Maryland Democratic Party

History

The Maryland Democratic Party is among the oldest continuously existing political organizations in the world. On May 21, 1827, a meeting of Andrew Jackson supporters organized a political structure in the state designed to help Jackson win the Presidency after he was denied victory in the 1824 United States presidential election despite winning the popular vote. The first meeting of the Democratic (Jackson) Central Committee was held at the Atheneum in Baltimore, located on the southwest corner of St. Paul and Lexington streets.

Twelve delegates from each county and six delegates from Baltimore were invited to attend. The label "Central Committee" was adopted along with a "Committee of Correspondence" which functioned like the present Executive Committee. Thomas M. Forman, Cecil County, was chosen to preside with William M. Beall, Frederick County, appointed Secretary and John S. Brooke, Prince George's County, appointed as Assistant Secretary. In addition to its founding, the Maryland Democratic Party hosted the first six Democratic National Conventions from 1832 to 1852 held in Baltimore. On May 31, 1838, Maryland Democrats gathered in a state party convention to nominate William Grason for Governor. He became the first popularly elected Governor in Maryland with the help of central committees throughout the state.

After the ratification of the Suffrage Amendment in 1920, the Democratic State Central Committee added an equal number of women to its membership, a practice still embodied in National Party Rules and in the elections for Cecil County Democratic State Central Committee.

The first six Democratic National Conventions were held in Baltimore, for a total of nine to date.

Historically the Democratic Party has been the dominant party in Maryland politics. Since the 1838 Maryland gubernatorial election, the first gubernatorial election in Maryland in which the governor was elected by direct popular vote, 28 Maryland Governors have been Democrats. Since the 1895 Maryland Comptroller election, the first Comptroller election in Maryland in which the Comptroller was elected by direct popular vote, 17 Maryland Comptrollers have been Democrats. Since the 1895 Maryland Attorney General election, the first Attorney General election in Maryland in which the Attorney General was elected by direct popular vote, 23 Attorneys General have been Democrats. The party has held continuous control of the Maryland General Assembly since 1920, the longest currently running streak of control by a single party of a state legislature in the United States.

Elected officials

Members of Congress

Democrats comprise nine of Maryland's ten-member Congressional delegation:

U.S. Senate

Since 1987, Democrats have controlled both of Maryland's seats in the U.S. Senate:

File:Chris Van Hollen official portrait 115th Congress (cropped).jpg|Senior U.S. Senator File:Sen. Angela Alsobrooks official Senate photo, 119th Congress (cropped).jpg|Junior U.S. Senator

U.S. House of Representatives

Democrats hold seven of the eight seats Maryland is apportioned in the U.S. House following the 2000 census:

Statewide officeholders

Beginning in January 2023, Democrats control all four statewide offices:

• Governor: Wes Moore
• Lieutenant Governor: Aruna Miller
• Attorney General: Anthony Brown
• Comptroller: Brooke Lierman

County government

Until 2010, the Democratic Party of Maryland held majority power at the County level. As of 2024, Democrats hold a majority of the seats on the county councils of seven counties (Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, the city of Baltimore, Frederick County, Howard County, Montgomery County, and Prince George's County) and the Charles County Board of Commissioners. The party also holds county executive offices in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Frederick County, Howard County, Montgomery County, and Prince George's County.

Legislative leadership

• President of the Senate: Bill Ferguson
• President Pro Tempore of the Senate: Malcolm Augustine
• Senate Majority Leader: Nancy J. King
• Speaker of the House of Delegates: Joseline Peña-Melnyk
• Speaker Pro Tempore of the House of Delegates: Luke Clippinger
• House Majority Leader: David Moon
• House Majority Whip: Ashanti Martinez

Mayors

• Annapolis: Jared Littmann
• Baltimore: Brandon Scott

Electoral performance

Presidential

Party organization

Party chairs (1988–present)

• Steuart Pittman (2025–present)
• Charlene Dukes (acting) (2025)
• Kenneth Ulman (2023–2025)
• Everett Browning (acting) (2023)
• Yvette Lewis (2019–2023)
• Cory McCray (acting) (2019)
• Maya Rockeymoore Cummings (2018–2019)
• Kathleen Matthews, (2017-2018)
• Bruce Poole (2015–2017)
• Yvette Lewis (2011–2015)
• Peter O'Malley (2011)
• Susan Turnbull (2009–2011)
• Michael Cryor (2007–2009)
• Terry Lierman (2004–2007)
• Ike Leggett (2002–2004)
• Wayne Rogers (2000–2002)
• Peter B. Krauser (1997–2000)
• Gov. Harry Hughes (1994–1997)
• Vera Hall (1993–1994)
• Nate Landow (1988–1993)

Party officers

• Party Chair: Charlene Dukes (acting)
• First Vice Chair: Charlene Dukes
• Second Vice Chair: Judy Wixted
• Third Vice Chair: Ruben Amaya
• Treasurer: Devang Shah
• Secretary: Corynne Courpas
• Deputy Treasurer: Diana Emerson
• Deputy Secretary: Gabe Gough
• Parliamentarian: Greg Pecorara
• DNC Member: Bel Leong-Hong
• DNC Member: Robbie Leonard
• DNC Member: Bob Kresslein
• DNC Member: Cheryl S. Landis

Party staff

• Executive Director: Karen Darkes
• Deputy Executive Director: Joe Francaviglia
• Fundraising Director: Aaron Jarboe
• Senior Advisor: Meredith Bowman

Affiliated groups

• United Democratic Women's Clubs of Maryland
• Young Democrats of Maryland
• Maryland High School Democrats
• Democratic Women's PAC of Maryland
• United Democrats of Frederick County
• Green Dems
• Democratic Party (United States)

References

References

1. Winger, Richard. "March 2021 Ballot Access News Print Edition".
2. "Contact".
3. (June 21, 2025). "Anne Arundel's Steuart Pittman elected new chair of Maryland Democratic Party". The Baltimore Sun.
4. "A Brief History of the Maryland Democratic Party".
5. "Our Campaigns - Container Detail Page".
6. "Our Campaigns - Container Detail Page".
7. "Our Campaigns - Container Detail Page".
8. "Directory of Representatives {{!}} House.gov".
9. (May 22, 2025). "Maryland Democratic Party leader Ulman steps down". The Baltimore Banner.
10. (November 18, 2023). "Ulman overwhelmingly wins election to be new Democratic state chair". [[Maryland Matters]].
11. (September 27, 2023). "Personnel news: State Dem chair stepping down, Patrick Hogan leaving state service to join Patrick Hogan at lobbying firm". [[Maryland Matters]].
12. (December 7, 2019). "Maryland Democrats turn to prior leader, Yvette Lewis, to guide party through to 2022 elections". [[The Baltimore Sun]].
13. Wiggins, Ovetta. (December 1, 2018). "Maryland Democrats elect Maya Rockeymoore Cummings as state party chair". [[The Washington Post]].
14. (May 6, 2017). "Kathleen Matthews elected Maryland Democratic Party chair". [[The Washington Post]].
15. "Chairs".
16. (December 19, 2022). "Political notes: Long list of applicants for Luedtke's seat, plus Md. Dems' new leadership team and a new lobbying hire". [[Maryland Matters]].
17. (March 21, 2024). "Political notes: House of Delegates awards 3, state Dems get new leaders, powerful ex-senator dies". [[Maryland Matters]].
18. "Party Staff".