Alonzo T. Washington

Early life and career

Washington was born in Washington, D.C., When he was eight years old, he and his five siblings lived in a homeless shelter in College Park, Maryland. Washington attended the University of Maryland, College Park, which he attended with help from the First Generation College Bound nonprofit, where he earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice in 2007. While in college, he played football during his freshman year and was a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. Washington is the first person in his family to graduate from both high school and college.

After graduating, Washington worked for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops as a paralegal. In 2008, he moved to the Prince George's County Council and where he worked as a community liaison and chief of staff to Prince George's County councilmember William A. Campos.

Washington first got involved with politics in 2005 by becoming a member of the Prince George's County Young Democrats association. He was a member of the Prince George's County Democratic Central Committee from 2010 to 2014, serving as its secretary from 2012 to 2014. He has also been a member of the Roosevelt Democratic Club since 2012. After the resignation of Delegate Justin D. Ross, the Prince George's County Democratic Committee recommended Washington to the Governor to fill the vacated seat. Governor Martin O'Malley appointed Washington to fill the seat on December 4, 2012.

In the legislature

Washington was sworn into the Maryland House of Delegates on December 19, 2012.

In 2016, Washington ran for Delegate to the 2016 Democratic National Convention. He was an uncommitted delegate and received 2.0 percent of the vote in the Democratic primary election. Washington was a delegate to the 2024 Democratic National Convention, pledged to Kamala Harris.

In July 2020, Washington was appointed by Prince George's County executive Angela Alsobrooks to lead a task force to look at reforming the county's police department. The task force presented a list of recommendations in its final report on December 4, 2020, which included repealing the Law Enforcement Officers' Bill of Rights, getting rid of military equipment, and increasing police diversity and county residency; 46 of the plan's 50 recommendations were implemented.

In December 2022, Governor-elect Wes Moore nominated state senator Paul G. Pinsky to serve as the director of the Maryland Energy Administration. Washington filed to fill the vacancy left by Pinsky in the Maryland Senate later that month. On January 21, 2023, the Prince George's County Democratic Central Committee nominated Washington to serve the rest of Pinsky's term. On January 27, Moore appointed Washington to the Maryland Senate.

On December 11, 2024, Washington announced that he would run for Prince George's County Executive in the 2025 special election to fill the remainder of Angela Alsobrooks's term.

Committee assignments

;Maryland House of Delegates

• Vice-Chair, Ways and Means Committee, 2020–2023 (member, 2013–2023; revenues subcommittee, 2013–2017; chair, election law subcommittee, 2017–2019, member, 2015–2023; chair, education subcommittee, 2020–2023, member, 2013–17; 2020–2023)
• Joint Committee on Children, Youth, and Families, 2015–2023
• Joint Committee on Federal Relations, 2015–2023
• Joint Committee on the Management of Public Funds, 2015–2023
• Rules and Executive Nominations Committee, 2020–2023
• Spending Affordability Committee, 2020–2023
• Deputy Majority Whip, 2015–2018
• Parliamentarian, 2019

Other memberships

• 1st Vice-Chair, Prince George's County Delegation, 2018–2023 (chair, law enforcement & state-appointed boards committee, 2015–2016, member, 2013–2016; chair, law enforcement committee, 2017–2018; chair, education committee, 2019)
• Member, Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, since 2013 (1st vice-chair, 2015–2016)
• Maryland Legislative Latino Caucus, since 2019
• Maryland Legislative Transit Caucus, since 2019

Political positions

Alcohol

Washington introduced legislation in the 2017 legislative session that would allow movie theaters to sell alcoholic beverages under certain conditions. The bill received an unfavorable report from the Economic Matters committee.

Education

Washington introduced legislation in the 2015 legislative session that would create a college access pilot program for low-income students. The bill passed and became law on May 12, 2015.

Washington introduced legislation in the 2021 legislative session that would allow students to take a day off once every quarter for mental health reasons. The bill passed the Maryland House of Delegates by a vote of 131–1, but did not receive a vote in the Maryland Senate. He also introduced legislation that would allow teachers to instruct students remotely during the COVID-19 state of emergency if they hadn't been fully vaccinated for COVID-19. The bill passed but was vetoed by Governor Larry Hogan. The legislature voted to override his veto during the 2021 special legislative session.

Elections

Washington introduced legislation during the 2018 legislative session that would require social media companies to make more information about online political ads available to voters. The bill passed and became law on May 26, 2018. In August 2018, news media outlets including The Washington Post and The Baltimore Sun filed a lawsuit challenging the law, arguing that it created unfair burdens on media sites that publish such ads. Hearings for the case began on October 28, 2019.

Washington introduced legislation in the 2021 legislative session that would expand early voting center hours from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on each voting day. The bill passed and became law on May 30, 2021.

Healthcare

In 2018, Washington co-sponsored the Healthy Maryland Act, which would establish a single-payer healthcare system in Maryland.

Housing

Washington introduced legislation in the 2019 legislative session that would remove a state requirement that the Glenn Dale Hospital, which closed in 1981, be used as a continuing-care retirement community, potentially allowing for the property to be sold to housing developers. The bill passed and became law on April 18, 2019.

Government

Washington introduced legislation in the 2014 legislative session that would prohibit the Prince George's County Board of Education from issuing credit cards to its members. Afterwards, the Board of Education voted unanimously to ban its members from having county-issued credit cards.

Washington introduced legislation during the 2015 legislative session that would establish an inspector general's office responsible for investigating and examining complaints about public schools.

Washington introduced legislation during the 2021 legislative session that would require the Maryland Senate to approve the governor's nominee for state superintendent. The bill passed the House of Delegates by a vote of 98-40, but did not receive a vote in the Senate.

