Erica Deuso


Erica Michelle Deuso is an American politician. On November 4, 2025, she was elected as the mayor of Downingtown, becoming the first openly transgender mayor in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Career

Deuso works as a personnel and process quality manager for Johnson & Johnson.
She serves on the Chester [County, Pennsylvania|Chester County] Democratic Committee. She also serves on the board of directors of the Pennsylvania Equality Project. Deuso also sits on the board of Emerge Pennsylvania, an organization that promotes women political candidates.
In May 2025, she won the Democratic Party's primary for the mayoral race for Downingtown, a town in Chester County west of Philadelphia, defeating fellow Democrat Barry Cassidy. Deuso ran against Republican Richard Bryant in the general election, which she won with 64% of the vote, becoming the first openly transgender person elected mayor in Pennsylvania.

Personal life

Deuso is originally from South Burlington, Vermont. She is a graduate of South Western High School in Hanover, Pennsylvania. She has multiple degrees, including an masters degree in business administration, from Drexel University, after moving to Downingtown in 2007.