Shaneka Henson
Shaneka Henson (Democratic Party) is a member of the Maryland State Senate, representing District 30. She assumed office on January 8, 2025. Her current term ends on January 13, 2027.
Henson (Democratic Party) is running for re-election to the Maryland State Senate to represent District 30. She declared candidacy for the Democratic primary scheduled on June 23, 2026.[source]
Gov. Wes Moore (D) appointed Henson to the Maryland State Senate District 30 on January 8, 2025, to replace Sarah Elfreth.[1]
Biography
Shaneka Henson was born in Annapolis, Maryland. She received a bachelor's degree from Coppin State University in 2006 and a J.D. from the University of Baltimore School of Law in 2010. Henson's professional experience includes founding a law firm in 2020 and working as an attorney for the Maryland Office of Attorney General and the YWCA of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County.[2]
Committee assignments
2025-2026
Henson was assigned to the following committees:
2023-2024
Henson was assigned to the following committees:
2021-2022
Henson was assigned to the following committees:
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2026
See also: Maryland State Senate elections, 2026
General election
The primary will occur on June 23, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.
Democratic primary
Democratic primary for Maryland State Senate District 30
Incumbent Shaneka Henson (D) is running in the Democratic primary for Maryland State Senate District 30 on June 23, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Shaneka Henson | |
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 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Dana Jones (D)
Republican primary
Republican primary for Maryland State Senate District 30
Jessica Haire (R) is running in the Republican primary for Maryland State Senate District 30 on June 23, 2026.
Candidate | ||
| Jessica Haire | ||
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Endorsements
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2022
See also: Maryland House of Delegates elections, 2022
General election
General election for Maryland House of Delegates District 30A (2 seats)
Incumbent Shaneka Henson and incumbent Dana Jones defeated Doug Rathell and Rob Seyfferth in the general election for Maryland House of Delegates District 30A on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Shaneka Henson (D) | 32.1 | 20,364 |
| ✔ |  | Dana Jones (D) | 31.1 | 19,710 |
| Doug Rathell (R) | 20.4 | 12,948 | ||
| Rob Seyfferth (R) | 16.3 | 10,366 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 66 | ||
| Total votes: 63,454 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Maryland House of Delegates District 30A (2 seats)
Incumbent Shaneka Henson and incumbent Dana Jones advanced from the Democratic primary for Maryland House of Delegates District 30A on July 19, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Shaneka Henson | 52.2 | 8,665 |
| ✔ | | Dana Jones | 47.8 | 7,925 |
| Total votes: 16,590 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Maryland House of Delegates District 30A (2 seats)
Doug Rathell and Rob Seyfferth advanced from the Republican primary for Maryland House of Delegates District 30A on July 19, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Doug Rathell | 53.1 | 3,883 | |
| ✔ | Rob Seyfferth | 46.9 | 3,434 | |
| Total votes: 7,317 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- John Ortlieb (R)
- Stacie MacDonald (R)
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
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2022
Shaneka Henson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Henson's responses.
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Henson was previously a member of the Annapolis City Council representing Ward 6 from December 4, 2017 to April 29, 2019. In June 2017 Henson was endorsed by the Maryland League of Conservation Voters followed by a coveted endorsement from the Sierra Club in October 2017.
In 2020, Henson sponsored a bill that took effect October 1, 2020 that would allow incarcerated parents to have their child support order frozen while imprisoned if they are serving a jail sentence of 180 days or more. Prior to the law's passing, the threshold was 18 months. Henson introduced a bill that took effect October 1, 2020 to close a loophole in state law allowing the City of Annapolis to avoid the responsibility for inspecting and licensing public housing units like other rentals in the city.
In June 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic, Henson accepted an appointment to Attorney General Brian Frosh's Access to Justice Housing Affordability Task Force to combat the anticipated surge in evictions and foreclosures resulting from job losses. In January 2021 Speaker Adrienne Jones appointed Henson to the Maryland Sexual Assault Evidence Kit Policy and Funding Committee ("SAEK Committee").
