Kathy Szeliga
Kathy Szeliga | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the 7th district | |
| Assumed office January 12, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | J. B. Jennings |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 10, 1961 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Mark (1980–present) |
| Alma mater | Towson University |
| Website | house%20website |
Kathy Szeliga (born October 10, 1961) is an American Republican member of the Maryland House of Delegates, serving since January 12, 2011 and as Minority Whip since 2013. Szeliga is the Republican nominee for the United States Senate in 2016 to replace Barbara Mikulski, who is retiring.[1]
Background
Szeliga was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in October 1961. She is of Polish descent.[2] She was raised in a military family, her father being a lieutenant colonel in the US Army. Szeliga married her husband in 1980, and the couple struggled financially at first. Szeliga worked as a dishwasher, a maid, and a housekeeper. She entered college in her 30s, enrolling at Towson State University and graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education. She began working as a teacher in Baltimore City Public Schools and started a construction business with her husband. She began her political career after a family friend, James M. Kelly, was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates. She worked as a legislative aide to Del. James M. Kelly, then for Del. John G. Trueschler, and eventually became chief of staff for then-State Senator Andy Harris. Szeliga decided to run for Delegate after Del. J. B. Jennings decided to run for State Senate. She was elected and immediately placed on the Appropriations Committee.[3][4][5][6][7]
In the legislature
Szeliga serves on the Environment and Transportation Committee (since 2015), Rules and Executive Nominations Committee (since 2014), and Legislative Policy Committee (since 2015). She was previously a member of the Appropriations Committee (2011–15), House Emergency Medical Services System Work Group (2012), and Joint Committee on the Selection of the State Treasurer (2015). She is a member of the Women Legislators of Maryland Caucus (since 2011), Maryland Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus (since 2012), and Maryland Veterans Caucus (since 2012).[3]
In April 2013, Delegate Szeliga was elected into leadership by her peers and serves as the Whip in the House Republican Caucus. She serves with Leader Nic Kipke of Anne Arundel County. Szeliga is the highest-ranking Republican woman in Maryland's state legislature and has been described as one of the most powerful female politicians in the state.[8][9]
US Senate campaign
Delegate Szeliga announced in November 2015 that she would be running for the Republican nomination to replace Senator Barbara Mikulski in the 2016 US Senate election in Maryland.[10] She was the first Republican in the 2016 Senate primary to release ads on television.[11] On April 15, Citizens United announced they had bought $25,000 worth of radio airtime to promote Del. Szeliga ahead of the April 26 primary.[12] Szeliga won the primary on April 26, 2016, and will face Representative Chris Van Hollen in the general election on November 8, 2016.[13]
Election results
- 2014 election for Maryland House of Delegates – District 7[14]
- Voters to choose three:
Name Votes Percent Outcome Pat McDonough, Rep. 35,627 26.9% Won Kathy Szeliga, Rep. 33,197 25.0% Won Richard Impallaria, Rep. 32,560 24.6% Won Bob Bowle, Jr., Dem. 11,154 8.4% Lost Norman Gifford, Jr., Dem. 10,192 7.7% Lost Pete Definbaugh, Dem. 9,707 7.3% Lost Other Write-Ins 145 0.1% Lost
- 2010 election for Maryland House of Delegates – District 7[15]
- Voters to choose three:
Name Votes Percent Outcome Richard Impallaria, Rep. 27,217 23.1% Won Pat McDonough, Rep. 25,450 21.6% Won Kathy Szeliga, Rep. 24,573 20.9% Won Jeff Beard, Dem. 14,885 12.6% Lost Kristina A. Sargent, Dem. 13,551 11.5% Lost James Ward Morrow, Dem. 11,960 10.2% Lost Other Write-Ins 111 0.1% Lost
References
- ^ Gaudiano, Nicole (March 2, 2015). "Longtime Sen. Barbara Mikulski to retire". USA Today. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
- ^ http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/2016-senate-race/bs-md-kathy-szeliga-senate-profile-20160421-story.html
- ^ a b "Kathy Szeliga, Maryland State Delegate". Msa.maryland.gov. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
- ^ "Kathy Szeliga, Republican everywoman, says she brings business experience, blue-collar background". Baltimore Sun. April 21, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
- ^ "Kathy Szeliga wins GOP Senate nomination". Baltimore Sun. April 26, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
- ^ "Harford 2010: The Dagger's Top Ten Stories Of The Year". Dagger Press. December 30, 2010. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
- ^ "House of Delegates committee assignments are in". Baltimore Sun. December 30, 2010. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
- ^ "Kathy Szeliga Brings Experience and Dedication to U.S. Senate Campaign". Montgomery County GOP. April 3, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
- ^ "Important Down-Ticket Primaries Tomorrow". Red State. April 25, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
- ^ Dresser, Michael (November 10, 2015). "Kathy Szeliga joins Senate race, seeking Mikulski's seat". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved April 15, 2016.
- ^ Fritze, John (April 7, 2016). "Kathy Szeliga airs first ad in GOP Senate primary race". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved April 15, 2016.
- ^ Nirappil, Fenit (April 15, 2016). "Citizens United airs Md. radio ads backing GOP Senate candidate Kathy Szeliga". Washington Post. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
- ^ Press, Associated (April 26, 2016). "Del. Kathy Szeliga wins the Republican nomination for open U.S. Senate seat". ABC 2 Baltimore. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
- ^ "Official 2014 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates Legislative District 7". Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
- ^ "Official 2010 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates Legislative District 7". Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved February 23, 2016.