Mary L. Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mary Washington
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Washington in 2023
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| Member of the Maryland Senate from the 43rd district |
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| Assumed office January 9, 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Joan Carter Conway |
| Member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the 43rd district |
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| In office January 12, 2011 – January 9, 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Scherod C. Barnes |
| Succeeded by | Regina T. Boyce |
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| Born | May 20, 1962 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Jodi Kelber-Kaye |
| Residences | Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Antioch University (BA) Johns Hopkins University (MA, PhD) |
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Mary Lynn Washington (born May 20, 1962) is an American politician. She serves in the Maryland Senate for District 43 since 2019. Before that, she was a member of the Maryland House of Delegates from 2011 to 2019.
Contents
About Mary Washington's Early Life and Education
Mary Washington grew up in West Philadelphia. She was the oldest of six children. She went to the Philadelphia High School for Girls. Later, she studied at Antioch University. She earned a degree in human services in 1989.
In 1992, she moved to Baltimore. She attended Johns Hopkins University. There, she earned two advanced degrees in sociology. Her PhD research looked at how the United States census affects national identity.
Mary Washington's Career Journey
From 1995 to 2002, Washington worked as a professor at Lehigh University. After that, she was a research fellow at the University of Pennsylvania. From 2002 to 2005, she directed an office for the Baltimore Housing Authority.
Washington first got involved in politics in 2006. She ran for the Maryland House of Delegates but did not win. She tried again in 2010 and won the Democratic primary election. She then ran unopposed in the general election.
Serving in the Maryland House of Delegates
Mary Washington officially joined the Maryland House of Delegates on January 12, 2011. She was the first African-American woman to be openly gay and elected to office in Maryland.
In 2017, Washington announced she would run for the Maryland Senate. She challenged the current state senator, Joan Carter Conway. Washington won the primary election in 2018 by a small number of votes. She then ran unopposed in the general election.
Working on Committees in the House
While in the House of Delegates, Mary Washington worked on several important committees:
- Appropriations Committee (2011–2015): This committee deals with how the state spends money.
- Ways and Means Committee (2015–2019): This committee handles taxes and other ways the state earns money.
- Joint Committee on Children, Youth, and Families (2015–2019): This group focuses on issues affecting young people.
- Joint Committee on Ending Homelessness (2015–2019): She helped lead this committee to find solutions for homelessness.
Serving in the Maryland Senate
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Mary Washington was sworn into the Maryland Senate on January 9, 2019. She was the first openly gay African-American person and the first openly gay woman to serve in the state Senate. She was re-elected without opposition in 2022.
Working on Committees in the Senate
In the Maryland Senate, Mary Washington has continued her committee work:
- Education, Energy and the Environment Committee (2023–present): This committee focuses on schools, energy, and protecting nature.
- Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review (2023–present): She helps lead this committee.
- Joint Committee on Children, Youth, and Families (2019–2022): She helped lead this committee for several years.
- Joint Committee on Ending Homelessness (2019–2022): She also helped lead this committee in the Senate.
Running for Baltimore Mayor in 2020
In November 2019, Washington announced she would run for mayor of Baltimore. She was challenging the current mayor, Jack Young. She quickly raised a lot of money for her campaign.
However, on March 16, 2020, Washington stopped her campaign. This was due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She later supported Brandon Scott, who became the Democratic nominee. If she had won, she would have been the first openly gay mayor of Baltimore.
Mary Washington's Political Ideas
Mary Washington is known for her progressive views. This means she supports ideas that aim to improve society and protect the environment.
Focus on Education
Washington cares a lot about education.
- In 2016, she supported stopping standardized tests for very young children. She believed other ways were better to help them learn.
- In 2018, she did not support a bill to use money from sports betting for education. She felt that expanding gambling could harm people.
- In 2019, she asked for lessons on LGBTQ+ and disability rights to be added to school history classes.
- During her mayoral campaign, she supported the "Blueprint for Maryland's Future." This plan aims to improve schools. She also wanted to increase pay for school staff who are not teachers.
- In 2022, she asked the Maryland Attorney General to investigate problems with the state's college savings plan.
Protecting the Environment
Washington has also worked on environmental issues.
- In 2018, she supported banning "fracking" in Maryland. Fracking is a way to get natural gas from the ground.
- In 2023, she introduced a bill to stop a wastewater plant from treating water from a train derailment. She was concerned about the plant's impact.
Gun Safety Laws
Washington supports stricter gun laws.
- In 2015, she voted against allowing police officers in schools to carry guns.
- In 2016, she supported bills to limit high-powered guns. She said these guns were used in violent crimes.
Housing and City Development
Washington has worked on housing issues in Baltimore.
- In 2020, she supported giving people the right to a lawyer in eviction cases.
- In 2023, she spoke out against a deal for Baltimore Gas and Electric. She felt it was not fair to the city's voters.
- She also opposed plans for a crematorium in a Baltimore neighborhood. She worried about its environmental effects.
National Politics
Washington has been a delegate for the Democratic Party. She supported Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden. She also supported Kamala Harris as Vice President. In 2020, she signed a petition to make sure all votes were counted in the presidential election.
Social Issues and Community Support
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Washington has supported many social causes.
- In 2012, she supported a law that made same-sex marriage legal in Maryland.
- In 2019, she introduced a bill to allow gender-neutral driver's licenses.
- In 2023, she introduced the Trans Health Equity Act. This law helps cover gender-affirming care through Medicaid.
- She has worked to help homeless youth. She introduced laws to study youth homelessness and provide tuition help for young people experiencing homelessness.
- In 2021, she introduced a bill to remove all flavored tobacco products from the market.
Fair Taxes
Washington has also focused on tax policies.
- In 2016, she introduced a bill to give tax credits to first responders who buy homes in Baltimore.
- In 2017, she supported stopping tax sales of homes with unpaid water bills. She introduced a law in 2019 to ban Baltimore from putting liens on properties for unpaid water bills. This bill passed easily.
- During her mayoral campaign, she wanted to invest in small businesses. She also suggested cutting the city's property tax.
- In 2022, she introduced a law to remove sales tax from diabetic care products. This bill passed and became law.
Mary Washington's Personal Life
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Mary Washington is openly lesbian. She is married to Jodi Kelber-Kaye. They met in 2006 and live in Baltimore.
She was raised Catholic but is now a Presbyterian. She is a member of the First and Franklin Presbyterian Church.
Images for kids
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Washington in 2023
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Washington in 2011
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Washington in the Maryland Senate, 2023
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Washington (left) attends the Question 6 victory party, 2012
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Washington with Governor Wes Moore at the Baltimore Pride Parade, 2023