Policing

Washington introduced legislation in the 2021 legislative session that would expand the required training for school resource officers to include restorative approaches. The bill passed in the House of Delegates by a vote of 93-42, but did not receive a vote in the Senate.

Taxes

Washington introduced legislation in the 2022 legislative session that would exempt diabetic care products from the sales and use tax. The bill passed and became law on April 1, 2022.

Electoral history

References

References

1. "CASA in Action Appoints First Executive Director Alonzo Washington". [[CASA de Maryland.
2. Havard, Kate. (January 11, 2013). "Unspun: Alonzo T. Washington — an 'extremely fast' rise to prominence". [[The Washington Post]].
3. (June 10, 2015). "Laurel educator's vision has helped hundreds earn college degrees". [[The Baltimore Sun]].
4. "Alonzo T. Washington, Maryland State Delegate".
5. (December 4, 2012). "Governor Martin O'Malley Announces Appointment of Alonzo T. Washington to the Maryland House of Delegates".
6. (October 30, 2013). "'The University of Maryland saved my life'". [[The Diamondback]].
7. (November 16, 2012). "Alonzo Washington tapped for Justin Ross's former delegate seat in Prince George's". [[The Washington Post]].
8. "Official 2016 Presidential Primary Election results for Male Delegates to the Democratic National Convention". [[Maryland State Board of Elections]].
9. (July 22, 2024). "Meet the Maryland delegates to the Democratic National Convention". [[Maryland Matters]].
10. (July 5, 2020). "Maryland county eyes police reform measures amid bias claims". [[The Washington Post]].
11. (December 4, 2020). "Prince George's work group submits report, proposes dozens of police reforms". [[WJLA]].
12. "Police Report Work Group Report". [[Prince George's County, Maryland]].
13. (February 5, 2021). "Prince George's County pledges 'unprecedented' police reforms". [[Maryland Matters]].
14. (January 10, 2023). "Moore picks Sen. Susan Lee for secretary of State, meaning more legislative dominoes are about to fall". [[Maryland Matters]].
15. (January 21, 2023). "Prince George's Democrats choose Del. Alonzo Washington to fill vacant Senate seat". [[Maryland Matters]].
16. (January 27, 2023). "Moore appoints Del. Alonzo Washington to Maryland Senate". [[Maryland Matters]].
17. (December 12, 2024). "Alonzo Washington announces his intention to run for Prince George’s County executive". [[Maryland Matters]].
18. (February 22, 2017). "Movie Theaters Push to Sell Alcohol in Prince George's". [[The Washington Informer]].
19. "Legislation - HB1266". [[Maryland General Assembly]].
20. (February 13, 2015). "Nonprofits ask Baker to continue aid despite lean economic forecast". [[The Baltimore Sun]].
21. "Legislation - HB0779". [[Maryland General Assembly]].
22. (February 2, 2021). "Maryland Bill Would Give Students Mental Health Days Off". [[WJZ-TV]].
23. (February 6, 2021). "Legislation would give Maryland students mental health days off". [[The Baltimore Sun]].
24. "Legislation - HB0461". [[Maryland General Assembly]].
25. (December 5, 2021). "Legislature Prepares to Override Hogan's Vetoes During Special Session". [[Maryland Matters]].
26. (March 2, 2018). "Why a crackdown on Facebook, Google and Twitter could come from the states before Congress". [[The Washington Post]].
27. "Legislation - HB0981". [[Maryland General Assembly]].
28. (August 17, 2018). "News Outlets Challenge Maryland Online Ad Law". [[WJZ-TV]].
29. (October 28, 2019). "Court to hear arguments on Maryland political ads law". [[The Baltimore Sun]].
30. (June 16, 2021). "Election Reforms Will Make Voting More Accessible In Maryland, Advocates Say". [[Maryland Matters]].
31. (July 19, 2021). "White Oak Among Locations Being Considered for Montgomery County Early Voting Centers in 2022". [[Maryland Matters]].
32. "Legislation - HB0206". [[Maryland General Assembly]].
33. (March 16, 2018). "Prince Georgians Embrace State Single-Payer System". [[Baltimore Afro-American]].
34. (April 12, 2019). "Instead of 'ghosts,' residents want housing at this former tuberculosis sanatorium". [[The Washington Post]].
35. "Legislation - HB0622". [[Maryland General Assembly]].
36. (December 9, 2013). "Prince George's delegate proposes bill that would strip BOE of credit cards". [[The Washington Post]].
37. (December 17, 2014). "State delegate proposes bill calling for school board to ban credit cards". Prince George's Sentinel.
38. (January 28, 2015). "School board unanimously votes to ban credit cards". Prince George's Sentinel.
39. (November 16, 2015). "Pr. George's lawmakers are proposing these bills in Annapolis". [[The Washington Post]].
40. (February 23, 2021). "Bill Requiring Senate Confirmation for State Superintendent Moves Forward, Despite Skepticism". [[Maryland Matters]].
41. "Legislation - HB0465". [[Maryland General Assembly]].
42. (March 31, 2021). "Lawmakers Restructure the Role of School Police and Rethink School Disciplinary Measures". [[Maryland Matters]].
43. "Legislation - HB0522". [[Maryland General Assembly]].
44. (February 18, 2022). "House Leaders Unveil Package to Slash Sales Taxes, Expand Federal Work Opportunity Tax Credit". [[Maryland Matters]].
45. (April 1, 2022). "Governor Hogan enacts largest tax cut package in state history; Retirement Tax Elimination". [[WBFF]].
46. "Legislation - HB1151". [[Maryland General Assembly]].