By Megan Sayles
AFRO Staff Writer
msayles@afro.com
Maryland House of Delegates Speaker Adrienne Jones (D-District 10) announced Dec. 4 that she will step down from her post after six years of service. Speaker Pro Tem Dana Stein (D-District 11B) will take over until the House elects a new leader.
Jones made history in 2019, when she became the first African American and first woman to serve as speaker. Her resignation comes a little over a month before Maryland’s 2026 Legislative Session begins on Jan. 14.
In her Dec. 4 statement, Jones said she was proud of her work she’s done.
“I have spent my life giving back to my community, the people of Baltimore County and the State of Maryland. Serving my community in local government, as a delegate and the Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates has been my greatest honor,” she said. “Together, we have invested in new libraries, parks and infrastructure in Baltimore County; expanded my alma mater, UMBC; passed new inclusion measures at the state level to make sure that everyone has a seat at the table, and expanded our investment in classrooms and new school buildings to record levels to ensure that any child, regardless of zip code, has access to the best education.”
Jones said she was resigning from the role effective immediately.
“I will remain as a delegate representing the best district in Maryland, District 10,” said Jones. “Now is the time for me to step back and ‘raise high’ the stars of my leadership team. I am turning my attention to coaching and mentoring and offering guidance and support to the next speaker for a smooth transition.”
Before becoming speaker, Jones was the first Black woman to serve as speaker pro tem in the Maryland House of Delegates, a role she held for 16 years under former Speaker Mike Busch. She was first appointed to the House in 1997 to fill a vacant seat and elected in 1998, serving on the House Appropriations Committee and chairing the Capital Budget and Education and Economic Development Subcommittees.
This year hasn’t been easy for Jones. On March 7, the Speaker laid to rest her eldest son, Brandon. An audience that included members of the Maryland State Legislature and other officials filled the pews at Union Bethel A.M.E. Church in Randallstown, Md. to funeralize the 44-year-old, who died on Feb. 27.
In her statement, Jones noted that much of her time as speaker was dedicated to strengthening future leaders of the House.
“When elected speaker, I never intended this to be forever. I wanted to help build the next generations of House leaders and prepare them for the challenges in front of us as a state,” said Jones. “Now is that time— and I look forward to seeing this mighty House of Delegates continue to grow.”
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore spoke on Jones’ departure in a Dec. 4 statement—emphasizing the speaker’s personal impact on him, but also her impact as a government leader.
“Speaker Adrienne Jones has long been a friend and mentor long before she ever earned the title ‘speaker.’ Her leadership and mentorship has been instrumental to myself and so many others who serve the people of Maryland,” said Moore. “She leads by example, putting service above self across five decades, and will not change as she steps down from leadership while still serving District 10.”
Moore continued by highlighting a number of Jones’ accomplishments, including championing upgrades to schools to ensure Maryland students have high-quality facilities, establishing the Maryland Department of Social and Economic Mobility and securing funding to strengthen the state’s historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).
“Throughout her career, she never flinched from stepping into the gap. That work continues, and our state is better off because of it,” said Moore. “Marylanders who will never meet her and may not even know her name will have their lives made better by her work.”
Baltimore County Councilman Julian Jones (D-District 4) also weighed in after the announcement from Speaker Jones.
“Her steady leadership charted the House through some of the state’s most challenging moments including the pandemic, and secured critical gains for the people of Maryland even on the most contested issues across administrations. She has been a consensus-builder when collaboration was possible, and a steadfast advocate when justice required standing firm,” said Councilman Jones. “From championing long-overdue investments in our HBCUs, to expanding equity in emerging industries, to protecting reproductive rights in our state constitution, her impact will be felt for generations.”
The House Democratic Caucus will meet on Dec. 16 to nominate a new speaker.
