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Jazz Lewis
Lewis in 2023
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
from the 24th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
February 10, 2017
Appointed byLarry Hogan
Preceded byMichael L. Vaughn
Personal details
Born
Jazz M. Lewis

(1989-02-26) February 26, 1989 (age 35)
Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Children2
EducationUniversity of Maryland, College Park (BA, MPP)
Signature

Jazz M. Lewis (born February 26, 1989) is an American politician and Democratic member of the Maryland House of Delegates.[1] Lewis represents Maryland's 24th district, and is currently serving as House Majority Whip.[2]

Early life and education

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Lewis was born in Silver Spring, Maryland. He graduated from Charles Herbert Flowers High School and later attended the University of Maryland, College Park, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science in 2011 and a Master of Public Policy degree in acquisition management and international development in 2014.[1]

Political career

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Lewis first entered politics as a campus organizer, organizing students in a protest against a proposed tuition increase.[3] After graduating, he joined the Service Employees International Union as a community organizer.[4] In 2012, he worked as a regional field director for Ben Cardin's Senate campaign.[5] After graduating, he became a community organizer for the Good Jobs Better Baltimore campaign.[6] Lewis also worked for U.S. Representative Steny Hoyer, first as a field director before becoming an executive director in July 2015. During the 2016 presidential primaries, he worked as the Maryland political director for former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.[5][7]

On January 11, 2017, state delegate Michael L. Vaughn resigned from the Maryland House of Delegates, citing unspecified health issues.[8] Lewis applied to fill the vacancy left by Vaughn's resignation, and was nominated by the Prince George's County Democratic Central Committee on January 24.[9][10]

In the legislature

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Lewis was appointed to the Maryland House of Delegates by Governor Larry Hogan on February 10, 2017, and was sworn in on the same day.[11][12] He was subsequently elected for a full term in 2018, and re-elected in 2022. In September 2019, House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones named Lewis as the chair of the House Democratic Caucus.[13] In January 2023, Jones named him as the House Majority Whip, succeeding then-delegate Talmadge Branch.[2]

From 2019 until October 2021, Lewis worked as a senior policy advisor to House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer.[4]

Lewis was an at-large delegate to the 2024 Democratic National Convention, pledged to Kamala Harris.[14]

Committee assignments

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Jazz Lewis sits in front of a laptop during a House Appropriations Committee hearing
Lewis has served as a member of the Appropriations Committee since 2021.
  • Member, Appropriations Committee, 2021–present (transportation & the environment subcommittee, 2021–present; oversight committee on pensions, 2021–2022; capital budget subcommittee, 2023–present; chair, oversight committee on personnel, 2023–present)[1]
  • Rules and Executive Nominations Committee, 2023–present[1]
  • Joint Committee on Legislative Information Technology and Open Government, 2017–present[1]
  • Member, Judiciary Committee, 2017–2020 (chair, family law subcommittee, 2019–2020, member, 2017–2020; member, public safety subcommittee, 2019–2020)[1]

2022 congressional candidacy

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See also: 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Maryland § District 4

In October 2021, Lewis announced his candidacy for Maryland's 4th congressional district, seeking to succeed outgoing Representative Anthony Brown, who was a candidate for Attorney General.[15] During the primary, he was endorsed by House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer[16] and U.S. Representative Ritchie Torres.[17] He withdrew his candidacy on April 14, 2022, saying that he would seek another term in the House of Delegates in lieu of a congressional bid.[18]

Political positions

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Lewis has described himself as "unabashedly a progressive" who is also a "consensus-maker".[4] During his 2022 congressional campaign, Lewis told Jewish Insider that he did not express a desire to align with The Squad, but hoped to befriend and work with its members.[4]

Criminal justice and policing

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During the 2018 legislative session, Lewis introduced a bill that would limit restrictive housing and its use for vulnerable members of the prison population, including pregnant women, older prisoners, and those with disabilities.[19] He reintroduced the bill during the 2019 and 2020 legislative sessions.[20]

