Ashanti F. Martinez (born April 25, 1996) is an American politician. He is currently a member of the Maryland House of Delegates from District 22 in Prince George's County, having been appointed to the seat by Governor Wes Moore to fill a vacancy left by the appointment of Alonzo T. Washington to the Maryland Senate. He previously ran for the House seat in 2018 and 2022.
Ashanti Martinez | |
---|---|
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the 22nd district | |
Assumed office February 24, 2023 Serving with Anne Healey and Nicole A. Williams | |
Appointed by | Wes Moore |
Preceded by | Alonzo T. Washington |
Personal details | |
Born | Ashanti F. Martinez April 25, 1996 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
Political party | Democratic |
Residence(s) | New Carrollton, Maryland, U.S. |
Education | Howard University |
Website | Campaign website |
Background
editAshanti F. Martinez[1] was born on April 25, 1996,[2][3] in Washington, D.C.[4] He grew up in a working-class family and was educated at Parkdale High School.[5] He first got involved with politics when he was 14 years old as a member of the Prince George's County Young Democrats. In 2016, Martinez worked on the congressional campaign of state delegate Joseline Peña-Melnyk.[6] After graduating from Howard University with a bachelor's degree in political science in 2018, he worked as the director of constituent services for Prince George's County councilmember Tom Dernoga. He then worked as a research and policy analyst for CASA de Maryland.[7] Martinez also worked as an intern for U.S. Representatives Elijah Cummings and Steny Hoyer, an aide to the Maryland Legislative Latino Caucus, and as a campaign manager for Arkansas House of Representatives candidate Vivian Flowers.[8]
In April 2017, Martinez announced that he would run for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 22.[3] He was defeated in the Democratic primary, placing fifth with 10.1 percent of the vote.[9]
In August 2021, Martinez announced that he would run for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 22, challenging incumbent state delegate Anne Healey. During the primary, he ran on a platform of improving education, transportation, infrastructure, health care, criminal justice reform, and the environment.[10][11] He also ran on the issue of abortion, highlighting Healey's opposition to abortion rights.[12][13] Martinez received endorsements from Pro-Choice Maryland Action[14] and CASA de Maryland.[15] Martinez came in fourth place in the Democratic primary, receiving 13.91 percent of the vote.[16] Following his defeat, he became chief of staff for Prince George's County councilmember Krystal Oriadha.[5]
In January 2023, Martinez filed to run for the nomination to fill the vacancy left by Alonzo T. Washington in District 22 of the Maryland House of Delegates.[7] He was the only one to apply to the open seat and was nominated by the Prince George's County Democratic Central Committee on February 9.[5]
In the legislature
editMartinez was into the Maryland House of Delegates on February 24, 2023. He is a member of the House Health and Government Operations Committee.[17] Martinez is the first Latino to represent District 22, and the first openly gay person to represent Prince George's County in the Maryland General Assembly.[18][19]
Political positions
editEnvironment
editIn May 2022, Martinez signed a Chesapeake Climate Action Network resolution to move Maryland to 100 percent carbon-free electricity by 2035 and to remove trash incineration from the state's "clean energy" classification.[20]
Gun control
editIn June 2021, Martinez attended and spoke at a rally against gun violence in Landover, Maryland.[21]
Health care
editMartinez supports universal health care.[22]
Israel
editIn January 2024, Martinez attended and spoke at a rally at the Maryland State House to support a resolution calling on Maryland's congressional delegation to support a ceasefire in the Israel–Hamas war.[23]
National politics
editIn October 2021, Martinez spoke in support of the Build Back Better Act.[24]
Social issues
editIn May 2022, Martinez attended the Lets Say Gay Parade at the University of Maryland, College Park, where he spoke in support of the Trans Health Equity Act, a bill that would require the state's Medicaid program to provide coverage for gender-affirming treatment.[25] In May 2023, he and delegate Gabriel Acevero signed onto a letter condemning the censure of two transgender legislators—Zooey Zephyr and Mauree Turner—in Montana and Oklahoma.[26]
Martinez supports bringing the new Federal Bureau of Investigation headquarters to Prince George's County.[7]
Personal life
editMartinez is openly gay,[6][12] coming out to his family at age 13.[27] He lives in New Carrollton, Maryland.[28]
Electoral history
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Alonzo T. Washington (incumbent) | 10,739 | 31.2 | |
Democratic | Tawanna P. Gaines (incumbent) | 8,615 | 25.0 | |
Democratic | Anne Healey (incumbent) | 6,853 | 19.9 | |
Democratic | Nicole A. Williams | 4,761 | 13.8 | |
Democratic | Ashanti Martinez | 3,486 | 10.1 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Alonzo T. Washington (incumbent) | 9,809 | 30.4 | |
Democratic | Nicole A. Williams (incumbent) | 8,250 | 25.5 | |
Democratic | Anne Healey (incumbent) | 5,280 | 16.3 | |
Democratic | Ashanti Martinez | 4,494 | 13.9 | |
Democratic | Patrick A. Paschall | 2,510 | 7.8 | |
Democratic | Chiquita Jackson | 1,967 | 6.1 |
References
edit- ^ "Ashanti F. Martinez, Maryland State Delegate". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. March 2, 2023. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
- ^ Del. Ashanti Martinez [@MartinezforMD] (April 25, 2024). "Been standing on business since April 25, 1996. Happy birthday me 🎈" (Tweet). Retrieved April 25, 2024 – via Twitter.
