Dana Jones (politician)

Dana Jones
Jones in 2023
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
from the 30A district
Incumbent
Assumed office
May 1, 2020
Serving with Shaneka Henson
Appointed byLarry Hogan
Preceded byAlice J. Cain
Personal details
Born
Dana Celeste Jones

(1976-06-26) June 26, 1976 (age 48)
Cumberland, Maryland, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseJude Meche
Children1
EducationTowson University (BS)
WebsiteCampaign website

Dana Celeste Jones (born June 26, 1976) is an American politician who is a Democratic member of the Maryland House of Delegates from District 30A.[1]

Background

Jones was born in Cumberland, Maryland, on June 6, 1976.[1] Her mother was a longtime member of the Allegany County Democratic Central Committee and her father was the president of the local American Postal Workers Union.[2] Jones graduated from Fort Hill High School and attended Towson University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in sociology in 1998.[1]

Jones first became involved in politics while in college, where she was a member of the university's College Democrats organization[2] and worked as a campaign manager for Robert Zirkin's 1998 House of Delegates campaign.[1] Afterwards, she worked as a legislative aide to U.S. Representative Ben Cardin until 2001, when she began working as a senior researcher for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and later for EMILY's List. Jones has worked as an independent political consultant since 2013.[1]

During the 2018 Anne Arundel County executive election, Jones worked on Steuart Pittman's campaign and helped him prepare for debates against Steve Schuh.[2]

In the legislature

Jones in the House Appropriations Committee, 2024

In April 2020, following the resignation of state delegate Alice J. Cain at the end of the 2020 legislative session, Jones applied to serve the remainder of Cain's term in the Maryland House of Delegates.[3] The Anne Arundel County Democratic Central Committee voted to recommend Jones to the seat later that month,[4] and she was appointed by Governor Larry Hogan on April 23, 2020.[5]

Jones was sworn into the Maryland House of Delegates on May 1, 2020,[6] and was elected to a full four-year term in 2022.[7] She was a member of the Ways and Means Committee from 2020 to 2023, afterwards serving in the Appropriations Committee.[1] In 2023, she swapped assignments with state delegate Shaneka Henson after questions were raised about a potential conflict of interest involving Henson's legal work for a nonprofit which received state funding.[8]

Jones was a delegate to the 2024 Democratic National Convention, pledged to Kamala Harris.[9]

In November 2024, after state senator Sarah Elfreth won election to the U.S. House of Representatives, Jones said she would apply to serve the remainder of Elfreth's term in the Maryland Senate. She also suggested that she would run for the Maryland Senate in 2026 if the Anne Arundel County Democratic Central Committee decided against appointing her to the seat.[10]

Political positions

Jones inspecting damage to South River High School following Hurricane Ida with Governor Larry Hogan, 2021

Upon being sworn into the Maryland House of Delegates, Jones said she would prioritize health care, small business, and food insecurity.[6] In August 2020, she participated in a protest supporting a federal bill to provide the United States Postal Service with $25 billion in funding ahead of the 2020 presidential election.[11]

During the 2021 legislative session, Jones introduced a bill to regulate school bus capacity.[12]

In April 2021, Jones participated in a rally to celebrate the sentencing of Derek Chauvin.[13]

In October 2021, Jones participated in a protest in Annapolis to support abortion rights amid red states passing bills to ban abortions.[14] During the 2023 legislative session, she voted for Question 1, a voter referendum that established a right to reproductive freedom in the Constitution of Maryland, and campaigned heavily for the referendum during the 2024 elections.[10]

During the 2022 legislative session, Jones introduced legislation to exempt baby care products from the state sales tax. The bill passed and was signed into law by Governor Larry Hogan.[15]

In 2023, Jones introduced a bill to establish a State Disaster Recovery Fund to help jurisdictions recover from natural disasters. The bill passed and was signed into law by Governor Wes Moore.[16][17] She also supported a bill requiring the Maryland Department of Health to cover the cost of certain at-home therapies for children facing complex mental health issues.[18]