In 2020, Henson founded a law firm based in Annapolis, MD.- As an elected official since 2017, Shaneka Henson entered the Maryland House of Delegates after the passing of Maryland's beloved former Speaker Mike Busch. Her bold and passionate leadership is here to pave the way and change the narrative in Annapolis.
- In 2019, Annapolis native Shaneka Henson joined Maryland's House of Delegates succeeding the late former Speaker Michael E. Busch. Learn more about the trial attorney and former Alderwoman who's family values make her a passionate and bright leader. Visit www.shanekahenson.com
- Our Delegate Fights for Us!
Shaneka Henson believes that safe, affordable, and non-discriminatory housing for all is a human right. Henson fights for public and private expansion of affordable housing implemented with sustainable, smart growth strategies.
Health Care
Shaneka Henson is a passionate advocate for open and equitable access to health and wellness resources/services. Delegate Henson fights for health education, growth and preservation of public parks, workplace safety, and preventative care. She pushes for expansions to public healthcare and access to healthcare for all.
Environment
Shaneka Henson is proud to support and push for the use of clean & renewable energy, water quality regulations aligned with the Chesapeake Bay "pollution diet" and air quality standards (indoor and atmospheric) that sustain healthy communities. Henson believes supporting a healthy environment is critical to civilization worldwide.
Education
Shaneka Henson fights for every student's opportunity to access high quality education regardless of their zip-code and family status. Henson tackles opportunity gaps in the education system head-on and fights to ensure that all students are prepared for success.
Public Safety
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Maryland General Assembly in 2025.
- Maryland Free Enterprise Foundation — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Maryland Humane Scorecard — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to animal issues.
- Maryland League of Conservation Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- Maryland Legislative Coalition — Legislators are scored their voting record, committee efficiency, and individual initiative.
- The Freedom Index — Legislators are scored on their adherence to the limited government principles of the U.S. Constitution.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Maryland General Assembly in 2024.
- Maryland Free Enterprise Foundation — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Maryland Humane Scorecard — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to animal issues.
- Maryland League of Conservation Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- Maryland Legislative Coalition — Legislators are scored their voting record, committee efficiency, and individual initiative.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Maryland General Assembly in 2023.
- Maryland Free Enterprise Foundation — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Maryland Humane Scorecard — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to animal issues.
- Maryland League of Conservation Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- Maryland Legislative Coalition — Legislators are scored their voting record, committee efficiency, and individual initiative.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Maryland General Assembly in 2022.
- Maryland Community Solar Now — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to the support and expansion of the state's solar pilot program.
- Maryland Free Enterprise Foundation — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Maryland Humane Scorecard — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to animal issues.
- Maryland League of Conservation Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- Maryland Legislative Coalition — Legislators are scored their voting record, committee efficiency, and individual initiative.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Maryland General Assembly in 2021.
- Maryland Community Solar Now — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to the support and expansion of the state's solar pilot program.
- Maryland Free Enterprise Foundation — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Maryland League of Conservation Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- Maryland Legislative Coalition — Legislators are scored their voting record, committee efficiency, and individual initiative.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Maryland General Assembly in 2020.
- Maryland Free Enterprise Foundation — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Maryland League of Conservation Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- Maryland Public Interest Research Group — Legislators are scored on their votes on issues related to consumer interests.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Maryland General Assembly in 2019.
- Maryland Free Enterprise Foundation — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Maryland League of Conservation Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- Maryland Public Interest Research Group — Legislators are scored on their votes on issues related to consumer interests.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Maryland Matters, "Anne Arundel Democrats recommend Del. Henson to replace Elfreth in state Senate," January 4, 2025
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 5, 2021
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sarah Elfreth (D) |
Maryland State Senate District 30 2025-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by Michael Busch (D) |
Maryland House of Delegates District 30A 2019-2025 |
Succeeded by Dylan Behler (D) |
