Patricia Hughes was a member of Philadelphia City Council representing the 7th District and was Democratic Leader of the 7th Ward.
She grew up in Kensington and after graduating from high school worked in a civil service job until in 1976 Harry Jannotti asked her to work for him. After Jannotti resigned amidst a corruption scandal, he supported Hughes who won the Democratic primary by 542 votes and then won the general election in November 1983. When she ran for re-election in November 1987 she lost to Republican Jack Kelly.