Mary-Dulany James

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Mary-Dulany James
James in 2008
Member of the Maryland Senate
from the 34th district
Assumed office
January 11, 2023
Preceded byChristian Miele
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
from the 34A district
In office
January 13, 1999 – January 13, 2015
Serving with B. Daniel Riley (1999–2003, 2007–2011), Charles Boutin (1999–2005), and Glen Glass (2011–2015)
Preceded byMary Louise Preis
Succeeded byMary Ann Lisanti
ConstituencyHarford County, Cecil County
Personal details
Born (1960-02-01) February 1, 1960 (age 64)
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Children3
Parent
ResidenceMaryland
Alma materUniversity of Maryland, College Park (BS)
University of Maryland School of Law (JD)
OccupationAttorney
Signature
WebsiteCampaign website

Mary-Dulany James (born February 1, 1960) is an American politician who has represented District 34 in the Maryland Senate since 2023. She was previously a member of the District 34A in the Maryland House of Delegates for sixteen years, representing Harford and Cecil Counties along the U.S. Route 40 corridor. Mary-Dulany James represented district 34A, formerly district 34, for 16 years having first been elected in 1998.

In 2014 and 2018, James unsuccessfully ran for the Maryland Senate in District 34. In 2022, she launched her third bid for the state senate seat, this time defeating Deputy Secretary of the Maryland Department of Disabilities and former state delegate Christian Miele in the general election.

Early life and education[edit]

James was born in Baltimore, Maryland, to father William S. James, then a state senator for Harford County, and mother Margaret James, a homemaker.[1] She grew up and still lives on her family's farm in Harford County, and attended Havre De Grace High School and the University of Maryland, College Park where she earned a B.S. in psychology with honors in 1981. James attended the University of Maryland School of Law, earning a Juris Doctor degree with honors in 1986. While studying for the bar exam, she clerked for Judge Edward Skottowe Northrop in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. She was admitted to Maryland Bar in 1986. She worked for law firms in Baltimore, then set up her own practice in Harford County where she lived.[2]

Political career[edit]

Maryland House of Delegates[edit]

James ran for the Maryland House of Delegates in 1998, seeking to replace one of two outgoing state delegates in District 34 (Mary Louise Preis and Nancy Jacobs, both of whom ran for state senate).[3] She won the Democratic primary with 22 percent of the vote,[4] and later won the general election on November 3, 1998, with 18 percent of the vote.[5] James was re-elected to the newly redistricted District 34A (Harford and Cecil counties)[6] in 2002, and was subsequently re-elected in 2006, and 2010.

Committee assignments[edit]

  • Member, Appropriations Committee, 1999-2014
    • oversight committee on personnel, 1999–2003
    • oversight committee on program open space & agricultural land preservation, 1999–2002
    • vice-chair, transportation & the environment subcommittee, 2003–2006, member, 1999–2006
    • chair, oversight committee on pensions, 2003–2006, member, 2003-2014
    • chair, health & human resources subcommittee, 2007-2014
  • Joint Subcommittee on Program Open Space and Agricultural Preservation, 2003–2015
  • Special Joint Committee on Pensions, 2003–Present, house chair, 2003–2006
  • Member, Joint Committee on Base Realignment and Closure, 2007–2011
  • Member, Joint Committee on the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area, 2003–07
  • Chair, Harford County Delegation, 2001–02, vice-chair, 1999–2000
  • Member, Maryland Green Caucus, 1999-2014
  • Member, Women Legislators of Maryland, 1999–2015, co-chair, legislative committee, 2005–2015
  • Member Maryland Rural Caucus, 2002-2014
  • Maryland Bicycle and Pedestrian Caucus, 2003-2014
  • Maryland Veterans Caucus, 2005-2014
  • Member, National Conference of State Legislatures
    • Member, economic development, trade & cultural affairs committee, 2005–2007
    • Member, labor & economic development committee, 2007–2015[2]

Maryland Senate[edit]

Elections[edit]

2014
A photo of Mary-Dulany James standing in front of the U.S. flag
Mary-Dulany James in 2014

In June 2013, James said that she was considering a run for the Maryland Senate in District 34, after state senator Nancy Jacobs said she would not run for re-election in 2014.[7] At the time, James was the only Democratic member of the Harford County delegation.[8] James filed to run for the state senate seat in November 2013,[9] and faced former state senator Art Helton in the Democratic primary,[10][11] who she defeated in the June 2014 primary election by a 2-to-1 margin.[12] She faced Republican challenger Bob Cassilly in the general election, and sought to position herself as an independent Democrat, noting her votes against gas- and sales-tax increases.[13] James was defeated by Cassilly in the general election on November 3, 2014, receiving 42.7 percent of the vote to Cassilly's 57.2 percent.