In 2019, Lewis said he opposed a controversial bill that would allow Johns Hopkins University to employ its own private police force. After realizing the bill had the votes to pass, he introduced a series of amendments to hold the police force accountable. The bill passed with the amendments.[4]

Also in 2019, Lewis introduced a bill that would require the Department of Legislative Services to prepare racial impact statements on bills creating or modifying misdemeanor and felony offenses. He later worked with legislative leaders Adrienne A. Jones and Bill Ferguson to initiate a pilot program requiring racial impact statements on criminal justice bills in 2021.[21][22]

In June 2020, Lewis pledged to stop taking campaign contributions from the Fraternal Order of Police.[23]

In July 2020, Lewis was appointed to represent the Maryland House of Delegates on the Law Enforcement Body Camera Task Force, a committee tasked with helping jurisdictions utilize police body cameras.[24] During the 2023 legislative session, Lewis introduced a bill that would require the Maryland Department of General Services to negotiate affordable police body camera contracts for police departments with small budgets.[25]

During the 2021 legislative session, Lewis introduced the Juvenile Restoration Act, a bill that would end life without parole sentences for juvenile offenders.[26][27] The bill passed the Maryland House of Delegates and the Maryland Senate, but was vetoed by Governor Larry Hogan; the veto was overridden by the Maryland General Assembly during the 2022 legislative session.[28][29]

During his 2022 House campaign, Lewis said he supported the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, calling it one of his priorities.[4] Also in 2022, he introduced the New Start Act, a bill that would offer small business loans and training to individuals who were formerly incarcerated and wanted to start a new business.[30]

Foreign policy

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Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Lewis traveled to Israel with the American Israel Education Foundation. He later encouraged progressive members of the U.S. House of Representatives who are critical of Israel to visit the country.[4]

In November 2021, Lewis called Israel "one of our core friends" and said that he supported increasing U.S. foreign aid to Israel. He also said that he would have voted for a bill providing supplemental funding to Israel's Iron Dome missile-defense system, which passed by a 420-9 vote.[4]

Health care

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During the 2021 legislative session, Lewis introduced a bill to establish five Health Equity Resource Communities, each tasked with reducing disparities in the incidence and treatment of diseases, funded by a one percent increase in the state's alcohol tax.[31][32]

During his 2022 congressional campaign, Lewis said he supported a single-payer health care system and expanding access to mental health services.[33]

Marijuana

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Lewis supported 2022 Maryland Question 4, a ballot referendum to legalize recreational marijuana in Maryland, voting to pass legislation creating the referendum during the 2022 legislative session[34] and later encouraging his constituents to vote for legalization in October 2022.[35] He had previously sponsored legislation to legalize cannabis during the 2021 legislative session, which failed to move out of committee.[36][37][38]

National politics

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In January 2021, Lewis condemned comments made by state delegate Dan Cox during the January 6 United States Capitol attack, replying to a post Cox made on Twitter with "Dan, you are better than this. Please don't cosign this lawlessness."[39]

Social issues

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In 2019, Lewis voted to advance a bill that would lift a ban on candidates running in Prince George's County county-level political races from accepting developer contributions.[40]

During the 2021 legislative session, Lewis introduced a bill that would remove all flavored tobacco products from the market.[41]

Personal life

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Lewis is married and lives in Glenarden, Maryland. Together, he and his wife have a son and a daughter.[42][43]

