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Adrienne Jones The House speaker got the job as a compromise between supporters of the two leading candidates for the post, Dereck Davis and Maggie McIntosh. Her positions on many issues remain to be articulated. How will she work with committee chairs and with her new leadership counterpart in the Senate, William "Bill" Ferguson? (The Daily Record File)
Maryland General Assembly: Who isn’t seeking reelection?
Listen to this articleKey takeaways:
- Former House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones withdrew her candidacy for reelection.
- Senate Finance Committee Leader Pam Beidle also withdrew her candidacy.
- House Health Committee Vice Chair Bonnie Cullison is not seeking reelection after serving since 2011.
- Multiple lawmakers are running for U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer‘s soon-to-be-vacant seat.
With the passage of Maryland’s campaign filing deadline comes the revelation that several high-profile members of the General Assembly will not seek reelection this year — most notably, House Speaker emeritus Adrienne A. Jones.
“For her, the importance of doing this work was always about public service and giving back. When asked how she would like to be remembered, Speaker Jones once told a reporter: ‘I would like people to say, “She made a difference,” ‘ ” House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk, D-Anne Arundel and Prince George’s, said in a statement Friday. “Mission accomplished, Madam Speaker.”
Jones, D-Baltimore County, stepped down as speaker of the House of Delegates late last year, making way for Peña-Melnyk’s leadership.
Peña-Melnyk is the first Afro-Latina speaker of the House in Maryland history.
Jones, who has been largely absent during the first half of the 2026 legislative session, has served as a member of the House since 1997. In 2003, she was tapped by the late Speaker Mike Busch, D-Anne Arundel, to serve as speaker pro tem.
Upon Busch’s death in 2019, Jones was elected to serve as the speaker of the House, becoming the first woman and Black person to do so.
“Speaker Jones shattered two glass ceilings when she was unanimously elected Maryland’s first African American and the first woman Speaker in 2019,” said Peña-Melnyk. “Her determination to increase opportunity and empower historically unheard voices makes her the standard bearer for honorable leadership not only for Maryland, but the nation.”
Jones officially withdrew her candidacy Friday.
Beyond the former House speaker, several other notable lawmakers are also giving up their seats next term.
Senate Finance Committee leader Pam Beidle, D-Anne Arundel, withdrew her candidacy Feb. 24, the filing deadline. Beidle has been a member of the state Senate since 2019. Prior to that, she served in the House for 12 years.
Additionally, House Health Committee Vice Chair Bonnie Cullison, D-Montgomery, is not seeking reelection. Cullison has served in the House since 2011.
Other lawmakers not seeking reelection include:
- Sen. Joanne Benson, D-Prince George’s.
- Sen. Arthur Ellis, D-Charles.
- Sen. Bryan Simonaire, R-Anne Arundel.
- Sen. Chris West, R-Baltimore County and Carroll.
- Del. Tiffany Alston, D-Prince George’s.
- Del. H. Kevin Anderson, R-Lower Eastern Shore.
- Del. Adrian Boafo, D-Prince George’s.
- Del. Christopher Eric Bouchat, R-Carroll and Frederick.
- Del. Mark Chang, D-Anne Arundel.
- Del. Barrie Ciliberti, R-Frederick.
- Del. Brian Crosby, D-St. Mary’s.
- Del. Anne Healey, D-Prince George’s.
- Del. Jim Hinebaugh, R-Allegany and Garrett.
- Del. Nic Kipke, R-Anne Arundel.
- Del. Nino Mangione, R-Baltimore County.
- Del. Pam Queen, D-Montgomery.
- Del. Malcolm Ruff, D-Baltimore City.
- Del. Joshua Stonko, R-Carroll.
- Del. Jen Terrasa, D-Howard.
- Del. Nicole Williams, D-Prince George’s.
- Del. C.T. Wilson, D-Charles.
Mangione is giving up his House seat to run for Baltimore County Council.
Several members of the General Assembly are seeking to fill the seat to be left vacant by U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer, a Maryland Democrat who announced he is retiring after more than 40 years in Congress.
Boafo, Williams and Ellis are among the crowded ring of those who filed to replace Hoyer.
Some members of the House are seeking soon-to-be-vacant state Senate seats.
Wilson filed for Ellis’ state Senate seat. Kipke is seeking the seat to be left vacant by Simonaire. Alston filed to replace Benson. And Chang is eyeing Beidle’s seat.
Ruff is running against incumbent Sen. Dalya Attar, D-Baltimore City, to represent the 41st legislative district.
Attar was appointed to the Senate this term to replace former Sen. Jill Carter, D-Baltimore City, after Carter was tapped by Gov. Wes Moore, a Democrat, to serve on the state Board of Contract Appeals.
Attar faces a tough race in the wake of her criminal indictment last fall that alleges she spied on and conspired to blackmail a political consultant. She moved to dismiss parts of the indictment in December.