2018

In 2018, James filed to run for the Maryland Senate in District 34, seeking a rematch between her and incumbent state senator Bob Cassilly.[14] She faced former state delegate Barbara Osborn Kreamer in the Democratic primary election,[15] which she won by a 3-to-1 margin. James lost to Cassilly in a tight general election on November 6, 2018, receiving 49.7 percent of the vote to Cassilly's 50.1 percent,[16] or by a 189 vote margin out of 48,788 votes cast.[17]

2022

In January 2022, James launched her third bid for the Maryland Senate in District 34, seeking to succeed state senator Bob Cassilly, who ran for Harford County executive in 2022.[18] She defeated state delegate Mary Ann Lisanti in the Democratic primary election on July 19, 2022, by a 2-to-1 margin, and faced Republican challenger Christian Miele in the general election.[19]

In the general election, James received financial support from President of the Maryland Senate Bill Ferguson and the Senate Democratic Caucus.[20] She also accused her opponent, Republican Christian Miele, of being a carpetbagger, noting that he previously represented Baltimore County in the Maryland House of Delegates before moving to Harford County.[21] James defeated Miele in a tight general election on November 8, receiving 50.55 percent of the vote to Miele's 49.24 percent, or by a margin of 591 votes out of 45,223 votes cast. She is the first Democrat to represent District 34 in the Maryland Senate since 1994.[22][23]

Tenure[edit]

James in the Judicial Proceedings Committee, 2024

James was sworn into the Maryland Senate on January 11, 2023.[2] She is a member of the Judicial Proceedings Committee and the Executive Nominations Committee.[24]

Personal life[edit]

James was married to her husband, Brian Feeney,[25] before the two divorced. Together, they had three children[13] and lived in Havre de Grace, Maryland.[26]

On September 30, 2018, James' daughter, Evelyn Ann James Feeney, suddenly died. This led to James stopping all campaign activities leading up to the general election.[27]

Political positions[edit]

While in the Maryland House of Delegates, James was considered a moderate to conservative Democrat.[7] In January 2012, she formed a Blue Dog caucus in the state legislature along with other centrist Democratic members of the Maryland House of Delegates.[28]

Energy[edit]

In February 2013, James voted for a bill that would allow a surcharge of up to $2 a month on residential natural gas bills to pay for new pipelines and distribution system upgrades. The bill passed the Maryland House of Delegates by a vote of 119-18, and later passed the state senate by a vote of 34-13.[29]

Gun control[edit]

During the 2013 legislative session, James was one of 18 Democratic state delegates to vote against the Firearm Safety Act of 2013, a bill that placed restrictions on firearm purchases and magazine capacity in semi-automatic rifles.[30][31]

Healthcare[edit]

In April 2014, James expressed concerns regarding the state's overhaul of its health exchange to adopt technology from Connecticut's health exchange program, saying that there were "huge budgetary implications" in switching to the Connecticut model.[32]

Social issues[edit]

In 2005, James was one of 36 Democratic state delegates to vote for a bill that would legalize slot machines at four locations in the state. The bill passed the House of Delegates by a 71-66 vote.[33]

In 2006, James voted for a bill that would create a ballot referendum to legalize same-sex marriage in Maryland. The bill failed to pass out of the Maryland House of Delegates on a 61-78 vote.[34] In 2012, she voted against the Civil Marriage Protection Act, which legalized same-sex marriage in Maryland.[35]

Taxes[edit]

In April 2004, James was one of two Democratic state delegates to switch their no votes to yes to revive a $1 billion tax plan proposed by Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates Michael E. Busch, after House Appropriations Committee Chairman Norman Conway persuaded her to change her vote. She later defended her vote change, saying that she "thought it deserved a full hearing on the House floor".[36]

In November 2007, James voted for a bill that raised corporate and income taxes, and voted against another bill that increased the state sales tax, car tilting tax, and hotel tax.[37]

In May 2012, James was one of 18 Democratic state delegates to vote against a bill that raised $300 million in tax hikes.[38]

In March 2013, James was one of 22 Democratic state delegates to vote against a bill that would raise the state's gas tax and index future increases to inflation to replenish the state's transportation fund.[39]

Unions[edit]

In March 2010, James said she opposed a bill that would give collective bargaining rights to librarians, saying that she thought it was inappropriate "for the state to be telling the local governments how to conduct themselves".[40]

Electoral history[edit]

