Nick Charles
Member of the Maryland Senate
from the 25th district
Assumed office
December 5, 2023
Appointed byWes Moore
Preceded byMelony G. Griffith
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
from the 25th district
In office
January 9, 2019 – December 5, 2023
Preceded byAngela Angel
Succeeded byDenise Roberts
Personal details
Born
Nicholas Patrick Charles II

(1982-12-16) December 16, 1982 (age 41)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Children2
Residence(s)Forestville, Maryland, U.S.
EducationCommunity College of the Air Force (AA)
University of the District of Columbia (BBA)
ProfessionFederal acquisition consultant
Military service
Branch/serviceUnited States Air Force
Years of service2001–2006
Unit60th Fighter Squadron
422d Test and Evaluation Squadron
DC Air National Guard - 113th Fighter Wing
Battles/warsOperation Noble Eagle
Awards(2) Achievement Medals

Nicholas Patrick Charles II (born December 16, 1982) is an American politician who has served as a member of the Maryland Senate representing District 25 since 2023. He previously represented the district in the Maryland House of Delegates from 2019 to 2023.

Early life and education

Charles was born in Washington, D.C. and grew up in Prince George's County, Maryland,[1][2] and graduated from Largo High School. He served in the 60th Fighter Squadron and the 422d Test and Evaluation Squadron of the U.S. Air Force from 2001 to 2006,[3] afterwards attending Community College of the Air Force, where he earned an associate degree in aviation management, and the University of the District of Columbia, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration, both in 2009.[1]

Career

After serving in the military, Charles worked as a defense contractor for the U.S. Navy.[2] In 2015, he started his own consulting company.[1]

In 2014, Charles unsuccessfully ran for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 25,[4] placing fifth in the Democratic primary. He ran again in 2018, during which he ran on a slate with incumbents Dereck E. Davis and Darryl Barnes.[5] Charles placed third in the Democratic primary[6] and general elections.[7]

Maryland General Assembly

Charles was sworn into the Maryland House of Delegates on January 9, 2019. He served as a member of the Health and Government Operations Committee until 2021, afterwards serving in the Ways and Means Committee.[1] Following the appointment of Erek Barron to serve as U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, Charles was unanimously elected as the chair of the Prince George's County Delegation.[8]

In October 2023, after state senator Melony G. Griffith announced that she would resign at the end of the month, Charles announced that he would apply to serve the remainder of Griffith's term in the Maryland Senate.[9] He was the only candidate to apply for the seat and in November, he was unanimously nominated by the Prince George's County Democratic Central Committee to the seat.[10] Charles was appointed to the seat by Governor Wes Moore and sworn in on December 5.[11]

Political positions

Charles with Governor Wes Moore, 2023

COVID-19 pandemic

During the 2021 legislative session, Charles introduced a bill that would prohibit employers from firing workers who refused to get the COVID-19 vaccine.[12]

Housing

In February 2015, Charles called real estate appraisers "part of the problem" when referring to a foreclosure and housing crisis in Prince George's County.[13] During his 2018 House of Delegates campaign, he said he supported legislation to reform the real estate appraisal process.[2] In 2023, Charles introduced a bill to provide low-income homeowners with a right to counsel in foreclosures.[14]

Policing

During the 2020 legislative session, Charles introduced a bill that would allow people targeted by false police calls to sue callers for damages.[15]

Social issues

During the 2022 legislative session, Charles introduced a bill that would ban discrimination against students and guardians in education.[16]

Personal life

After serving in the military, Charles bought a home in the neighborhood he grew up in, in Forestville, Maryland.[13]

Charles' personal military awards include two Air Force Achievement Medals.[3]

