Get to know your Senator
Meet Senator Mary Washington
Senator Mary Washington is Chair of the Baltimore City Senate Delegation and a trusted, trailblazing leader representing Maryland's 43rd District. With more than two decades of experience in public service, she brings a rare combination of lived experience, academic expertise, and a deep commitment to equity, opportunity, and justice for all Marylanders.
Rooted in Service, Shaped by Experience
Born in Philadelphia to two healthcare professionals, Mary worked her way through college delivering pizzas, loading UPS trucks, and providing direct care to adults with mental illness and developmental disabilities. She earned her bachelor's degree from Antioch University and later taught kindergarten at an inner-city Catholic school. Her dedication to serving at-risk students and addressing the needs of urban communities brought her to Baltimore, where she earned a Ph.D. in Sociology from Johns Hopkins University in 1997.
A lifelong educator and public servant, Dr. Washington taught sociology at Lehigh University, completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania, and returned to Baltimore to serve in various public sector and nonprofit roles. These included directing the HousingStat office at the Housing Authority of Baltimore City, leading initiatives at the Parks & People Foundation, and serving as Interim Director of the Baltimore Neighborhood Indicators Alliance.
A History-Making Legislator
In 2010, Dr. Washington made history as Maryland's first openly LGBTQ+ African-American elected official – and only the second such legislator in the country – when she was elected to the House of Delegates. In 2018, she was elected to the State Senate. Over the years, she has become a leading voice in Annapolis for water justice, housing security, education equity, and protections for vulnerable youth and families.
She has served as Deputy Majority Whip, chaired the Joint Committee on Homelessness, and held seats on the Appropriations and Ways and Means Committees, among others. Her approach to public policy is shaped by a lifelong belief in evidence, empathy, and action.
A Vision for Maryland's Future
Today, Senator Washington serves on the Senate Education, Energy, and Environment Committee, where she chairs the Education Subcommittee. She also leads the Administrative, Executive, and Legislative Review Committee, overseeing regulatory actions across the state. In addition, she serves or has served on the Accessory Dwelling Unit Taskforce, the Workgroup to Study Social Work Licensure, and the Student Data Privacy Council. She is an active member of the Women Legislators of Maryland, the Legislative Black Caucus, and an Associate Member of the Latino Legislative Caucus.
Her legislative work continues to drive lasting change. Since first taking office, Senator Washington has sponsored and passed 67 bills that have been enacted into Maryland law – transformative policies that reflect her deep commitment to justice, equity, and opportunity. In the 2025 session alone, she helped advance new laws to support worker-owned cooperatives, modernize outdated public health language, enhance election integrity, expand housing access through accessory dwelling units, and combat food insecurity on college campuses. These efforts are part of a larger, community-informed vision for a state that works for everyone – no matter their background or zip code.
