sims
Brian Sims
 
58.0
 
10,285
Image of Marisa Shaaban
Marisa Shaaban Candidate Connection
 
42.0
 
7,457

Total votes: 17,742
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 182

Drew Murray advanced from the Republican primary for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 182 on June 2, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Drew Murray
Drew Murray
 
100.0
 
966

Total votes: 966
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Campaign finance

2018

See also: Pennsylvania House of Representatives elections, 2018

General election

General election for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 182

Incumbent Brian Sims defeated James McDevitt in the general election for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 182 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Brian Sims
Brian Sims (D)
 
90.6
 
28,234
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
James McDevitt (Independent)
 
9.4
 
2,943

Total votes: 31,177
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 182

Incumbent Brian Sims advanced from the Democratic primary for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 182 on May 15, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Brian Sims
Brian Sims
 
100.0
 
9,046

Total votes: 9,046
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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2016

State House

See also: Pennsylvania House of Representatives elections, 2016

Elections for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election was held on April 26, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was February 16, 2016.

Incumbent Brian Sims ran unopposed in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 182 general election.[2][3]

Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 182, General Election, 2016
Party Candidate
    Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Brian Sims Incumbent (unopposed)
Source: Pennsylvania Department of State


Incumbent Brian Sims defeated Louis Lanni, Marni Snyder, and Benjamin Waxman in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 182 Democratic primary.[4][5]

Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 182 Democratic Primary, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Brian Sims Incumbent 40.20% 6,065
     Democratic Louis Lanni 12.00% 1,810
     Democratic Marni Snyder 13.66% 2,060
     Democratic Benjamin Waxman 34.14% 5,151
Total Votes 15,086



Primary race background

Main article: Pennsylvania races we're watching, 2016

Sims sent a fundraising e-mail to supporters stating, "I never expected to have this big of a target on my back," which went on to refer to "right-wing extremists" that were trying to "their anti-choice and anti-equality agenda through our State House." Sims received criticism from the fact check website PolitiFact Pennsylvania for his statement that "right-wing extremists are trying to take this [Sims'] seat" since no Republicans filed to run for the seat. The e-mail further stated that conservatives were trying to push "their anti-choice and anti-equality agenda through our State House."[6]

PolitiFact Pennsylvania, gave Sims' statement the website's lowest ranking for truthfulness, and found that none of Sims' Democratic opponents could be considered "right-wing extremists." Each of Sims' opponents expressed support for progressive causes such as gay rights, criminal justice reform, and women's rights. "I don’t think any of us are right-wing extremists," said Snyder. Waxman dismissed the e-mail as "ridiculous false attacks." Lanni called himself a moderate on his campaign's Facebook page.[6][7]

U.S. House

See also: Pennsylvania's 2nd Congressional District election, 2016

Sims briefly ran in the 2016 election for the U.S. House to represent Pennsylvania's 2nd District.[8] However, he dropped out of the race in February 2016.[9]

2014

See also: Pennsylvania House of Representatives elections, 2014

Elections for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 20, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 11, 2014. Incumbent Brian Sims was set to face Babette Josephs in the Democratic primary, but Josephs was removed from the ballot on April 9, 2014, leaving Sims unopposed. Sims was unchallenged in the general election.[10][11][12]

2012

See also: Pennsylvania House of Representatives elections, 2012

Sims ran in the 2012 election for Pennsylvania House District 182. Sims defeated incumbent Babette Josephs in the April 24 Democratic primary. He was unchallenged in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[13][14]

Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 182, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngBrian Sims 100% 28,537
Total Votes 28,537
Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 182 Democratic Primary, 2012
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngBrian Sims 51.6% 3,759
Babette Josephs 48.4% 3,524
Total Votes 7,283

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Brian Sims did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2020

Brian Sims did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

2012

Sims' website highlighted the following campaign themes:[15]

Education

  • "Protect children’s right to a good education and teachers’ right to collectively bargain"
  • "Ensure the School Reform Commission is open, accessible and effective"
  • "Fight against vouchers and attempts to privatize the school district"

Constituent Service

  • "Connecting constituents to vital public services"
  • "Notarizing forms and helping with government paperwork "
  • "Providing assistance to help navigate unemployment, veteran’s assistance, and other services"

Environment

  • "Pass a fair severance tax on natural gas drilling"
  • "Ban drilling state forests"
  • "Increase regulation of fracking and monitoring of drilling impacts on water, air and land"

Equality

  • "Provide equal protection for all Pennsylvanians"
  • "Expand existing civil rights protections and enforce those that already exist"
  • "Protect our immigrants from intimidation and discriminatory laws"

Campaign finance summary


Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.


Brian Sims campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2022Lieutenant Governor of PennsylvaniaLost primary$1,212,905 $1,072,997
2020Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 182Won general$143,735 N/A**
2018Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 182Won general$119,793 N/A**
2016Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 182Won $370,944 N/A**
2014Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 182Won $210,329 N/A**
2012Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 182Won $205,752 N/A**
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards and State legislative scorecards in Pennsylvania

A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.

Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.

Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states.  To contribute to the list of Pennsylvania scorecards, email suggestions to [email protected].



2022

In 2022, the Pennsylvania State Legislature was in session from January 4 to November 30.

Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to civil rights and civil liberties issues.
Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
Legislators are scored on their votes on environmental issues.
Legislators are scored on their adherence to the limited government principles of the U.S. Constitution.


2021


2020


2018


2017


2016


2015


2014


2013


See also


External links

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Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by
-
Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 182
2012-2022
Succeeded by
Benjamin Waxman (D)


Leadership
Speaker of the House:Joanna McClinton
Majority Leader:Kerry Benninghoff
Minority Leader:Bryan Cutler
Representatives
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
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District 7
District 8
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District 12
District 13
District 14
District 15
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District 22
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District 24
District 25
District 26
District 27
District 28
District 29
District 30
District 31
District 32
District 33
District 34
District 35
District 36
District 37
Mindy Fee (R)
District 38
District 39
District 40
District 41
District 42
District 43
District 44
District 45
District 46
District 47
District 48
District 49
District 50
Bud Cook (R)
District 51
District 52
District 53
District 54
District 55
District 56
District 57
District 58
District 59
District 60
District 61
District 62
District 63
District 64
R. James (R)
District 65
District 66
District 67
District 68
District 69
District 70
District 71
Jim Rigby (R)
District 72
District 73
District 74
District 75
District 76
District 77
District 78
District 79
District 80
District 81
District 82
District 83
District 84
Joe Hamm (R)
District 85
District 86
District 87
District 88
District 89
District 90
District 91
Dan Moul (R)
District 92
District 93
District 94
District 95
District 96
District 97
District 98
Tom Jones (R)
District 99
District 100
District 101
District 102
District 103
District 104
District 105
District 106
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District 124
District 125
District 126
District 127
District 128
District 129
District 130
District 131
District 132
District 133
District 134
District 135
District 136
District 137
District 138
Ann Flood (R)
District 139
District 140
District 141
District 142
District 143
District 144
District 145
District 146
District 147
District 148
District 149
District 150
District 151
District 152
District 153
District 154
District 155
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District 160
District 161
District 162
District 163
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District 166
District 167
District 168
District 169
District 170
District 171
District 172
District 173
District 174
District 175
District 176
District 177
District 178
District 179
District 180
District 181
District 182
District 183
District 184
District 185
District 186
District 187
Gary Day (R)
District 188
District 189
District 190
District 191
District 192
District 193
District 194
District 195
District 196
District 197
District 198
District 199
District 200
District 201
District 202
District 203
Democratic Party (102)
Republican Party (101)