Nancy King
Majority Leader of the Maryland Senate
Assumed office
January 8, 2020
Preceded byGuy Guzzone
Member of the Maryland Senate
from the 39th district
Assumed office
September 5, 2007
Appointed byMartin O'Malley
Preceded byPatrick Hogan
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
from the 39th district
In office
January 8, 2003 – September 5, 2007
Preceded byPaul H. Carlson
Succeeded byKirill Reznik
Personal details
Born (1949-10-07) October 7, 1949 (age 74)
Niagara Falls, New York, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Children3
EducationNiagara County Community College
Signature

Nancy J. King (born October 7, 1949) is an American politician who is a member of the Maryland Senate from the 39th district since 2007. A member of the Democratic Party, she has served as the majority leader of the Maryland Senate since 2020. King previously represented the district in the Maryland House of Delegates from 2003 to 2007.

Early life and education

King was born in Niagara Falls, New York, where she graduated from LaSalle High School and attended Niagara County Community College from 1967 to 1969. She later moved to Montgomery Village, Maryland, where she became the vice president of her family's consulting and forensic engineering company, Trecor Inc., in 1987.[1]

Political career

King was appointed to the Montgomery Village Foundation Board of Directors, where she served from 1991 to 1996. In 1993, she became the president of the Montgomery County Council of Parent-Teacher Associations.[1]

King was elected to represent the first district of the Montgomery County Board of Education in 1994,[2] serving until her election to the Maryland House of Delegates in 2002. During her tenure, King served as the board's president from 1997 to 1998 and from 2000 to 2001,[3] and was critical of Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan's fiscal conservatism, especially toward cuts to the county's education funding.[4][5] She also supported expanding the school system's school resource officer program following the September 11 attacks,[6] supported studying later start times for classes,[7] and reduced standardized testing.[8]

Maryland House of Delegates

King was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 2002,[9] and was sworn in on January 8, 2003. She served on the Ways and Means Committee and as deputy majority whip from 2006 to 2007.[1]

Maryland Senate

In July 2007, following the resignation of Patrick J. Hogan, King applied to serve the remainder of his term in the Maryland Senate.[10] She was appointed to the seat by Governor Martin O'Malley and was sworn in on September 5, 2007.[1] King was elected to a full term in 2010 after defeating state delegate Saqib Ali in a competitive primary election in which she ran with the backing of the Maryland Democratic Party establishment and used campaign material to try to embarrass Ali.[11][12]

King has served as a member of the Budget and Taxation Committee since 2007, and was its chair in 2019,[13] and has been a member of the Executive Nominations Committee, the Rules Committee, and the Legislative Policy Committee since 2019.[1] In January 2018, she delivered the Democratic response to Governor Larry Hogan's State of the State Address.[14]

In July 2019, King endorsed former vice president Joe Biden in the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries.[15] She would later serve as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention pledged to Biden.[1]

In December 2019, after Thomas V. Miller Jr. said he would not seek re-election as president of the Maryland Senate, King explored running to succeed him but ultimately decided against it.[16] In January 2020, following the election of Bill Ferguson as Senate president, Ferguson appointed King to serve as majority leader of the Maryland Senate.[17][18]

Personal life

King is married and has three children.[1]

Political positions

Education

In 2001, King supported efforts to repeal the county's ban on cell phones in the classroom, calling it a "security blanket" for students and parents amid the September 11 attacks.[19][20]

In 2002, King said she opposed condom demonstrations in sex education classes, arguing that it was the responsibility of parents to teach their children how to use contraceptives.[21]

During the 2007 legislative session, King introduced legislation to prohibit student school board members from voting on personnel matters.[22]

In 2011, King voted for Maryland's Dream Act, a bill that extended in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants.[23]

During the 2014 legislative session, King introduced a bill to stop the state from administering the Maryland School Assessment.[24]

In 2015, King introduced a bill to provide $20 million annually to allow Montgomery County to issue $700 million in bonds for school construction.[25]

During the 2018 legislative session, King introduced a bill to allow school districts to extend their school calendar up to five days past the state's June 15 deadline for closing schools without needing permission from the Maryland State Department of Education. The bill passed and was signed into law by Governor Larry Hogan.[26] In 2019, she supported a bill that would repeal Hogan's executive order requiring schools to start after Labor Day[27] and dismissed proposals from Hogan to hold a referendum on school start dates, calling it "silly" and "unnecessary".[28]

