Antonio Hayes facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Antonio Hayes
Member of the Maryland Senate from the 40th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 9, 2019
Preceded by	Barbara A. Robinson
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the 40th district
In office January 14, 2015 – January 9, 2019 Serving with Barbara A. Robinson, Frank M. Conaway Jr., and Nick Mosby
Preceded by	Shawn Z. Tarrant
Succeeded by	Melissa Wells
Personal details
Born	(1977-12-09) December 9, 1977 (age 46) Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Residences	Baltimore, Maryland
Alma mater	Frostburg State University
Signature

Antonio Lamar Hayes (born December 9, 1977) is an American politician who represents the 40th legislative district of Baltimore in the Maryland Senate. He previously represented the 40th district in the Maryland House of Delegates from 2015 to 2019.

Background

Hayes at a hearing in Annapolis with Mayor Sheila Dixon in 2009

Hayes was born in Baltimore, Maryland. He was raised by his grandmother and grew up in Baltimore. He attended Frostburg State University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in political science in 2000.

Since 2010, Hayes has served as the Chief of Staff of the Baltimore City Department of Social Services.

In the legislature

In 2014, Hayes defeated two-term incumbent Shawn Z. Tarrant to win a seat in the House of Delegates. He was sworn in on January 14, 2015.

On July 29, 2017, Hayes announced his bid for State Senate, challenging appointed state Senator Barbara A. Robinson for the seat formerly held by Mayor Catherine Pugh. He defeated Robinson in the Democratic primary, earning 65.4 percent of the vote. He ultimately won the general election unchallenged and took office on January 9, 2019.

Following the death of U.S. Representative Elijah Cummings in October 2019, Hayes was seen as a possible candidate in the subsequent special election. Later that month, he said that he would not run for the seat.

In 2020, Hayes ran for national delegate pledged to Joe Biden in Maryland's 7th congressional district at the Democratic National Convention. He won the primary election, receiving 18.4 percent of the vote. He also served as a delegate to the 2024 Democratic National Convention, pledged to Kamala Harris.

Committee assignments

• Member, Finance Committee, 2019–present (energy & public utilities subcommittee, 2019–present)
• Member, Joint Committee on Federal Relations, 2019–present
• Member, Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review, 2020–present
• Member, Executive Nominations Committee, 2021–present
• Member, Health and Government Operations Committee, 2015–2019 (government operations & long-term care subcommittee, 2015–2017; health facilities & occupations subcommittee, 2015–2017; government operations & estates & trusts subcommittee, 2017–2019; health facilities & pharmaceuticals subcommittee, 2017–2019)
• Member, Joint Committee on Children, Youth, and Families, 2015–2019
• Member, Public Safety and Policing Work Group, 2015–2016
• Member, Affordable Care Act Work Group, 2018

Other memberships

• Chair, Baltimore City Senate Delegation, 2019–2020
• Member, Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, 2015–present
• Vice-Chair, Democratic Party Caucus, 2020–present

Political positions

Paid family leave

During the 2020 legislative session, Hayes introduced the "Time to Care Act", a bill that would provide Maryland workers with up to 12 weeks of paid family leave. The bill was reintroduced in 2021 and 2022, during which it passed and became law after the General Assembly voted to override Governor Larry Hogan's veto.

Statewide politics

In September 2021, Hayes endorsed author Wes Moore for Governor of Maryland in the 2022 Maryland gubernatorial election.

Electoral history