- ^ a b Hernández, Arelis R. (May 8, 2017). "13 months ahead of Democratic primary, candidates emerge in Prince George's". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
- ^ York, Kayla (May 10, 2018). "Ashanti Martinez: A Love Letter In A Campaign". The Hilltop. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ a b c Beachum, Lateshia (February 8, 2023). "Ashanti Martinez is poised to join Pr. George's statehouse delegation". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ a b "Check Out Ashanti Martinez's Story". VoyageBaltimore. December 6, 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
- ^ a b c Ford, William J. (January 27, 2023). "Baker, Martinez to seek District 22 House seat in Prince George's County". Maryland Matters. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
- ^ "Ashanti Martinez". Daily Record. September 16, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
- ^ Redmond-Palmer, Bill (July 6, 2018). "LGBT Candidates Contend, Sometimes Prevail, in MD Dem Primaries". Baltimore Outloud. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
- ^ Chingarande, Tinashe (August 23, 2021). "Gay Afro-Latino man running for Md. House of Delegates". Washington Blade. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
- ^ Sprayregen, Molly (February 11, 2022). "Ashanti Martinez wants to be the gay Afro-Latino voice his community needs". LGBTQ Nation. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
- ^ a b Alburtus, Josh; White, Caris (July 7, 2022). "Gay, lesbian Md. General Assembly incumbents seek re-election". Washington Blade. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
- ^ Kurtz, Josh (July 18, 2022). "The 12 Most Vulnerable Legislative Incumbents in Tuesday's Primaries". Maryland Matters. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
- ^ DePuyt, Bruce; Kurtz, Josh (June 17, 2022). "Political Notes: Fun Facts About Md. House Districts, Targeting a Pro-Life Dem, Endorsements Add Up and More". Maryland Matters. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
- ^ Leckrone, Bennett; Kurtz, Josh (February 5, 2022). "Political Notes: Eckardt Girds for Primary, Krebs Retiring, Peroutka Runs for AG, and More". Maryland Matters. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
- ^ a b "Official 2022 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. August 24, 2022.
- ^ "Delegate Ashanti Martinez". mgaleg.maryland.gov. Maryland General Assembly. February 24, 2023. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
- ^ Ford, William J.; Gaines, Danielle E.; Zorzi, William F. (February 10, 2023). "Political Notes: Prince George's House nominee would make history, Dan Cox's new gig, keeping up with Speaker Jones". Maryland Matters. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
- ^ Jové Rodríguez, Andrés I. (February 13, 2023). "Ashanti Martínez poised to represent District 22 in Md. House of Delegates". Washington Blade. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
- ^ Shwe, Elizabeth (May 13, 2022). "Political Notes: More than 100 State Candidates Sign Carbon-Free Electricity Pledge and Congressional Endorsements". Maryland Matters. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
- ^ Ford, William J. (June 1, 2021). "Residents, Officials Rail Against Gun Violence at Prince George's Rally". The Washington Informer. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
- ^ Ford, William J. (January 27, 2023). "Moore appoints Del. Alonzo Washington to Maryland Senate". Maryland Matters. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
- ^ Ford, William J.; Sears, Bryan P. (January 27, 2024). "Mega-notes: With updates on the Capital Beltway, calls for peace in Annapolis, the Senate primary, immigration, Keith Olbermann and other miscreants, and Ravens fever". Maryland Matters. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
- ^ Rogers, Henry (October 28, 2021). "Two Maryland candidates arrested at march for Build Back Better plan". Frederick News-Post. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
- ^ Chingarande, Tinashe (May 2, 2022). "University of Maryland students march for LGBTQ rights on 'Maryland Day'". Washington Blade. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
- ^ Gaines, Danielle E.; Ford, William J.; Kurtz, Josh; Sears, Bryan P. (May 2, 2023). "Political Notes: Poll finds Moore on 'solid footing,' AG joins transgender health brief while lawmakers back trans colleagues, delegates come and go, and more". Maryland Matters. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
- ^ Ford, William J. (July 8, 2020). "LGBTQ Organization Protests for Black Lives, Acceptance in Prince George's". The Washington Informer. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
- ^ Ford, William J. (September 21, 2021). "Maryland Legislative Redistricting Hearings Start in Prince George's". The Washington Informer. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
- ^ "Official 2018 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. July 31, 2018.
External links
edit- Media related to Ashanti Martinez at Wikimedia Commons