By Catherine Pugh
Special to the AFRO
Sources close to the AFRO say Joseline Peña-Melnyk (D-MD-District 21), 59, is poised to become Maryland’s next Speaker of the House of Delegates when votes are held on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025.
As chair of the House Health and Government Operations Committee, she said she’s ready to present her case to the full body. If elected, Peña-Melnyk would be the chamber’s second female leader, the first Afro-Latina, and the first born in the Dominican Republic to hold the position. She would follow Delegate Adrienne Jones (D- MD-District 10) who announced on Dec. 4 that she was stepping down after holding the post for little over six years.
Three of the other top candidates who were seeking to lead the House of Delegates as Speaker, Ben Barnes, chair of the Appropriations Committee; C. T. Wilson, chair of Economic Matters and Jheanelle K. Wilkins (D-MD-District 20), chair of the Legislative Black Caucus, announced on the evening on Dec.7 that they would be throwing their support behind Peña-Melnyk.
Mayor of Baltimore City, Brandon Scott and Prince Georges County Executive Aisha Braveboy have thrown their support behind Delegate Pena-Melnyk.
“I am so honored that my colleagues would give me their support,” Peña-Melnyk told the AFRO after receiving word that her opponents had become advocates for her ascension to the speakership role. “I am humbled and blessed.”
Six years ago, on May 1, 2019, Delegate Peña-Melnyk put forward a motion nominating Speaker Pro-Tem Adrienne Jones to become the next Speaker following the passing of Michael E. Busch on April 7, 2019. At that time, Delegate Maggie McIntosh, now a senior consultant for Cornerstone Government Affairs, nor Delegate Dereck Davis, who currently serves as treasurer for the State of Maryland, were able to secure the necessary votes for the position.
Over the course of a nearly five-hour caucus session, Peña-Melnyk delivered an impassioned endorsement in support of Speaker Pro-Tem Jones. Charles E. Sydnor III, who is now a democratic state senator representing District 44 in Maryland, seconded the motion. Additional colleagues subsequently expressed their support and ultimately, Jones was nominated for the position. She became the first African American and first woman to hold the post.
Peña-Melnyk, a Democrat, has served in the Maryland House of Delegates since January 10, 2007. She represents District 21, which includes portions of Anne Arundel and Prince George’s Counties.
Peña-Melnyk is a former lawyer for the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, U.S. Department of Justice. She also served as a city councilwoman for College Park, Md. from 2003 to 2006.
Chairperson Peña-Melnyk has held several leadership positions in the House including Vice-Chair of Health and Government Operations from 2007-2019, House Chair of the Joint Federal Action Oversight Committee and House Chair of the Joint Committee on Access to Mental Health Services.
She has earned multiple leadership awards, including the Daily Record Circle of Excellence, Maryland’s Health Care for All Leadership Award, and the Daily Record 2025 Leadership Award.
Peña-Melnyk memberships include the Maryland Latino, Black and Military Caucus. She is also an associate member of the Legislative Jewish Caucus.
Aside from her role as a state legislator, Peña-Melnyk is also married with three children.