Maryland House of Delegates District 34 Democratic primary election, 1998[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary-Dulany James 4,775 22
Democratic B. Daniel Riley 4,165 19
Democratic Robin Walter 3,223 15
Democratic Joseph H. Brooks 3,082 14
Democratic Joseph H. Brooks 3,082 14
Democratic Nicholas J. Paros 2,979 14
Democratic Judith Boardman Redding 2,198 10
Democratic Dion F. Guthrie 1,638 7
Maryland House of Delegates District 34 election, 1998[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary-Dulany James 18,357 18
Republican Charles Boutin 17,844 18
Democratic B. Daniel Riley 17,798 18
Republican Robert E. Shaffner 16,236 16
Democratic Robin Walter 15,370 15
Republican Michael Griffin 15,207 15
Maryland House of Delegates District 34A election, 2002[41]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Charles Boutin (incumbent) 11,182 34.79
Democratic Mary-Dulany James (incumbent) 10,947 34.06
Democratic B. Daniel Riley (incumbent) 9,957 30.98
Write-in 59 0.18
Maryland House of Delegates District 34A election, 2006[42]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary-Dulany James (incumbent) 12,903 31.7
Democratic B. Daniel Riley 11,121 27.3
Republican Glen Glass 8,554 21.0
Republican Sheryl Davis Kohl (incumbent) 8,085 19.9
Write-in 22 0.1
Maryland House of Delegates District 34A election, 2006[43]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary-Dulany James (incumbent) 12,639 29.2
Republican Glen Glass 10,931 25.3
Republican Patrick McGrady 9,889 22.9
Democratic Marla Posey-Moss 9,745 22.5
Write-in 51 0.1
Maryland Senate District 34 Democratic primary election, 2014[44]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary-Dulany James 4,705 61.1
Democratic Arthur Henry Helton, Jr. 2,997 38.9
Maryland Senate District 34 election, 2014[45]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bob Cassilly 22,042 57.2
Democratic Mary-Dulany James 16,459 42.7
Write-in 62 0.2
Maryland Senate District 34 Democratic primary election, 2018[46]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary-Dulany James 5,812 74.1
Democratic Barbara Osborn Kreamer 2,027 25.9
Maryland Senate District 34 election, 2018[47]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bob Cassilly (incumbent) 24,445 50.1
Democratic Mary-Dulany James 24,256 49.7
Write-in 87 0.2
Maryland Senate District 34 Democratic primary election, 2022[48]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary-Dulany James 6,598 65.6
Democratic Mary Ann Lisanti 3,453 34.4
Maryland Senate District 34 election, 2022[49]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary-Dulany James 22,858 50.55
Republican Christian Miele 22,267 49.24
Write-in 98 0.22

References[edit]