Personal life

Jones and her husband Jude at a Government House holiday reception, 2024

Jones is married to her husband, Jude Meche. Together, they have a son.[6]

Electoral history

Maryland House of Delegates District 30A Democratic primary election, 2022[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Shaneka Henson (incumbent) 8,665 52.2
Democratic Dana Jones (incumbent) 7,925 47.8
Maryland House of Delegates District 30A election, 2022[20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Shaneka Henson (incumbent) 20,364 32.1
Democratic Dana Jones (incumbent) 19,710 31.1
Republican Doug Rathell 12,948 20.4
Republican Rob Seyfferth 10,366 16.3
Write-in 66 0.1

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Dana Jones, Maryland State Delegate". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. March 2, 2023. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Sanchez, Olivia (April 23, 2020). "Dana Jones appointed to House of Delegates by Gov. Larry Hogan, holds town hall". Capital Gazette. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  3. ^ Sanchez, Olivia (April 12, 2020). "Nineteen locals, including two Annapolis City Council aldermen, vie for open delegation seat vacated by Alice Cain". Capital Gazette. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  4. ^ Sanchez, Olivia (April 17, 2020). "Dana Jones nominated to serve as District 30A delegate after 6-hour online meeting, County Executive endorses choice". Capital Gazette. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  5. ^ Gaskill, Hannah (April 23, 2020). "Hogan Appoints Dana Jones as New Anne Arundel Delegate". Maryland Matters. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c Sanchez, Olivia (May 1, 2020). "Dana Jones, new Annapolis delegate, sworn-in at small ceremony Friday". Capital Gazette. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  7. ^ Munro, Dana (November 17, 2022). "Heather Bagnall takes lead in District 33C race, setting all Anne Arundel assembly incumbents on track to hold seats". Capital Gazette. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  8. ^ Sears, Bryan P. (March 3, 2023). "House committees reshuffled as ethics questions arise". Maryland Matters. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  9. ^ Kurtz, Josh (July 22, 2024). "Meet the Maryland delegates to the Democratic National Convention". Maryland Matters. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  10. ^ a b Kurtz, Josh (November 11, 2024). "Elfreth's election to Congress creates showdown to replace her in Annapolis". Maryland Matters. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
  11. ^ Sanchez, Olivia (August 25, 2020). "Two dozen rally in front of downtown Annapolis post office in support of USPS, $25 billion in funding". Capital Gazette. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  12. ^ Sanchez, Olivia (February 15, 2021). "School bus capacity bill passes Maryland House of Delegates, likely to face opposition in the Senate". Capital Gazette. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  13. ^ "Derek Chauvin Trial Verdict Rally in Annapolis | PHOTOS". Capital Gazette. April 20, 2021. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  14. ^ Kurtz, Josh (October 3, 2021). "Md. Advocates, Lawmakers Look Ahead to Legislative Session to Strengthen Abortion Protections". Maryland Matters. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  15. ^ Gaines, Danielle E. (February 18, 2022). "House Leaders Unveil Package to Slash Sales Taxes, Expand Federal Work Opportunity Tax Credit". Maryland Matters. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  16. ^ Kurtz, Josh (August 18, 2023). "A nice day at MACo — time to think about disasters". Maryland Matters. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
  17. ^ Ritzel, Rebecca (May 9, 2023). "Gov. Wes Moore signs bill creating state disaster recovery fund sponsored by Annapolis legislators". Capital Gazette. The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
  18. ^ Munro, Dana; Loock, Megan; Parker, Luke (April 11, 2023). "Anne Arundel County legislators push behavioral health, police accountability bills through Maryland General Assembly". Capital Gazette. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  19. ^ "Official 2022 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections. August 24, 2022.
  20. ^ "Official 2022 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections. December 7, 2022.

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