During debate on the Blueprint for Maryland's Future bill in 2020, King introduced an amendment that would reduce funding for the Blueprint implementation if the COVID-19 pandemic reduced the state's revenues. The amendment was added to the bill.[29]

Gambling

During the 2014 legislative session, King introduced a bill to repeal Maryland's ban on placing wagers on games of poker played at home.[30] In 2020, she introduced legislation creating a ballot referendum to repeal the state's ban on sports betting,[31] which passed and was approved by voters in November 2020.[32] In 2023, she proposed a ballot referendum on legalizing online gambling.[33]

Gun policy

During the 2006 legislative session, King supported a bill that would allow for the confiscation of weapons before a judge orders a final protective order.[34]

During the 2013 legislative session, King voted for the Firearms Safety Act, a bill that placed restrictions on firearm purchases and magazine capacity in semi-automatic rifles.[35]

Israel

In November 2023, King and eight other state senators signed a joint letter that threatened to defund immigrants rights group CASA de Maryland because it had called for an immediate ceasefire in the 2023 Israel–Hamas war and condemned the "utilization of US tax dollars to promote the ongoing violence."[36]

Social issues

In 1996, King abstained from voting on a bill to ban discrimination against homosexuals in public education,[37] saying that she thought the county no longer needed to spell out what groups needed special protections.[38] In 1997, she voted against allowing a high school television production class to air a debate about same-sex marriage on the school's public cable channel.[39] In 2006, King voted to uphold a committee decision blocking a bill to amend the state constitution to ban same-sex marriage.[40] During her 2010 Senate campaign, she called legalizing same-sex marriage a "very, very difficult issue in our district" but said she would vote for it if a bill to do so was introduced.[11] She voted for the Civil Marriage Protection Act in 2011 and 2012.[41]

In June 2001, King said she would support renaming an elementary school in Germantown after Lillian B. Brown, a retired Black teacher who taught at a nearby school during segregation.[42]

During the 2013 legislative session, King voted to repeal the death penalty.[43]

In 2019, King supported the End-of-Life Option Act, which would have provided palliative care to terminally ill adults, likening it to getting an abortion.[44]

Taxes

During the 2013 legislative session, King introduced legislation to give Lockheed Martin $450,000 in tax breaks.[45][46] In 2018, she supported a bill providing $5.6 billion in tax incentives to Amazon to build their second headquarters in Montgomery County.[47]

During the 2019 legislative session, King introduced a bill that would provide tax credits toward child and dependent care costs.[48] The bill passed and was signed into law by Governor Larry Hogan.[49]

Transportation

King supports proposals to add high-occupancy toll lanes to Interstate 270 and the Capital Beltway.[50] In April 2021, she criticized a bill that would require more scrutiny over state public–private partnerships as an "attempt to add time and costs" to the highway projects.[51] King blocked the bill from receiving a vote after Maryland Transportation Secretary Pete Rahn said it would result in a three-year delay to the highway projects.[52]

Electoral history

Montgomery County Board of Education District 1 election, 1998[53]
Candidate Votes %
Nancy J. King (incumbent) 156,064 97.7
Write-in 3,601 2.3
Maryland House of Delegates District 39 Democratic primary election, 2002[54]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Charles E. Barkley (incumbent) 6,283 34.3
Democratic Nancy J. King 6,136 33.5
Democratic Joan F. Stern (incumbent) 5,915 32.3
Maryland House of Delegates District 39 election, 2002[55]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Charles E. Barkley (incumbent) 16,509 20.6
Democratic Nancy J. King 16,477 20.6
Democratic Joan F. Stern (incumbent) 15,461 19.3
Republican Robert J. Smith 10,490 13.1
Republican Kyle Winkfield 10,086 12.6
Republican Bill Witham 9,027 11.3
Independent Bill White 1,846 2.3
Write-in 73 0.1
Maryland House of Delegates District 39 election, 2006[56]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nancy J. King (incumbent) 18,651 23.5
Democratic Charles E. Barkley (incumbent) 18,253 23.0
Democratic Saqib Ali 16,455 20.7
Republican David Nichols 9,278 11.7
Republican Gary Scott 8,363 10.5
Republican Bill Witham 8,244 10.4
Write-in 68 0.1
Maryland Senate District 39 Democratic primary election, 2010[57]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nancy J. King (incumbent) 3,695 51.7
Democratic Saqib Ali 3,447 48.3
Maryland Senate District 39 election, 2010[58]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nancy J. King (incumbent) 17,990 64.6
Republican Robert J. Smith 9,724 34.9
Write-in 138 0.5
Maryland Senate District 39 election, 2014[59]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nancy J. King (incumbent) 18,808 97.2
Write-in 536 2.8
Maryland Senate District 39 election, 2018[60]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nancy J. King (incumbent) 32,417 79.3
Republican Al Phillips 8,434 20.6
Write-in 53 0.1
Maryland Senate District 39 election, 2022[61]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nancy J. King (incumbent) 25,188 86.2
Green Moshe Landman 3,582 12.3
Write-in 457 1.6

