Ben Barnes (Maryland politician)

Benjamin Scott Barnes (born March 30, 1975) is an American politician who represents District 21 in the Maryland House of Delegates.^[1] A Democrat, he was first elected in 2006 and reelected in 2010, 2014, and 2018.

Ben Barnes
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the 21st district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 10, 2007 Serving with Joseline Peña-Melnyk, Barbara A. Frush, and Mary A. Lehman
Preceded by	Brian R. Moe
Constituency	Prince George's County and Anne Arundel County
Personal details
Born	Benjamin Scott Barnes (1975-03-30) March 30, 1975 (age 49) Peoria, Illinois, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Caitlin McDonough
Relations	John McDonough (father-in-law)
Children	John, Theodore and Martin
Residence(s)	College Park, Maryland, U.S.
Occupation	Attorney

Background

Raised by a single mother, Barnes grew up in Prince George's County in Maryland.^[2] He graduated from Eleanor Roosevelt High School in 1993 before enrolling at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and political science in 1998.^[1]

Barnes says he first got involved with politics as a child, attending pro-choice marches in Washington, D.C., with his family.^[3] Barnes began working in politics shortly after graduating, first at People for the American Way as an organizer from 1999 to 2000.^[4] Afterwards, Barnes worked as a political and legislative advisor to Senate President Thomas V. Miller Jr., later earning a promotion to Deputy Legislative Director. During his time with Miller, Barnes attended night classes at the University of Baltimore School of Law, graduating with a Juris Doctor in 2003.^[3] Barnes was admitted to the Maryland Bar in 2004, and clerked for Judge James J. Lombardi in the Prince George's County Circuit Court, 7th Judicial Circuit until 2005. before assuming his current position as a senior attorney at the John Hall Law Group in Bowie, Maryland.^[1]

In the legislature

Barnes in the House Appropriations Committee, 2024

Barnes was sworn into the Maryland House of Delegates on January 10, 2007. He has served as the Chief Deputy Majority Whip since 2013 and as the chair of the House Appropriations Committee since 2022.^[5] Barnes is currently a member of the Rules and Executive Nominations Committee and the Spending Affordability Committee, and was previously a member of the House Judiciary Committee and the Economic Matters Committee.^[1]

During the 2008 presidential campaign, Barnes was elected and served as a pledged delegate for Hillary Clinton to the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado.^[6][7]

Committee assignments

• Chief Deputy Majority Whip, 2013–present (deputy majority whip, 2011–2012)
• Chair, Appropriations Committee, 2022–present (member, 2015–present; chair, oversight committee on pensions, 2015–2019; chair, education & economic development subcommittee, 2019–present, vice-chair, 2015–2019; chair, capital budget subcommittee, 2021–present, member, 2015–present, vice-chair, 2020)
• House Special Committee on Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 2007–present
• House Chair, Special Joint Committee on Pensions, 2015–2021 (member, 2021–present)
• Member, Rules and Executive Nominations Committee, 2019–present
• Member, Spending Affordability Committee, 2020–present (chair, 2019)
• Member, Judiciary Committee, 2007–2011 (civil law & procedure subcommittee, 2007–2011)
• Member, Economic Matters Committee, 2011–2015 (banking, economic development, science & technology subcommittee, 2011; public utilities subcommittee, 2011–2015; workers' compensation subcommittee, 2012–2015)
• Member, Commission on Maryland Retirement Security and Savings, 2015–2016
• House Chair, Spending Affordability Committee, 2016–2019

Other memberships

• 1st vice-chair, Prince George's County Delegation, 2012–2014 (law enforcement & state-appointed boards committee, 2007–2008, 2011; Washington suburban sanitary commission committee, 2008–2010; vice-chair, Maryland-national capital park & planning commission committee, 2012; chair, county affairs committee, 2017–present, member, 2013–present)
• Member, Anne Arundel County Delegation, 2007–present (capital budget committee, 2018)
• Member, Maryland Legislative Latino Caucus, 2019–present

Personal life

Barnes is married to Caitlin McDonough, a partner with the lobbyist law firm Harris Jones & Malone.^[8] and daughter to Former Secretary of State John McDonough. The couple has three sons.

Political positions

Education

During the 2019 legislative session, Barnes introduced legislation that would expand the University System of Maryland Board of Regents to include the Maryland Secretary of Commerce, two members appointed by the president of the Maryland Senate and the Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates, and a second student member.^[9] The bill passed both chambers unanimously^[10] and was signed into law by Governor Hogan on April 30, 2019.^[11]

In January 2020, Barnes proposed an amendment to change how much funding the state would provide toward education funding in Baltimore and Prince George's County, resulting in an annual increase of $146.9 million and a $202.9 million respectively by 2030.^[12]

Barnes supported legislation introduced during the 2021 legislative session that would allow college athletes to profit off their name, image, and likeness.^[13]

Gun control

During the 2013 legislative session, Barnes voted to pass legislation that would require fingerprinting of gun buyers, place new limits on firearm purchases by the mentally ill, and ban assault weapons and magazines that hold more than 10 bullets.^[14]

During the 2016 legislative session, Barnes introduced legislation to ban firearm possession on the campuses of public colleges and universities, with exceptions for police officers and security personnel.^[15] The bill passed the House of Delegates by a 89–49 vote on April 4, 2018.^[16]

Social issues

Barnes was the original House sponsor of the Civil Marriage Protection Act,^[17] arguing in 2011 that Maryland was discriminating against gay couples by not allowing them to marry.^[18] He voted in favor of the legislation when it was reintroduced in the 2012 legislative session as an Administration bill under Governor Martin O'Malley.^[19]

During the 2013 legislative session, Barnes voted to pass legislation that would repeal the death penalty in Maryland.^[20]

