Ashanti Martinez

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.

Ashanti Martinez
Martinez in 2023
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
from the 22nd district
Assumed office
February 24, 2023
Appointed byWes Moore
Preceded byAlonzo T. Washington
Personal details
BornApril 1996 (age 27)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
ResidenceNew Carrollton, Maryland
EducationHoward University
WebsiteCampaign website

Background

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]

Martinez (center left) at an Elizabeth Warren rally, 2020

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]

In the legislature

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]

Political positions

Environment

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]

Gun control

In June 2021, Martinez attended and spoke at a rally against gun violence in Landover, Maryland.[19]

Health care

Martinez supports universal health care.[20]

National politics

In October 2021, Martinez spoke in support of the Build Back Better Act.[21]

Social issues

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.[22] 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.[23]

Martinez supports bringing the new Federal Bureau of Investigation headquarters to Prince George's County.[5]

Personal life

Martinez is openly gay,[4][10] coming out to his family at age 13.[24] He lives in New Carrollton, Maryland.[25]

Electoral history
Maryland House of Delegates District 22 Democratic primary election, 2018[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
Maryland House of Delegates District 22 Democratic primary election, 2022[14]
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

References
  1. Hernández, Arelis R. (May 8, 2017). "13 months ahead of Democratic primary, candidates emerge in Prince George's". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  2. York, Kayla (May 10, 2018). "Ashanti Martinez: A Love Letter In A Campaign". The Hilltop. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  3. Beachum, Lateshia (February 8, 2023). "Ashanti Martinez is poised to join Pr. George's statehouse delegation". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  4. "Check Out Ashanti Martinez's Story". VoyageBaltimore. December 6, 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  5. Ford, William J. (January 27, 2023). "Baker, Martinez to seek District 22 House seat in Prince George's County". Maryland Matters. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  6. "Ashanti Martinez". Daily Record. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  7. Redmond-Palmer, Bill (July 6, 2018). "LGBT Candidates Contend, Sometimes Prevail, in MD Dem Primaries". Baltimore Outloud. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  8. Chingarande, Tinashe (August 23, 2021). "Gay Afro-Latino man running for Md. House of Delegates". Washington Blade. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  9. Sprayregen, Molly (February 11, 2022). "Ashanti Martinez wants to be the gay Afro-Latino voice his community needs". LGBTQ Nation. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  10. Alburtus, Josh; White, Caris (July 7, 2022). "Gay, lesbian Md. General Assembly incumbents seek re-election". Washington Blade. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  11. Kurtz, Josh (July 18, 2022). "The 12 Most Vulnerable Legislative Incumbents in Tuesday's Primaries". Maryland Matters. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  12. DePuyt, Bruce; Kurtz, Josh (June 17, 2022). "Political Notes: Fun Facts About Md. House Districts, Targeting a Pro-Life Dem, Endorsements Add Up and More". Maryland Matters. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  13. Leckrone, Bennett; Kurtz, Josh (February 5, 2022). "Political Notes: Eckardt Girds for Primary, Krebs Retiring, Peroutka Runs for AG, and More". Maryland Matters. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  14. "Official 2022 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. August 24, 2022.
  15. "Delegate Ashanti Martinez". mgaleg.maryland.gov. Maryland General Assembly. February 24, 2023. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  16. Ford, William J.; Gaines, Danielle E.; Zorzi, William F. (February 10, 2023). "Political Notes: Prince George's House nominee would make history, Dan Cox's new gig, keeping up with Speaker Jones". Maryland Matters. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  17. Jové Rodríguez, Andrés I. (February 13, 2023). "Ashanti Martínez poised to represent District 22 in Md. House of Delegates". Washington Blade. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  18. Shwe, Elizabeth (May 13, 2022). "Political Notes: More than 100 State Candidates Sign Carbon-Free Electricity Pledge and Congressional Endorsements". Maryland Matters. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  19. Ford, William J. (June 1, 2021). "Residents, Officials Rail Against Gun Violence at Prince George's Rally". The Washington Informer. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  20. Ford, William J. (January 27, 2023). "Moore appoints Del. Alonzo Washington to Maryland Senate". Maryland Matters. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  21. Rogers, Henry (October 28, 2021). "Two Maryland candidates arrested at march for Build Back Better plan". Frederick News-Post. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  22. Chingarande, Tinashe (May 2, 2022). "University of Maryland students march for LGBTQ rights on 'Maryland Day'". Washington Blade. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  23. Gaines, Danielle E.; Ford, William J.; Kurtz, Josh; Sears, Bryan P. (May 2, 2023). "Political Notes: Poll finds Moore on 'solid footing,' AG joins transgender health brief while lawmakers back trans colleagues, delegates come and go, and more". Maryland Matters. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  24. Ford, William J. (July 8, 2020). "LGBTQ Organization Protests for Black Lives, Acceptance in Prince George's". The Washington Informer. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  25. Ford, William J. (September 21, 2021). "Maryland Legislative Redistricting Hearings Start in Prince George's". The Washington Informer. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  26. "Official 2018 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. July 31, 2018.
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