Who Is Sheryl Lee Ralph’s Husband? All About Vincent Hughes

Sheryl Lee Ralph’s connection to Philadelphia is two-fold.

Not only does she portray a Philly-bred school teacher on the hit sitcom Abbott Elementary, but she’s also married to Pennsylvania Sen. Vincent Hughes, who was first elected to the position in 1994.

The pair began dating after meeting through a mutual friend in the early 2000s and eventually wed in 2005. Due to their respective jobs, the couple have a unique marital arrangement — they see each other every two weeks when Ralph travels from Los Angeles to Philadelphia.

“First of all, 20 years, keeping this marriage together, you have to be together sometime,” she told the Philadelphia Inquirer. “Vincent is not able to leave the state the way I can leave the state. In fact, in 20 years of our being together, I’m going to say my husband has maybe been in California, maybe, 25 times. That means I’m in Philadelphia every two weeks.”

She also explained that fans often wonder why she’s in Philadelphia: “It’s always like, ‘What are you doing there?’ ‘Um, I’m married to Sen. Hughes. I live here.’ ”

So, who is Sheryl Lee Ralph’s husband? Here’s everything to know about Pennsylvania Sen. Vincent Hughes.

He’s a state senator

Hughes has represented the 7th Senatorial district in Pennsylvania since November 1994. He’s also served as the Democratic Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee since 2011. Hughes has long been an advocate for providing health insurance to the uninsured as well as increasing wages for low-income workers. He’s also raised over $1 million in scholarship money for underserved students to attend college.

He is passionate about criminal justice reform

The state senator continues to work toward reforming the criminal justice system in Pennsylvania, according to his website. In 2017, he established the First Chance Fund in an effort to help children with incarcerated parents. “We want to make sure those children are not left out,” Hughes said, according to ABC 27. “They need to have programming. They need to have support.”

He also created the $60 million School and Community Anti-Violence Fund, which provides support to schools and communities to reduce violence.

He met Ralph through a mutual friend

When they were introduced, Ralph and Hughes were both divorced and each had two children. “We believe in each other’s mission and each other’s work, and we’re both very focused on our children and our family,” Hughes told Essence in 2020. “I think that really is the foundation. I like what Sheryl’s about.”

Ralph echoed Hughes’ sentiment, saying, “I have a great friend and a great partner; somebody that I absolutely trust.”

He gave Ralph a sweet gift when they began dating

In an interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer, Ralph recalled a story from when the pair began dating in the early aughts. Hughes gave her a gift in a blue box and inside was a Pennsylvania almanac. On the inside of the box he’d written, “So you will know more about all the things I truly love.”

Ralph recalled feeling moved by the gift. “I was so fascinated that this man wanted me to know right off the get-go that, ‘I am all about my state, and I love my city,’ ” she said.

He and Ralph went to couples therapy

Ralph and Hughes are open about their commitment to therapy. “It was because we’ve both been married and divorced before and we had children to think of,” Ralph told Essence.

“We hadn’t even talked about marriage, but we knew we wanted to go to relationship counseling,” Hughes added. “If you’re honest in your session, you’re leaving everything wide open. It was a way to really reveal ourselves to one another with guidance. It was extremely helpful. I would encourage counseling whether you have a blended family or not.”

He and Ralph got married in 2005

The couple tied the knot on July 30, 2005, at the First African Methodist Episcopal Church in Los Angeles. Ralph wore an off-the-shoulder champagne-colored silk charmeuse Tadashi gown. The straps were adorned with Swarovski crystals (as was her bouquet) and it featured a seven-foot train. The groom wore a custom-tailored black tuxedo and a white tie. Ralph had 10 bridesmaids, including singer Patti LaBelle.

PEOPLE reported that the matron of honor fainted as the vows began, but the rest of the service went off without a hitch, including a uniting-of-the-families portion to honor the couple’s children from previous marriages. Hughes’ daughter Ariell gave her father away while his son Alek served as his best man. Ralph’s son Etienne Maurice, who got engaged to ABC News journalist Stephanie Wash in July 2023, gave his mother away. Her daughter Ivy-Victoria “Coco” Maurice was also in attendance.

While talking to PEOPLE in September 2024, Ralph shared that she and Hughes plan to throw a “big party” to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary in 2025.

“Well, his state is Pennsylvania, his city is Philadelphia. Maybe [we’ll celebrate] in the courtyard of city hall or on the stairs of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. That would be wonderful,” she added. “I don’t know, but it’ll be fabulous.”

He and Ralph split their time between L.A. and Philadelphia

Ralph’s work often requires her to be in L.A., while Hughes’ career requires him to be in Philadelphia, but the couple make it work.

In December 2023, Ralph combated rumors that she and Hughes had never lived together. She clarified their living arrangement in an interview with ET.

“Vincent and I have been married going on 19 years,” she told the outlet. “We’ve been together 21 years. Abbott is shot in Los Angeles. My husband, as a senator, is always in his capitol [Harrisburg, Penn.], so I don’t know what magic people think we’re gonna do.” 

Ralph continued, “We see each other on the average of every two weeks. And everybody who questions that I say, ‘Guess what? We’re still married!’ ”

He and Ralph call their marriage “a blessing”

When he’s not in Philadelphia, Hughes is often Ralph’s plus-one to star-studded Hollywood events.

In January 2024, the couple attended the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles. Ralph dazzled in a white mermaid-style gown, while Hughes complemented his wife in a white tux.

Ralph’s costar admires their marriage

Abbott Elementary actress Lisa Ann Walter admires the life Ralph and Hughes have built together.

“Sheryl has a beautiful family and a beautiful support system in her entire family,” she said to PEOPLE in July 2024. “Her husband is a doll. He’s very smart, and she has a great relationship with him.”