Electoral history

Maryland House of Delegates District 25 Democratic primary election, 2014[17]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dereck E. Davis (incumbent) 9,088 25.7
Democratic Angela Angel 7,104 20.1
Democratic Darryl Barnes 5,702 16.1
Democratic Juanita D. Miller 3,804 10.8
Democratic Nick Charles 3,032 8.6
Democratic Matthew F. Fogg 1,713 4.8
Democratic Tony Jones 1,498 4.2
Democratic Geraldine Gerry Eggleston 1,299 3.7
Democratic Larry R. Greenhill 1,094 3.1
Democratic Stanley Onye 1,014 2.9
Maryland House of Delegates District 25 Democratic primary election, 2018[18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Darryl Barnes (incumbent) 13,050 26.5
Democratic Dereck E. Davis (incumbent) 12,152 24.7
Democratic Nick Charles 8,330 16.9
Democratic Wala Blegay 6,217 12.6
Democratic Kent Roberson 3,126 6.4
Democratic Sherman R. Hardy 2,200 4.5
Democratic Stanley Onye 2,070 4.2
Democratic Maurice Culbreath 2,041 4.1
Maryland House of Delegates District 25 election, 2018[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Darryl Barnes (incumbent) 36,845 34.8
Democratic Dereck E. Davis (incumbent) 35,229 33.2
Democratic Nick Charles 33,411 31.5
Write-in 474 0.4
Maryland House of Delegates District 25 election, 2018[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Darryl Barnes (incumbent) 36,845 34.8
Democratic Dereck E. Davis (incumbent) 35,229 33.2
Democratic Nick Charles 33,411 31.5
Write-in 474 0.4
Maryland House of Delegates District 25 election, 2022[20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Darryl Barnes (incumbent) 31,906 34.4
Democratic Karen Toles (incumbent) 30,886 33.3
Democratic Nick Charles (incumbent) 29,519 31.9
Write-in 356 0.4

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Nick Charles, Maryland State Delegate". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Wright, James (July 14, 2018). "Freshman Delegate Charles Preps for Challenges Ahead". Baltimore Afro-American. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Nick Charles, President & CEO". Charles Management Consulting Group. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  4. ^ Cook, Chase (February 6, 2014). "Former Prince George's councilman criticized for district change in delegate race". Maryland Independent. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  5. ^ Kurtz, Josh (September 26, 2017). "Melony Griffith Forms Ticket With Dels. Davis and Barnes in Prince George's". Maryland Matters. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  6. ^ Wright, James (June 28, 2018). "Alsobrooks Makes History with Democratic Nomination for County Executive". Baltimore Afro-American. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  7. ^ a b "Official 2018 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections.
  8. ^ Gaines, Danielle E. (October 9, 2021). "Following Barron's Confirmation, Prince George's House Delegation Elects New Chair". Maryland Matters. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  9. ^ Elliott, Richard D. (October 9, 2023). "Maryland Sen. Melony Griffith Stepping Down, Will Lead MHA". The Washington Informer. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  10. ^ Ford, William J. (November 20, 2023). "Prince George's Democrats select Del. Nick Charles to fill vacant seat in state Senate". Maryland Matters. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  11. ^ Kurtz, Josh; Ford, William J. (December 5, 2023). "Political Notes: Del. Chang joining congressional race, Trone leads in his own poll, Nick Charles to be sworn in". Maryland Matters. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  12. ^ "Maryland delegate introduces bill that would keep employers from mandating COVID vaccine". WMAR-TV. March 22, 2021. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  13. ^ a b Hernández, Arelis R. (February 8, 2015). "Prince George's homeowners push for action to prop up real estate market". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  14. ^ Lash, Steve (March 21, 2023). "General Assembly weighs bill extending tenant legal aid to homeowners". The Daily Record. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  15. ^ Lash, Steve (February 14, 2020). "Bill allowing suits for false police reports draws praise, concern". The Daily Record. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  16. ^ Gronowski, Gianna (March 18, 2022). "Maryland House of Delegates Opposes Florida-Like Anti-LGBTQ+ Legislation". Montgomery County Media. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  17. ^ "Official 2014 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections.
  18. ^ "Official 2018 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections.
  19. ^ "Official 2018 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections.
  20. ^ "Official 2022 Gubernatorial General Election Results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections.
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