Kerry Benninghoff

Kerry Benninghoff is a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 171st district. He was the House Majority Leader.
Career.
While working as an orderly at Mount Nittany Medical Center in State College, Pennsylvania, Benninghoff was appointed as Deputy Coroner of Centre County, Pennsylvania in 1985. In 1991, when Coroner Robert Neff retired, Benninghoff was elected to the office. He was re-elected in 1995.
In 1996, when Rep. Ruth Rudy retired, Benninghoff stepped into the race to succeed her. He defeated Democrat Keith Bierly in the general election that year and has been re-elected to each succeeding session of the House.
In 2018, after being re-elected to the House, Benninghoff was elected by members of the Republican Caucus to serve as House Majority Whip.
On June 22, 2020, Bennighoff was elected PA House majority leader. As majority leader, Benninghoff is the second highest ranking Republican in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives behind Speaker of the House Bryan Cutler.
Personal.
Benninghoff graduated from State College Area High School and attended Pennsylvania State University from 1980 to 1981. He is also a graduate of the Certified Coroners Training Program of the Pennsylvania State Police Academy.
Benninghoff lives in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. He has five children.
Political Positions.
Benninghoff is against legalizing adult-use cannabis in Pennsylvania. He believes that it is a gateway drug and cites the opioid epidemic as a concern. 