Annapolis, Md. — Adrienne A. Jones, the first woman and first African American to serve as speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates, announced on December 4 that she is stepping down from the leadership position effective immediately. The 71-year-old Democrat from Baltimore County will continue representing District 10 in the House, focusing on mentorship and supporting the transition to a new speaker. House Democrats plan to nominate her successor at a caucus meeting on December 16, ahead of the 2026 General Assembly session starting January 14.
In a letter to colleagues, constituents and friends, Jones reflected on her career, citing the end of the year as a time for evaluation. “Seasons are full of change. Reflecting on my life seasons, my community, commitments and my life work, I find myself focusing on tomorrow and what lies ahead,” she wrote. “Reflections like accomplishments serve as markers of time. Reflections characterize the five (5) C’s — connection between experience and knowledge, continuity of reflection, context of subject matter, challenging perspectives and coaching and mentorship. I have accomplished much during my work and I am confident the boxes are checked.”
Jones emphasized her lifelong dedication to public service, noting her role in expanding access to education, investing in infrastructure and addressing community needs. “I have spent my life giving back to my community, the people of Baltimore County and the State of Maryland,” she stated. “Serving my community in local government, as a delegate and the Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates has been my greatest honor. 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.”
She added that acknowledging changes in life leaves her both pensive and hopeful. “Committed to the continued work of community for the people of this great State of Maryland, I am stepping back as Speaker of the House effective immediately. I will remain as a delegate representing the best district in Maryland, District 10. 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. When elected Speaker, I never intended this to be forever. I wanted to help build the next generation of House leaders and prepare them for the challenges in front of us as a State. Now that time — and I look forward to seeing this mighty House of Delegates continue to grow.”
Jones has held her seat in the House since October 1997, when she was appointed to fill a vacancy, and won election that year to represent what was then District 10 in Baltimore County. She rose through the ranks, serving as speaker pro tem from 2003 to 2019 under the late Speaker Michael E. Busch. Following Busch’s death on April 7, 2019, Jones was elected speaker on May 1, 2019, becoming the 107th person to hold the post and marking a milestone in Maryland’s legislative history. Her district, redrawn after the 2020 census, encompasses areas including Randallstown, Owings Mills and Woodlawn in western Baltimore County, with a population of about 133,000 residents across its three subdistricts.
During her speakership, Jones oversaw passage of key legislation addressing education, environmental protection and economic equity. She championed the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, a comprehensive 10-year education reform plan enacted in 2021 that allocates billions in additional funding for public schools, early childhood programs and teacher salaries to close achievement gaps. The measure, which overrode a veto by then-Gov. Larry Hogan, represents the largest investment in Maryland education history, projected to add $3.8 billion annually by fiscal 2033. Jones also supported updates to the state’s Forest Conservation Act in 2022, strengthening protections for woodlands amid development pressures, and advocated for a Whole Watershed approach to restoration efforts in the Chesapeake Bay, targeting pollution reduction through localized projects.
On economic fronts, she backed creation of the Department of Service and Civic Innovation in 2023 to promote volunteerism and community engagement, and pushed for increased funding to historically Black colleges and universities, including Coppin State University and Bowie State University, to enhance research capabilities and student support. Her tenure included navigating fiscal challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, where the House approved emergency aid packages for small businesses and unemployment benefits expansions. Jones also played a role in police accountability reforms following the 2020 death of George Floyd, including the Maryland Police Accountability Act of 2021, which established civilian review boards and restricted use-of-force policies. In 2022, she supported a constitutional amendment enshrining reproductive rights, approved by voters that November.
Reactions from state leaders highlighted her impact. CBF Executive Director Allison Colden said: “House Speaker Jones is a true champion for Maryland and we are grateful for her years of leadership service. Under her watch, we’ve seen tremendous improvements for our environment, including updating the state’s Forest Conservation Act, addressing the threats of industrial sludge, advancing targeted restoration through a Whole Watershed approach, and prioritizing environmental agencies and programs through unprecedented fiscal challenges. We wish her well during this transition.”
Congressman Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland’s 5th District, which covers Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties in Southern Maryland, stated: “My dear friend Adrienne Jones has been a historic Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates. I am sorry to hear that she will soon step down from the position – a great loss for the institution. She will remain a titan in Maryland politics and an important voice in the General Assembly. Adrienne has dedicated her entire life to serving Marylanders. From her early work for the Baltimore County Executive’s office to her decades representing Maryland’s 10th District to her six-year tenure as the first woman and first Black Speaker of the House of Delegates, she has proven to be a leader of great vision, strong character, and tremendous vision. Never was that more apparent than when she rose to the occasion after her predecessor, Speaker Michael Busch, passed away in 2019. She took on the responsibilities of that office with great poise and has performed them expertly ever since. She and I have worked closely together over the years to create new economic opportunities for Maryland families, bring the FBI headquarters to Prince George’s County, resist Donald Trump’s attacks on our state, and much more. I look forward to continuing to work with her to serve our communities during this pivotal moment for our state. No matter the task at hand, she is always an invaluable partner and an absolutely critical member of Team Maryland.”