Electoral history

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Maryland House of Delegates District 24 Democratic primary election, 2018[44]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Erek Barron (incumbent) 9,939 20.3
Democratic Jazz Lewis (incumbent) 8,513 17.4
Democratic Andrea Fletcher Harrison 7,111 14.5
Democratic LaTasha R. Ward 5,685 11.6
Democratic Maurice Simpson, Jr. 3,726 7.6
Democratic Marnitta L. King 3,481 7.1
Democratic Michelle R. Wright 3,297 6.7
Democratic Sia Finoh 2,405 4.9
Democratic Donjuan "DJ" Williams 1,789 3.7
Democratic Joyce Starks 1,780 3.6
Democratic Delaneo Miller 1,166 2.4
Maryland House of Delegates District 24 general election, 2018[45]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Andrea Fletcher Harrison 38,365 36.7
Democratic Erek Barron (incumbent) 33,069 31.7
Democratic Jazz Lewis (incumbent) 32,406 31.0
Write-in 586 0.6
Maryland House of Delegates District 24 general election, 2022[46]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Tiffany T. Alston 29,212 33.6
Democratic Andrea Fletcher Harrison (incumbent) 28,880 33.2
Democratic Jazz Lewis (incumbent) 28,396 32.7
Write-in 461 0.5

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Jazz Lewis, Maryland State Delegate". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. January 9, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Gaines, Danielle E. (January 5, 2023). "Jones announces new Democratic caucus, committee leaders for 2023 General Assembly session". Maryland Matters. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  3. ^ Walker, Childs (January 1, 2010). "Budget cuts at College Park create unrest". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Deutch, Gabby (November 18, 2021). "Jazz Lewis steps out". Jewish Insider. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Organization and Staff of Hillary Clinton's 2016 Primary Campaign". P2016 Race for the White House. DemocracyInAction. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  6. ^ "93.9 WKYS 30 Under 30 2017: Jazz Lewis". WKYS. February 1, 2017. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  7. ^ Fritze, John (April 4, 2016). "Hillary Clinton names campaign staff for Maryland". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  8. ^ Wiggins, Ovetta (January 11, 2017). "Democrat Michael Vaughn of Prince George's resigns from state legislature". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  9. ^ Ford, William J. (January 25, 2017). "Jazz Lewis Tabbed for Vacant Md. Delegate Seat". The Washington Informer. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  10. ^ Clinkscales, Johnathon (February 2, 2017). "Prince George's County Democratic Central Committee nominates Jazz Lewis to represent 24th legislative district in House of Delegates". Southern Maryland News. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  11. ^ "Veteran Democratic campaign operative appointed to Maryland House". The Baltimore Sun. February 10, 2017. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  12. ^ Bell, Brad (February 10, 2017). "Md. Governor Larry Hogan appoints replacement for delegate seat". WJLA-TV. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  13. ^ Gaines, Danielle E. (September 6, 2019). "Speaker Jones Announces Dozens of Leadership, Committee Changes". Maryland Matters. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  14. ^ Kurtz, Josh (July 22, 2024). "Meet the Maryland delegates to the Democratic National Convention". Maryland Matters. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  15. ^ DePuyt, Bruce (October 26, 2021). "Glenn Ivey, Jazz Lewis Announce Bids for Anthony Brown's Seat in U.S. House". Maryland Matters. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  16. ^ Kurtz, Josh (November 8, 2021). "Hoyer Endorses Protégé Jazz Lewis for 4th District Congressional Seat". Maryland Matters. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  17. ^ Deutch, Gabby (December 5, 2021). "Ritchie Torres endorses Jazz Lewis in Maryland's 4th". Jewish Insider. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  18. ^ Flynn, Meagan (April 14, 2022). "Jazz Lewis, Hoyer's protege, drops bid to succeed Rep. Anthony Brown". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  19. ^ Cobun, Heather (December 7, 2017). "Advocacy groups seek changes to 'solitary confinement' in Md. prisons". The Daily Record. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  20. ^ Gaskill, Hannah (February 26, 2020). "Lawmakers Look to Minimize Solitary Confinement in Prisons". Maryland Matters. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  21. ^ Gaskill, Hannah (February 1, 2021). "Jones and Ferguson to Require Racial Impact Statements in Bill Analyses". Maryland Matters. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  22. ^ Wood, Pamela (February 2, 2021). "In pilot program, Maryland lawmakers to give extra scrutiny to racial equity in criminal justice legislation". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  23. ^ Gaskill, Hannah (June 16, 2020). "Annapolis, Capitol Hill Lawmakers Call for Immediate Police Reform: 'We Have Not Done Enough'". Maryland Matters. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  24. ^ DePuyt, Bruce (July 5, 2020). "'Access of Justice' Questions Will Drive New Panel on Police Body Cameras". Maryland Matters. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  25. ^ Gaskill, Hannah (February 2, 2023). "Bill to help Maryland police departments afford body cameras wins bipartisan support in the General Assembly". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  26. ^ Gaskill, Hannah (March 1, 2021). "Juvenile Restoration Act Pushes for Resentencing for Youthful Offenders". Maryland Matters. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  27. ^ Gaines, Danielle E.; Leckrone, Bennett (March 30, 2021). "House Passes Bill to End Life Without Parole For Juvenile Offenders, Allow Re-Sentencings". Maryland Matters. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  28. ^ Stole, Bryn; Wood, Pamela (April 10, 2021). "Maryland legislators pass landmark police reform package into law, overriding Gov. Hogan's vetoes". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  29. ^ Segelbaum, Dylan (October 3, 2022). "'It means everything:' How the Juvenile Restoration Act has provided a second chance for people sentenced as children to prison in Maryland". The Baltimore Banner. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  30. ^ Wilkins, Tracee (March 24, 2022). "'New Start Act' Aims to Help Formerly Incarcerated Marylanders Start Businesses". NBC Washington. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  31. ^ DePuyt, Bruce (September 14, 2020). "Lawmakers, Advocates to Unveil Program to Reduce Health Care Disparities". Maryland Matters. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  32. ^ Kurtz, Josh (September 16, 2020). "Liquor Industry Pushes Back on Tax Hike to Ease Health Disparities". Maryland Matters. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  33. ^ DePuyt, Bruce; Kurtz, Josh (February 10, 2022). "Political Notes: Elrich's Endorsements, Pippy's Plans, Segal's LG, and CD-4 News". Maryland Matters. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  34. ^ DePuyt, Bruce; Gaskill, Hannah (April 1, 2022). "With Scant Enthusiasm, Lawmakers Approve Marijuana Legalization Bills". Maryland Matters. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  35. ^ Ford, William J. (October 16, 2022). "Black activists and political leaders mobilizing to make cannabis legal in Maryland". Maryland Matters. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  36. ^ Gaskill, Hannah (February 4, 2021). "Feldman Pushes Cannabis Legalization, Ferguson Co-Signs". Maryland Matters. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  37. ^ Gaskill, Hannah (September 9, 2021). "House Panel on Cannabis Legalization Begins Work Toward an Equitable Industry". Maryland Matters. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  38. ^ Scott, Catherine (February 24, 2021). "Marijuana legalization proposed in Maryland legislature". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  39. ^ Gaskill, Hannah (January 7, 2021). "Del. Cox Arranged Buses to Violent Trump Rally, Calls Vice President a 'Traitor'". Maryland Matters. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  40. ^ Kurtz, Josh (January 25, 2019). "Bill on Prince George's Developer Contributions Advances". Maryland Matters. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  41. ^ Kurtz, Josh (November 18, 2020). "Coalition Gearing Up for Another Fight Against Flavored Tobacco". Maryland Matters. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  42. ^ Townsend, Kristina (July 20, 2023). "Jazzed Up". Prince George's Suite. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  43. ^ Lewis, Jazz (October 21, 2023). "Big news in the Lewis family!". Facebook. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  44. ^ "Official 2018 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. July 31, 2018.
  45. ^ "Official 2018 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. December 11, 2018.
  46. ^ "Official 2022 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. December 7, 2022.
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