Mary L. Washington facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mary Washington
Washington in 2023
Member of the Maryland Senate from the 43rd district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 9, 2019
Preceded by	Joan Carter Conway
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the 43rd district
In office January 12, 2011 – January 9, 2019
Preceded by	Scherod C. Barnes
Succeeded by	Regina T. Boyce
Personal details
Born	(1962-05-20) May 20, 1962 (age 63) 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)
Signature

Mary Lynn Washington (born May 20, 1962) is an American politician. Since 2019, she has been a member of the Maryland Senate, representing District 43. Before that, she served in the Maryland House of Delegates from 2011 to 2019.

Early Life and Schooling

Mary Washington was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as the oldest of six children. She went to the Philadelphia High School for Girls.

For college, she attended Antioch University and earned a degree in human services in 1989. In 1992, she moved to Baltimore to study at Johns Hopkins University. There, she earned a Master of Arts and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in sociology.

Career in Politics

Before entering politics, Washington worked as a professor at Lehigh University and a researcher at the University of Pennsylvania. She also worked for the Baltimore Housing Authority.

Washington first ran for the Maryland House of Delegates in 2006 but was not elected. She ran again in 2010 and won, beginning her career as an elected official.

Maryland House of Delegates (2011–2019)

Washington in 2011

Washington began serving in the Maryland House of Delegates on January 12, 2011. When she was elected, she became the first openly gay African-American woman to be an elected official in Maryland.

In 2018, she decided to run for the Maryland Senate. She won the election and moved from the House of Delegates to the Senate.

While in the House of Delegates, she served on several committees. These groups worked on important issues like transportation, the environment, education, and the economy.

Maryland Senate (2019–Present)

Washington in the Maryland Senate, 2023

Washington was sworn into the Maryland Senate on January 9, 2019. She again made history as the first openly gay African-American person to serve in the state senate. She was re-elected in 2022.

In the Senate, she has continued to work on many committees. Her work has focused on education, energy, the environment, and helping children and families.

Campaign for Mayor of Baltimore

In November 2019, Washington announced she was running for mayor of Baltimore. She raised a lot of money for her campaign.

However, in March 2020, she paused her campaign because of the COVID-19 pandemic. She later supported Brandon Scott, who went on to win the election.

What Washington Supports

Washington is known for her progressive ideas, which means she supports new ideas for social and political change.

Crime and Safety

Washington has worked on laws to improve safety and fairness in the justice system. In 2014, she helped pass a law to protect pregnant women who are in jail. In 2019, she opposed a plan to create a private police force for Johns Hopkins University. She has also supported programs to help women get ready for life after being released from prison.

Education

Washington believes in a strong education system. In 2016, she argued against too much standardized testing for very young students in prekindergarten and kindergarten.

In 2019, she asked the state to include topics about the LGBT and Disability rights movements in social studies classes. She also supports the Blueprint for Maryland's Future, a plan to improve Maryland's schools.

Environment

Protecting the environment is important to Washington. In 2018, she said she supported a ban on fracking (a method of getting oil and gas) in Maryland.

In 2023, she worked to stop a plan that would have brought wastewater from a train derailment in Ohio to a treatment plant in Baltimore.

Helping People in Need

Washington has focused on helping people who are struggling. She has worked to end youth homelessness and helped pass laws to support homeless young people. One law she introduced helps homeless youth get tuition waivers for college.

She also worked on a law to stop the city of Baltimore from taking people's homes because of unpaid water bills. In 2022, she helped pass a law that removed the state sales tax from products needed by people with diabetes.

Social Issues

Washington (left) attends a victory party in 2012

Washington has been a strong supporter of equal rights. In 2012, she supported the law that legalized same-sex marriage in Maryland.

She has also worked to make official documents more inclusive. In 2023, she introduced the Trans Health Equity Act. This law requires the state's Medicaid program to cover gender-affirming healthcare. It was passed and signed into law.

Personal Life

Washington with Governor Wes Moore at the Baltimore Pride Parade, 2023

Washington is openly gay. She is married to her wife, Jodi Kelber-Kaye. They live in the Ednor Gardens-Lakeside neighborhood of Baltimore.

Washington was raised as a Catholic and is now a Presbyterian.

Election Results