ANNAPOLIS, MD—In a historic and unanimous vote during a special legislative session on Tuesday, Delegate Joseline Peña-Melnyk (D-Prince George’s and Anne Arundel) was elected as the 109th Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates, becoming the first Afro-Latina, first Latina, and first immigrant to lead the chamber.
The election followed a brief leadership contest triggered by the resignation earlier this month of former Speaker Adrienne A. Jones, Maryland’s first female and first African American speaker, who stepped down after more than six years in the role but will retain her delegate seat.
Peña-Melnyk, 59, who has represented District 21 since 2007 and chaired the House Health and Government Operations Committee since 2022, quickly emerged as the consensus candidate. Rival contenders, including Appropriations Chair Ben Barnes, Economic Matters Chair C.T. Wilson, and Legislative Black Caucus Chair Jheanelle Wilkins, withdrew their bids and endorsed her, clearing the path for today’s unanimous selection by the full House…