Amen Brown is a second-term state representative, repping the 10th House District in West Philly, where he’s from. In the Pa. House, he’s shown a willingness to propose legislation unpopular with others in his party, like instituting new mandatory minimums for gun-related crimes.
Before politics, Brown was a young entrepreneur, rebounding from some of the structural harms faced by disadvantaged millennial Philadelphians. He’s also been implicated in deed fraud, and a Commonwealth Court in 2022 noted his “general irresponsibility” in failing to meet campaign residency requirements or disclose necessary financial information.
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Previous elected experience: Brown has been a state representative since 2020.
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How long in Philly? He grew up right near 56th and Market streets, part of the district he now represents.
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Big wins: There haven’t been many pieces of legislation to note with his imprimatur, but he’s shown willingness to work across the aisle on marijuana legalization and his participation in the Republican-led investigation of DA Larry Krasner.
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Potential eyebrow raisers: It’s never ideal when the city you’re hoping to lead moves to sue you and your business partner for over $30,000 due to unpaid taxes. Brown found himself in that scenario last year.
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What’s his network? A connection of import is his backing from Marty Burger, the CEO of New York’s Silverstein Properties (and NYC Mayor Eric Adams’ pal) who’s looking to expand his firm’s footprint in Philly.
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Vibe: A go-getter who’s not afraid of knocking down expectations, with a pervasive “Did I do that?” aura.
Website: amenforphilly.com