Dwight Evans grew up in the Germantown and West Oak Lane sections of Philadelphia and is a graduate of the Community College of Philadelphia and La Salle University. After graduation, he became a teacher in the Schooll Distric of Philadelphia and a community activist for the Urban League.

Dwight Evans is a member of the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 2nd congressional district since 2016. He defeated incumbent Chaka Fattah in the Democratic primary election, and won a special election on November 8, 2016, following Fattah's resignation from Congress. He previously served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing the 203rd distric located in Philadelphia County.