Attorney General Anthony G. Brown remarked: “Speaker Adrienne Jones has been a trailblazer and steadfast partner throughout my career in public service. I had the privilege of serving alongside her in the House of Delegates, working with her during my time as Lieutenant Governor, and partnering with her as Attorney General. She made history as Maryland’s first woman and first African American Speaker, and under her leadership, Maryland has achieved transformational progress—from the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future to groundbreaking police accountability reforms to enshrining reproductive freedom in our Constitution. While she steps down from the speakership, I know Speaker Jones will continue serving the people of District 10 with the same dedication and integrity she has shown for nearly three decades, and I look forward to our continued partnership in the important work ahead.”
Governor Wes Moore released: “Speaker Adrienne Jones has 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. 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. As she said, the end of the year is always a time for reflection, and I think it’s important we reflect on the impact she has made during her tenure. Because she made history, but always understood that was never the assignment. She led the fight to ensure Maryland’s students had the facilities they deserve. The creation of the Department of Social and Economic Mobility will reverberate for generations as our state continues the fight against the persistent economic and racial inequality. Our HBCU’s are stronger because of her efforts to get them the funding required to be some of the best higher education institutions in the country and she is a key figure in the transformation of UMBC into a world renowned research institution. These are but a small sample of her body of work. Throughout her career, she never flinched from stepping into the gap. That work continues, and our state is better off because of it. Marylanders who will never meet her and may not even know her name will have their lives made better by her work. I will work with Speaker Jones, her leadership team, and all members of the House of Delegates to assist in any way they deem fit to ensure a smooth transition as they make their decision about who will next lead their body.”
Comptroller Brooke E. Lierman said: “For the past six years, Speaker Adrienne A. Jones has led the House of Delegates with steadiness and grace, guiding Maryland through a global pandemic, economic uncertainty, and significant budget challenges. As the first woman and the first African American to serve as Speaker, she made history while also opening doors for so many others. I was proud to vote for her to become Speaker, to serve alongside her, and to learn from her during my eight years in the House. She was there as a leader for me to learn from and follow from the first day I arrived in the House as a member of the Appropriations Committee, and even after I left the House, she has continued to be someone who has offered good counsel, support, and inspiration. She was always determined to ensure that even if she might be the first in a role, she would not be the last. Her legacy, built over more than 30 years of service, will continue as she becomes Speaker Emerita and focuses on representing District 11. Speaker Jones is one of the strongest and most compassionate people I have ever met. I am deeply grateful for her leadership and look forward to continuing to work with her to build a more equitable, resilient, and prosperous Maryland.”
Delegates Kathy Szeliga and Ryan Nawrocki, Republicans from Baltimore County, responded jointly. Szeliga stated: “I wish her nothing but the best, and I am sorry to see the Speaker resign. As leaders of the Republican Caucus, Delegate Nic Kipke and I were proud to have played an important role in electing Adrienne Jones as the first woman and first African American Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates.” Nawrocki added: “I thank Speaker Jones for her dedication to Baltimore County and Maryland. Having the first Speaker from Baltimore County in over fifty years was meaningful to the region, and having her in that role will be missed.”
The speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates is elected by the full 141-member body, but in practice, the majority party — Democrats, with 102 seats — caucuses to select a nominee who is then confirmed by vote. The position involves presiding over sessions, appointing committee members and setting the legislative agenda. Potential candidates to succeed Jones include Appropriations Committee Chair Ben Barnes of Prince George’s and Anne Arundel counties and Health and Government Operations Committee Chair Joseline A. Pena-Melnyk of Prince George’s County, both Democrats from District 21. Other names mentioned in legislative circles include Economic Matters Committee Chair C.T. Wilson of Charles County in Southern Maryland, whose district includes areas along the Potomac River.
Jones’ departure comes amid ongoing state priorities, such as implementing the Blueprint’s next phases and addressing budget shortfalls projected at $2.7 billion over five years due to education mandates and transportation needs. Her environmental focus aligns with Chesapeake Bay restoration goals, where Maryland has reduced nitrogen pollution by 27% since 2009 under the Total Maximum Daily Load plan, benefiting Southern Maryland’s waterways and fisheries. The bay’s health score reached 36% in 2024, the highest since monitoring began, per the Chesapeake Bay Program.
Born November 20, 1954, in Cowdensville, Baltimore County, Jones graduated from Lansdowne Senior High School in 1972 and earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Towson University in 1976. She worked in Baltimore County government from 1976 to 2015, rising to deputy director of the Office of Human Resources. Her legislative service includes chairing the Capital Budget Subcommittee and Education and Economic Development Subcommittee of Appropriations. Awards include the Casper R. Taylor Jr. Founder’s Award in 2019 and induction into the Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame in 2020.
In Southern Maryland, her collaboration with Hoyer on federal-state projects, like securing $1 billion for the new FBI headquarters in Greenbelt, supports economic growth in Prince George’s County, adjacent to Charles County. Bay initiatives under her watch have funded oyster restoration in tributaries like the Patuxent River, aiding local watermen.
The transition marks the end of a chapter in Maryland politics, where the House has seen increased diversity since the 1990s, with women now holding 47 seats and African Americans 50. Jones’ mentorship emphasis could shape future leadership, ensuring continuity in addressing issues like housing affordability and climate resilience.