Taxes

During the 2013 legislative session, Barnes voted to pass legislation that would raise gas taxes to replenish the state's transportation fund.^[21]

Electoral history

Maryland House of Delegates District 21 Democratic Primary Election, 2006^[22]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Barbara A. Frush	5,378	20.8
	Democratic	Joseline Peña-Melnyk	5,255	20.3
	Democratic	Ben Barnes	5,169	20.0
	Democratic	Brian R. Moe	4,355	16.8
	Democratic	Tekisha Everette	2,042	7.9
	Democratic	Mark Cook	1,771	6.9
	Democratic	Michael B. Sarich	1,346	5.2
	Democratic	Jon Black	439	2.1

Maryland House of Delegates District 21 Election, 2014^[23]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Ben Barnes	18,453	29.6
	Democratic	Barbara A. Frush	18,279	29.3
	Democratic	Joseline Peña-Melnyk	18,001	28.9
	Republican	Neil B. Sood	7,349	11.8
	Write-in		206	0.3

Maryland House of Delegates District 21 Election, 2010^[24]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Ben Barnes	18,954	25.2
	Democratic	Barbara A. Frush	18,689	24.8
	Democratic	Joseline Peña-Melnyk	18,457	24.5
	Republican	Scott W. Dibiasio	6,131	8.1
	Republican	Jason W. Papanikolas	6,013	8.0
	Republican	Kat Nelson	5,822	7.7
	Libertarian	K. Bryan Walker	1,151	1.5
	Write-in		72	0.1

Maryland House of Delegates District 21 Election, 2014^[25]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Barbara A. Frush	18,157	28.7
	Democratic	Ben Barnes	17,235	27.3
	Democratic	Joseline Peña-Melnyk	16,880	26.7
	Republican	Katherine M. Butcher	10,610	16.8
	Write-in		284	0.4

Maryland House of Delegates District 21 Election, 2018^[26]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Ben Barnes	27,567	26.3
	Democratic	Joseline Peña-Melnyk	26,889	25.7
	Democratic	Mary A. Lehman	26,809	25.6
	Republican	Richard Douglas	8,519	8.1
	Republican	Chike Anyanwu	8,313	7.9
	Independent	Ray Ranker	6,472	6.2
	Write-in		234	0.2

References

1. "Ben Barnes, Maryland State Delegate". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. Archived from the original on July 2, 2022. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
2. Gvozdas, Susan (October 20, 2006). "District 21 candidates agree on investing more money on transportation". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on July 10, 2022. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
3. Stinnett, Tammy (May 31, 2022). "Conversations with HJM: Delegate Ben Barnes". Harris Jones & Malone. Archived from the original on July 10, 2022. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
4. LeDuc, Daniel; Wilson, Scott (September 22, 1999). "Duncan, Montgomery Council Divided Over Intercounty Connector". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
5. Kurtz, Josh (April 12, 2022). "Barnes, Peña-Melnyk to Take Over Key House Committees". Maryland Matters. Archived from the original on July 10, 2022. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
6. "So. Maryland Delegates Off to Democratic Convention". Southern Maryland Online. August 24, 2008. Archived from the original on December 13, 2017. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
7. "Hillary Clinton-Maryland Organization". www.gwu.edu. Archived from the original on March 18, 2017. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
8. "Maryland's Power Couples". Maryland Matters. February 14, 2019. Archived from the original on February 8, 2022. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
9. Gaines, Danielle (February 20, 2019). "Regents' Chairwoman Backs Reform Legislation for Embattled Board". Maryland Matters. Archived from the original on June 12, 2022. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
10. DePuyt, Bruce; Gaines, Danielle (April 5, 2019). "Legislative Roundup: Prescription Drugs, Regents, Kirwan and More". Maryland Matters. Archived from the original on June 12, 2022. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
11. "Legislation - HB0533". mgaleg.maryland.gov. Maryland General Assembly. Archived from the original on July 7, 2022. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
12. Gaines, Danielle (February 28, 2020). "Baltimore, Prince George's Could See Relief in Amended Kirwan Plan". Maryland Matters. Archived from the original on July 10, 2022. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
13. Steinberg, Jacob (March 4, 2021). "College Athletes Could Be Paid For Endorsements Under Maryland Bill". WJZ-TV. Capital News Service. Archived from the original on September 18, 2021. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
14. Wagner, John (April 3, 2013). "How the Maryland House of Delegates voted on gun-control legislation". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
15. Wiggins, Ovetta (March 11, 2016). "Md. House advances expanded mandatory use of Breathalyzers". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on March 12, 2016. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
16. Rydell, John (April 4, 2018). "GUNS ON CAMPUS | House approves weapon free college campus legislation". WBFF. Archived from the original on July 10, 2022. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
17. "Md. court boots gay marriage question to reluctant lawmakers". Daily Record. Annapolis, Maryland. January 3, 2008. Archived from the original on July 10, 2022. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
18. Wagner, John (March 11, 2011). "Maryland House derails bill that would legalize same-sex marriage". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 26, 2022. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
19. Wagner, John (February 17, 2012). "Md. same-sex marriage: How the House voted". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on June 8, 2021. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
20. Wagner, John (March 15, 2013). "How the Maryland House voted on repealing the death penalty". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on March 18, 2013. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
21. Wagner, John (March 22, 2013). "How the Maryland House voted on transportation funding". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on December 8, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
22. "Official 2006 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for Legislative District 21". Maryland State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 2022-07-10. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
23. "Official 2014 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 2022-07-10. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
24. "Official 2010 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 2022-07-10. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
25. "Official 2014 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 2022-07-10. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
26. "Official 2018 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 2022-12-18. Retrieved 2022-07-10.