  1. ^ Rasmussen, Frederick N. (March 21, 2009). "Margaret H. James, tended family's farm". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "Mary-Dulany James, Maryland State Senator". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. July 28, 2023. Archived from the original on August 7, 2023. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
  3. ^ Zorzi, William F. Jr. (June 23, 1998). "Harriet's List backs 6 Democrats Money: The abortion-rights PAC has selected six women to support in this year's General Assembly races and is looking for more candidates to endorse. The fund raising begins next week". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "1998 Gubernatorial Primary Election Results". Maryland State Board of Elections. October 24, 2000. Archived from the original on May 29, 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  5. ^ a b "1998 Gubernatorial General Election Results". Maryland State Board of Elections. October 24, 2000. Archived from the original on July 27, 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  6. ^ "LEGISLATIVE ELECTION DISTRICTS". Maryland Archives. Archived from the original on 2014-09-05. Retrieved 2014-07-03. Retrieved on July 3, 2014
  7. ^ a b Dresser, Michael (June 18, 2013). "James considering run for Jacobs' seat". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  8. ^ Anderson, David (March 6, 2013). "Harford legislators fighting to stop gun control bill". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  9. ^ Lazarick, Len (November 5, 2013). "General Assembly contests: Monthly update on filings, announcements". MarylandReporter.com. Archived from the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  10. ^ "Many Harford election races fill as 9 p.m. Tuesday deadline passes". The Baltimore Sun. February 25, 2014. Archived from the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  11. ^ Bauer-Wolf, Jeremy (June 12, 2014). "Campaign for Harford County Senate seat turns nasty". MarylandReporter.com. Archived from the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  12. ^ Zumer, Bryna (June 25, 2014). "James takes big lead over Helton for District 34 senate nomination". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  13. ^ a b Wood, Pamela (October 11, 2014). "Familiar names vie for open Senate seat in Harford". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  14. ^ Anderson, David; Vought, Allan (February 28, 2018). "Harford candidates rush to file for primary election, Perrone challenges Glassman in GOP county executive primary". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  15. ^ Kurtz, Josh (February 28, 2018). "Candidate Filing Deadline: The Night of the Living Dead". Maryland Matters. Archived from the original on December 5, 2022. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  16. ^ Anderson, David (November 14, 2018). "Incumbent Harford Del. Glen Glass anticipates defeat as challenger Steve Johnson's lead widens". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  17. ^ Gaines, Danielle E. (November 18, 2018). "With Absentee Ballots Counted, Democrats Run Up Their House Majority". Maryland Matters. Archived from the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  18. ^ Gaskill, Hannah; Kurtz, Josh (January 28, 2022). "Lisanti Enters Contested Race for Harford County Senate Seat". Maryland Matters. Archived from the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  19. ^ Kurtz, Josh (July 22, 2022). "Speaker's preferred candidate leading in open-seat Senate race — plus, other Senate results". Maryland Matters. Archived from the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  20. ^ Kurtz, Josh (August 18, 2022). "With an eye toward the next four years, Ferguson raises money aggressively for himself and his colleagues". Maryland Matters. Archived from the original on December 23, 2022. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  21. ^ Kurtz, Josh (September 1, 2022). "A look at the latest fundraising in a dozen competitive legislative districts". Maryland Matters. Archived from the original on January 31, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  22. ^ Fontelieu, Jason (November 23, 2022). "Democrats gain a seat in Harford County delegation as James wins District 34′s Senate seat". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on November 23, 2022. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  23. ^ Kurtz, Josh (November 18, 2022). "Dems take two more Senate seats, win Frederick County exec race". Maryland Matters. Archived from the original on December 8, 2022. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  24. ^ Kurtz, Josh (December 21, 2022). "Ferguson picks Griffith and Feldman to head two newly-reconstituted Senate panels; reshuffles committee rosters". Maryland Matters. Archived from the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  25. ^ Fenton, Justin (May 4, 2006). "Man guilty in bid to rob spouse of delegate". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  26. ^ Zumer, Bryna (February 20, 2014). "Harford's Lisanti runs for legislature; Jennings, Glass, McComas hope to keep seats". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  27. ^ Vought, Allan (November 16, 2018). "Final canvass doesn't change three close Harford County election races". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  28. ^ Dresser, Michael (January 12, 2012). "Centrist House Democrats forming Blue Dog group". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  29. ^ "Natural gas fee supported by most Harford legislators". The Baltimore Sun. February 11, 2013. Archived from the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  30. ^ Anderson, David (April 30, 2013). "Harford GOP legislators, gun rights backers, candidates turn out for Bel Air rally Saturday". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  31. ^ Wagner, John (April 3, 2013). "How the Maryland House of Delegates voted on gun-control legislation". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 10, 2017. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  32. ^ Cohn, Meredith; Cox, Erin; Walker, Andrea K. (April 5, 2014). "Maryland lawmakers cautious about new health exchange". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  33. ^ "A Breakdown of the House Vote". The Washington Post. February 26, 2005. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  34. ^ Brewington, Kelly (February 4, 2006). "House rejects reviving gay marriage measure". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  35. ^ "How the Md. House voted on same-sex marriage". The Baltimore Sun. February 18, 2012. Archived from the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  36. ^ Craig, Tim; Montgomery, Lori (April 1, 2004). "Busch's Bold Tax Plan Makes Heads Swim". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  37. ^ Green, Andy (November 13, 2007). "Roll calls on House tax bills". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  38. ^ Lazarick, Len (May 16, 2012). "House passes final budget and tax hikes, with some Democrats opposed". MarylandReporter.com. Archived from the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  39. ^ Wagner, John (March 22, 2013). "How the Maryland House voted on transportation funding". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on December 8, 2020. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  40. ^ Lazarick, Len (March 10, 2010). "Counties resist union for librarians". MarylandReporter.com. Archived from the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  41. ^ "2002 Gubernatorial General - Official Results". Maryland State Board of Elections. December 2, 2002. Archived from the original on May 29, 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  42. ^ "Official 2006 Gubernatorial General Election results for Legislative District 34A". Maryland State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 2023-01-02. Retrieved 2023-01-02.
  43. ^ "Official 2010 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 2022-10-14. Retrieved 2023-01-02.
  44. ^ "Official 2014 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for State Senator". Maryland State Board of Elections. July 16, 2014. Archived from the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  45. ^ "Official 2014 Gubernatorial General Election results for State Senator". Maryland State Board of Elections. December 2, 2014. Archived from the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  46. ^ "Official 2018 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for State Senator". Maryland State Board of Elections. July 31, 2018. Archived from the original on January 29, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  47. ^ "Official 2018 Gubernatorial General Election results for State Senator". Maryland State Board of Elections. December 11, 2018. Archived from the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  48. ^ "Official 2022 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for State Senator". Maryland State Board of Elections. August 24, 2022. Archived from the original on February 2, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  49. ^ "Official 2022 Gubernatorial General Election results for State Senator". Maryland State Board of Elections. December 7, 2022. Archived from the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2023.

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