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Nancy J. King, Maryland State Senator". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. March 28, 2023. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  2. ^ Zoroya, Gregg (November 9, 1994). "Montgomery County". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  3. ^ "Metro in brief". The Washington Post. December 13, 2000. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  4. ^ Perez-Rivas, Manuel (March 17, 2001). "School Officials Lash Back At Duncan Over Budget Cut". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  5. ^ Perez-Rivas, Manuel (April 26, 2001). "School Board Suggests Cuts Of Last Resort". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  6. ^ Ly, Phuong (April 24, 2002). "Montgomery Schools Back Policing Plan". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  7. ^ Shen, Fern (October 28, 1994). "Montgomery Board votes to study later class starts". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  8. ^ Gowen, Annie (August 16, 2001). "Montgomery May Drop County Test". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  9. ^ Cottman, Michael H. (September 5, 2002). "Now, More Minorities On Ballot". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  10. ^ Green, Andrew A. (July 17, 2007). "Hogan to resign from Senate". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  11. ^ a b Wagner, John (September 8, 2010). "In Montgomery, Senate primaries turn nasty". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  12. ^ Linskey, Annie; Walker, Andrea (September 15, 2010). "Ferguson topples Baltimore Senator Della". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  13. ^ Wiggins, Ovetta (December 22, 2018). "A big wave of female lawmakers is about to land in Annapolis". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  14. ^ Hicks, Josh; Wiggins, Ovetta (January 31, 2018). "Hogan's State of the State speech lays groundwork for 2018 campaign". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  15. ^ Broadwater, Luke (July 29, 2019). "Biden announces 29 Maryland endorsements". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  16. ^ Wiggins, Ovetta; Cox, Erin (October 23, 2019). "Longtime Md. Senate president is expected to announce his plans". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  17. ^ Broadwater, Luke; Wood, Pamela (December 12, 2019). "Incoming Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson sets his leadership team". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  18. ^ Cox, Erin (December 12, 2019). "New leaders in Maryland Senate will be younger, more left-leaning". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  19. ^ Argetsinger, Amy (March 9, 2000). "Why, Back When I Was a Teen..." The Washington Post. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  20. ^ Gowen, Annie (October 17, 2001). "Montgomery Schools Ease Cell Phone Ban". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  21. ^ Schulte, Brigid (March 19, 2002). "Condoms Stay Under Wraps in Schools". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  22. ^ Vise, Daniel de (January 4, 2007). "Student Voting Power Hangs In the Balance". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  23. ^ "These are the Senators who voted for in-state tuition for illegal immigrants". The Baltimore Sun. March 17, 2011. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  24. ^ Layton, Lyndsey (February 14, 2014). "25,000 Maryland students taking Common Core exam won't have to take state test". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  25. ^ St. George, Donna; Wiggins, Ovetta (February 19, 2015). "Montgomery leaders urge support for school construction funding". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  26. ^ Chason, Rachel; Wiggins, Ovetta (March 28, 2018). "Maryland General Assembly moves to give flexibility to local school districts creating school calendars". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  27. ^ Wiggins, Ovetta (February 7, 2019). "Md. Senate votes to overturn post-Labor Day start; Hogan vows public referendum". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  28. ^ Broadwater, Luke; Wood, Pamela (February 6, 2019). "In fight with legislature, Gov. Hogan endorses referendum on Maryland public schools starting after Labor Day". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  29. ^ Wiggins, Ovetta; Cox, Erin (March 14, 2020). "Worried about economic impact of virus, Maryland Senate votes to curtail public education overhaul". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  30. ^ Kunkle, Fredrick (February 25, 2014). "Maryland weighs lifting obscure ban on playing poker for money at home". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  31. ^ Wiggins, Ovetta (February 24, 2020). "Goucher College poll: Maryland residents deeply divided over sports betting". