Jamila Woods (politician)

Jamila Jaye Woods (born July 9, 1963) is an American pastor and politician who is a member of the Maryland House of Delegates for District 26 in Prince George's County, Maryland.^[1]

The Reverend Jamila Woods
Woods in 2023
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the 26th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 11, 2023 Serving with Veronica L. Turner and Kris Valderrama
Preceded by	Jay Walker
Personal details
Born	(1963-07-09) July 9, 1963 (age 61) Camden, New Jersey, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Children	2
Education	Howard University (BA, MDiv) University of Maryland, Baltimore (MS)
Occupation	Pastor
Website	Campaign website

Background

Woods was born in Chesilhurst, New Jersey. She graduated from Howard University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science in 1990 and a Master of Divinity degree in 1999.^[2] She later attended the University of Maryland, Baltimore, where she earned a Master of Science degree in social work in 2002.^[1]

Since 2012, Woods has been the pastor of the Jabez Christian Community Church in White Plains, Maryland. She was the pastor of the Cornerstone African Methodist Episcopal Church in La Plata, Maryland from 2005 to 2012.^[2]

In 2018, Woods unsuccessfully ran for the Maryland Senate in District 26,^[3] losing to former state delegate Obie Patterson in the Democratic primary with 41.9 percent of the vote.^[4] In April 2021, she graduated from the Maryland People's Leadership Institute, a campaign training program organized by Progressive Maryland.^[5] In 2022, Woods ran for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 26,^[6] running on a slate with former state senator C. Anthony Muse, state delegate Kris Valderrama, and Kendal Wade, a funeral home operator.^[7] She won the Democratic primary on July 19, coming in third place behind incumbent state delegates Veronica L. Turner and Valderrama with 17.2 percent of the vote.^[8]

In the legislature

Woods was sworn into the Maryland House of Delegates on January 11, 2023.^[9] She is a member of the House Health and Government Operations Committee.^[10]

Personal life

Woods has two children.^[2]

Electoral history

Maryland Senate District 26 Democratic primary election, 2018^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Obie Patterson	11,516	58.1
	Democratic	Jamila J. Woods	8,321	41.9

Maryland House of Delegates District 26 Democratic primary election, 2022^[8]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Veronica L. Turner (incumbent)	11,004	20.0
	Democratic	Kris Valderrama (incumbent)	10,107	18.4
	Democratic	Jamila J. Woods	9,451	17.2
	Democratic	Antwan C. Brown	7,524	13.7
	Democratic	Angela R. Jones	5,633	10.3
	Democratic	Andre D. Nottingham	3,904	7.1
	Democratic	Kendal Wade	7,282	13.3

Maryland House of Delegates District 26 election, 2022^[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Veronica L. Turner (incumbent)	30,612	33.77
	Democratic	Jamila Woods	29,335	32.36
	Democratic	Kris Valderrama (incumbent)	27,068	29.86
	Republican	JoAnn Fisher	3,438	3.79
	Write-in		193	0.21

References

1. "Members – Delegate Jamila J. Woods". mgaleg.maryland.gov. Maryland General Assembly. January 11, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
2. "About our Pastor". jabezccc.com. Jabez Christian Community Church. Archived from the original on October 26, 2022. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
3. Kurtz, Josh (February 28, 2018). "Candidate Filing Deadline: The Night of the Living Dead". Maryland Matters. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
4. "Official 2018 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for State Senator". Maryland State Board of Elections. July 31, 2018.
5. Kurtz, Josh (April 26, 2021). "Progressive Md. Announces New Class for its People's Leadership Institute". Maryland Matters. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
6. Kurtz, Josh (November 24, 2021). "Progressive Md., Working Families Party Release New Round of Endorsements". Maryland Matters. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
7. Kurtz, Josh (June 1, 2022). "Top 20 House Primaries to Watch". Maryland Matters. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
8. "Official 2022 Gubernatorial Primary Election Results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections. August 24, 2022.
9. "Jamila J. Woods, Maryland State Delegate". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. July 13, 2023. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
10. Gaines, Danielle E. (January 5, 2023). "Jones announces new Democratic caucus, committee leaders for 2023 General Assembly session". Maryland Matters. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
11. "Official 2022 Gubernatorial General Election Results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections. December 7, 2022.

External links

• "Members – Delegate Jamila J. Woods". mgaleg.maryland.gov. Maryland General Assembly. January 11, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2023.