Senator Vincent J. Hughes represents the 7th Senatorial District in the PA Senate, where he serves in the third highest ranking position as Chairman of the Senate Democratic Caucus. He has been a member of the PA Senate since November of 1994. Prior to coming to the Senate, he was a member of the PA House of Representatives from 1987-1994.

Senator Hughes, the dean of the Senate Philadelphia delegation, has been a champion on issues that impact directly on PA's working communities. Governor Ed Rendell called Senator Hughes "our Field Marshall leading the troops," when Senator Hughes was a leader in raising PA's minimum wage in 2006. Senator Hughes worked in a bi-partisan manner for PA's funding of $20 million for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. On the fight to provide health insurance to PA's uninsured, Senator Hughes has been a leader and vocal advocate and sponsored numerous pieces of legislation throughout his entire legislative career, to move this issue forward.

Senator Hughes has worked tirelessly on major revitalization projects in his district. He has led and been intimately involved in the development of projects like the Cira Center, the $50 million Park Town West retail complex, and the 500-unit Lucien Blackwell Homes.

A champion addressing some of our most difficult problems, Senator Hughes has been recognized both locally and nationally for his work on HIV/AIDS, and the challenges of mental/behavioral health in the African-American community. His commitment to creating access to college is demonstrated through his service on the Board of Governors of the PA State System of Higher Education, the board of directors of the PA Higher Education Assistance Agency, and the Cheyney University Council of Trustees. Senator Hughes and his family have also established the James Hughes Memorial Scholarship Fund in honor of his late father. The fund has given out more than $1 million in scholarships to over 400 students.

In all of his work, which has taken him across the state and around the world, Senator Hughes is staunchly committed to the progress of his 7th Senatorial District, which encompasses portions of Philadelphia and Montgomery County. Senator Vincent Hughes is a member of the Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, and is supported by his loving wife, actress, entertainer and activist Sheryl Lee Ralph, and their blended family of four children.