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  32. ^ Reed, Lillian; Wood, Pamela (November 4, 2020). "Marylanders vote 'yes' on ballot questions about sports betting, state budget". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  33. ^ Charles, Michael (February 15, 2023). "Maryland legislature to analyze gambling expansion". Capital News Service. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  34. ^ Dixon, Tyeesha; Harris, Melissa (November 30, 2007). "Sorrowful ending". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  35. ^ Wagner, John (April 5, 2013). "How the Maryland Senate voted on passed gun-control legislation". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  36. ^ Thakker, Prem (November 9, 2023). "Maryland Democrats Threaten Funding of Immigrant Rights Group That Called for Gaza Ceasefire". The Intercept. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  37. ^ Beyers, Dan (March 27, 1996). "Gay rights furor may signal change in Montgomery". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  38. ^ Beyers, Dan (March 26, 1996). "Montgomery schools ban anti-gay discrimination". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  39. ^ Beyers, Dan (April 24, 1997). "Montgomery to air controversial tape". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  40. ^ "How the Area's Delegates Voted". The Washington Post. February 4, 2006. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  41. ^ "Senate vote count from 2011 on same-sex marriage". The Baltimore Sun. February 20, 2012. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  42. ^ Perez-Rivas, Manuel (June 11, 2001). "Dispute Looms Over What's in School's Name". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  43. ^ Wagner, John (March 6, 2013). "How the Maryland Senate voted on repealing the death penalty". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  44. ^ Wood, Pamela (March 27, 2019). "Bill to legalize medically assisted suicide in Maryland defeated in state Senate". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  45. ^ Wagner, John (March 8, 2013). "Maryland Senate advances local tax break for Lockheed Martin". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  46. ^ Wagner, John (March 18, 2013). "Md. Senate passes bill granting local tax break to Lockheed Martin". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  47. ^ Dance, Scott (February 28, 2018). "$3B tax break for Amazon HQ2 in Montgomery County pushed as economic boom for all of Maryland". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  48. ^ Broadwater, Luke (March 12, 2019). "Maryland Senate passes legislation to award millions of dollars in tax credits for child care". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  49. ^ Broadwater, Luke (April 3, 2019). "Maryland General Assembly passes bill expanding tax credits for child care". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  50. ^ Shaver, Katherine (October 11, 2019). "Maryland plan to widen I-270 first could make traffic worse, toll lane advocates say". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  51. ^ Shaver, Katherine (April 17, 2021). "Third attempt to tighten Md.'s public-private partnership law fails in Senate". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  52. ^ Shaver, Katherine (April 9, 2019). "Bill that would have delayed Maryland highway tolling plan dies". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  53. ^ "Montgomery County, Maryland - General Election Returns 1998". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. November 3, 1998. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  54. ^ "2002 Gubernatorial Election". Maryland State Board of Elections. March 19, 2003. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  55. ^ "2002 Gubernatorial Election". Maryland State Board of Elections. December 2, 2002. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  56. ^ "Official 2006 Gubernatorial General Election results for Legislative District 39". Maryland State Board of Elections.
  57. ^ "Official 2010 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for State Senator". Maryland State Board of Elections.
  58. ^ "Official 2010 Gubernatorial General Election results for State Senator". Maryland State Board of Elections.
  59. ^ "Official 2014 Gubernatorial General Election results for State Senator". Maryland State Board of Elections. December 2, 2014.
  60. ^ "Official 2018 Gubernatorial General Election results for State Senator". Maryland State Board of Elections. December 11, 2018.
  61. ^ "Official 2022 Gubernatorial General Election results for State Senator". Maryland State Board of Elections. December 7, 2022.
Maryland Senate Preceded byGuy Guzzone Majority Leader of the Maryland Senate 2020–present Incumbent
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