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 | April 1996 (age 27–28) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
Political party | Democratic |
Residence | New Carrollton, Maryland |
Education | Howard University |
Website | Campaign website |
Ashanti Martinez (born April 1996)[1] 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.
Born in Washington, D.C.,[2] Martinez grew up in a working-class family and was educated at Parkdale High School.[3] 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.[4] 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.[5] 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.[6]
In April 2017, Martinez announced that he would run for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 22.[1] He was defeated in the Democratic primary, placing fifth with 10.1 percent of the vote.[7]
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.[8][9] He also ran on the issue of abortion, highlighting Healey's opposition to abortion rights.[10][11] Martinez received endorsements from Pro-Choice Maryland Action[12] and CASA de Maryland.[13] Martinez came in fourth place in the Democratic primary, receiving 13.91 percent of the vote.[14] Following his defeat, he became chief of staff for Prince George's County councilmember Krystal Oriadha.[3]
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.[5] 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.[3]
Martinez was into the Maryland House of Delegates on February 24, 2023. He is a member of the House Health and Government Operations Committee.[15] 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.[16][17]
In 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.[18]
In June 2021, Martinez attended and spoke at a rally against gun violence in Landover, Maryland.[19]
Martinez supports universal health care.[20]
In 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.[21]
In October 2021, Martinez spoke in support of the Build Back Better Act.[22]
In 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.[23] 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.[24]
Martinez supports bringing the new Federal Bureau of Investigation headquarters to Prince George's County.[5]
Martinez is openly gay,[4][10] coming out to his family at age 13.[25] He lives in New Carrollton, Maryland.[26]
Party | 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 |