State Representative Tarik Khan doesn't keep an apartment in Harrisburg – a waste of taxpayer dollars, he says. On long days he doesn't stay in hotels either. He just hits the couch in his office. 

"I just love our community; it's one of the reasons why I don't have an apartment here," Khan told the Local. "I go back home as often as possible. I think that that's important, that I just want to stay as connected and grounded to my community as possible."

Khan, who lives on the border between Roxborough and Manayunk, is now starting his third year on the job – and rapidly establishing himself as one of the state’s hardest-working legislators. He's in Harrisburg about three days a week every other week, and when he's home, he's usually knocking on doors or showing up at community events. 

"He's been collaborative, energetic and substantive in his new position, and is a pleasure to work with," said State Rep. Chris Rabb, another progressive Democrat who represents parts of Mt. Airy and Chestnut Hill. "I would also say he's been one of the most productive members of his class.”

Ninth Democratic Ward Leader Jeff Duncan agreed.

"After he first got elected, during one of the recess periods, he came back and knocked on doors in Chestnut Hill just to let people know what he was up to," Duncan said. "I heard people say, 'I've never had somebody come up between elections and just say, Hey, I just want to tell you, here's what I've been doing, you know, and let me know if you need anything'." 

With seven co-prime sponsored bills already signed into law during his rookie term, Khan's relentless pace has earned him a seat on the coveted Appropriations Committee – which is typically reserved for senior members. 

"That's a significant position, and I say that from having worked on Capitol Hill in D.C., Appropriations is one of the main committees," Duncan told the Local. "I consider him to be a rising star in the legislature."

Khan enters his second term with an ambitious list of bills he hopes to pass through to the Senate. So for him, a typical day consists of committee meetings and discussions with other officials – both in and outside of his party.

A whirlwind day in the Capitol

On a recent Wednesday in January, Khan started his day at 8:45 a.m. with the first of his five committee assignments. Beginning with the Human Services Committee, he listened as guest speakers presented information about traumatic brain injuries and the difficulties patients face in getting treatment. 

Before that meeting ended, he darted across to the other side of the Capitol for a Health Committee meeting at 9:30 a.m. Speed-walking through the halls, Khan wasted no time getting to his chair, prepared to speak on his bill. 

The committee voted on House Bill 27, legislation Khan previously introduced that focuses on protecting healthcare workers from surgical smoke by requiring higher standards for ventilation systems in operating rooms. Surgical smoke consists of byproducts from heat-generating instruments such as lasers and ultrasonic scalpels.

"The effect on a nurse or a hospital worker that's breathing in these fumes for a 12-hour shift can be the equivalent of smoking about a pack and a half of cigarettes," Khan said at the meeting. "I think it's important to keep places like our hospitals and our operating rooms safe."

The bill was a bipartisan effort co-sponsored by Republican House member Timothy Bonner.

"Hopefully that will be a slam dunk," Khan said. "A benefit to working across the aisle is that you have someone that is going to be talking to their caucus about it, and saying why it's important."

In between meetings, Khan greets and strikes up conversations with more than half the people he walks by. After a brief hour in his office, he proceeded to the House floor around 11 a.m. Both parties then broke to meet with their respective caucuses, before reconvening shortly after noon.

The length of a typical in-session workday varies, Khan said. Some days end quickly, while others last past midnight.

From nurse to legislator

Khan represents Roxborough, Manayunk, Chestnut Hill and East Falls. He first ran for his seat in the 2022 election and won a second term in 2024.

Even before he ran, Khan gained attention for hard work. He started his own Covid vaccination program during the pandemic, using leftover vaccines before they expired – a move that inspired his eventual run for office. 

"It was where I saw the limits of not having healthcare folks with lived experience in positions of power. The federal response to Covid was just atrocious,” Khan said. "Also, I thought that I just felt like we needed new energy in the role of state rep. I felt we needed someone who was going to be knocking on doors, getting the vote out, working to flip the House.”

Aside from Health and Human Services, Khan sits on the Aging & Older Adult Services, Agriculture & Rural Affairs, and Appropriations committees.

A Philadelphia sports fan

Philadelphia sports memorabilia adorn the walls, shelves and desk of Khan's Harrisburg office. An Eagles helmet sits on the front corner of his desk, with the shelf behind featuring figurines of Philadelphia sports legends like former Flyers captain Bobby Clarke.

He described the ideal Philadelphia athlete as someone who brings grit and tenacity, something he strives to emulate in his work.

"Like how Brian Dawkins just gives it his all and just throws himself and his whole body into it. I think we really appreciate that, and when we think someone isn't working hard enough, it bothers us," Khan said. "If I'm phoning it in, if I'm not bringing it to this job, it's doing it a disservice, because, like an athlete, there are other people who could be in that role that you're taking up a spot." 

Khan makes a point of having all his constituents feel welcome at his office. It’s why he chose to display the transgender pride flag outside his. 

"I wanted to make a statement that this was important, having no idea that this last election, then-candidate Trump would then put a target on trans people's backs and use that to try and win an election," Khan said. 

A progressive agenda

In the current session, Khan plans to work with members of his party to re-introduce a bill protecting trans students, with provisions on gender-inclusive bathrooms and anti-bullying.

"It's also making sure that they're not erased from the curriculum too," Khan said. 

Other areas Khan wants to address in this session are affordable housing, minimum wage increases and healthcare issues like safe staffing for healthcare workers. The safe staffing issue was central to the recent dispute between Temple Health and the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals, which led to the Chestnut Hill Hospital nurses' picket – an event Khan attended.

With work ending early on this particular day, Khan was able to head back to his Roxborough-Manayunk home rather than spend the night in his office. But as his ambitious legislative agenda moves forward and the session intensifies, he expects to have many more nights sleeping on the couch.