Adrienne Jones Elected Maryland’s Next House Speaker

Delegate Adrienne Jones has won the special election for Speaker of the House of Delegates, making her the first woman and first African-American to hold the position.

Jones had previously dropped out of the Speaker race, making it a two-way race between Delegate Maggie McIntosh of Baltimore City and Delegate Dereck Davis of Prince George’s County. McIntosh was poised to make history as the state’s first openly gay and female to hold the position. Davis would’ve become the state’s first African-American Speaker.

Jones has served as the President Pro-Temp of the Maryland House of Delegates, and assumed Speakership duties after the vacancy last month. She emanates from Baltimore County and has served since 1997.

Internal political turmoil led to Jones’ ascension to the Speakership after Delegate McIntosh won the Democratic primary, but Republicans pledged unanimous support for Delegate Davis, guaranteeing he would win.

The special election was ordered by Governor Larry Hogan following the death of longtime House Speaker Michael Busch who died from pneumonia complications last month.