Stephanie Borowicz | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 76th district | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Mike Hanna |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 23, 1977 Orlando, Florida, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Jason |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Vanguard University (BA) |
| Website | repstephanie.com |
Stephanie Paige Borowicz[1] (born 1977) is an American politician currently serving as a Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 76th district since 2019.
Borowicz was born on March 23, 1977, in Orlando, Florida. She graduated from Altamonte Christian School in 1995.[1] Borowicz earned a bachelor of arts degree in liberal studies with a minor in Bible studies from Vanguard University,[2] a private Christian university in Orange County, California.[3] She worked as an elementary school teacher and as president of a non-profit organization.[4] She moved to Clinton County, Pennsylvania, in 2009.[5]
Borowicz first ran for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2016, challenging longtime incumbent Mike Hanna. She would lose that election. In 2018, Hanna decided against seeking re-election. Hanna's son Mike Hanna Jr. ran in his stead, but would lose to Borowicz by around 1,500 votes.[3] Borowicz was re-elected in 2020 and 2022.[1]
Borowicz garnered national attention when she gave an invocation at the start of a state house session in which she invoked Jesus 13 times, praised President Donald Trump, praised Israel, and said, "at the name of Jesus, every knee will bend." The prayer was given on the same day that Movita Johnson-Harrell was sworn in as the first Muslim woman to serve in the chamber.[6] Johnson-Harrel criticized the invocation as "weaponized prayer" and as an example of Islamophobia.[7] Borowicz brushed off the criticism in an interview with Todd Starnes on Fox News Radio, saying she prayed in the same manner she always prayed. She claimed that people were offended because "there's power in the name of Jesus."[8]
In May 2019, a man in a shirt with the name and logo of the American Guard took a selfie with Borowicz at a pro-gun rally in Harrisburg. Borowicz's photo-op elicited criticism from the Anti-Defamation League who requested Borowicz apologize for the picture due to the American Guard's ties to white supremacy. She would issue a statement, but did not make mention of the American Guard or its ideology, "We do not, nor should we, require ID or background checks as a condition for being photographed with the people of Pennsylvania — our constituents! The many photos taken of me at this year’s Rally to Protect Your Right to Keep and Bear Arms are no different.”[9]
During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Borowicz introduced a resolution that suggested the virus was a "punishment inflicted upon us for our presumptuous sins" and sought to proclaim March 30, 2020, a day of humiliation, fasting, and prayer.[10]
Following the 2020 United States presidential election, Borowicz joined 25 other Pennsylvania Republican lawmakers in sponsoring a resolution to demand the decertification of Pennsylvania's electoral votes. The group cited false claims of a rigged election in their resolution.[11][12]
In 2022, Borowicz introduced a bill modeled a after Florida's "Don't Say Gay" law. Her bill would ban discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity in schools through the fifth grade, but Borowicz said the measure should be extended through twelfth grade. The introduction of her bill came after the Pennsylvania Department of Education launched a webpage containing advice for teachers to create "gender-inclusive classrooms."[13] The bill was referred to the State House's Education Committee, but was never taken up.[14] She reintroduced the bill in 2023.[15]
Borowicz's husband, Jason,[16] is a pastor and together they have three sons.[5]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Mike Hanna Sr. (incumbent) | 13,213 | 52.16 | |
| Republican | Stephanie Borowicz | 12,121 | 47.84 | |
| Total votes | 25,334 | 100.00 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Stephanie Borowicz | 11,224 | 53.64 | |
| Democratic | Mike Hanna Jr. | 9,669 | 46.21 | |
| Write-in | 30 | 0.14 | ||
| Total votes | 20,923 | 100.00 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Stephanie Borowicz (incumbent) | 19,157 | 65.47 | |
| Democratic | Joe Waltz | 10,080 | 34.45 | |
| Write-in | 24 | 0.08 | ||
| Total votes | 29,261 | 100.00 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Stephanie Borowicz (incumbent) | 15,776 | 67.41 | |
| Democratic | Denise Maris | 7,627 | 32.59 | |
| Total votes | 23,403 | 100.00 | ||
