Upcoming Senate changes for 2023

The Senate also saw a series of departures at the end of the 2022 legislative session, including two of its most-revered octogenarians and leaders, Delores Kelley, who chaired the Finance Committee, and Ron

Young, the chair of the Executive Nominations Committee.

Del. Benjamin Brooks will replace Kelley as the representative of District 10 in Baltimore County, which includes Reisterstown and Randallstown. Kelley served in the General Assembly for 27 years. Young, who served for 11 years, will be replaced by his wife, Del. Karen Lewis-Young, representing Frederick City in the Senate.

Senate President Bill Ferguson has yet to appoint new chairs to replace Kelley and Young.

Sen. George Edwards, a Republican representing District 1, which includes Cumberland, Oakland and other areas in Allegany, Garrett and Washington counties, will be replaced by Republican Del. Mike McKay. Prince George’s County Sen. Obie Patterson, a Democrat who represents Oxon Hill, Fort Washington and other communities in District 26, will be succeeded by C. Anthony Muse.

Both Edwards, who served in the legislature for 39 years, and Patterson, who served 16 nonconsecutive years, chose to retire at the end of the term.

Harford County Sen. Bob Cassilly also chose not to seek a third term in the Senate and secured his new position as county executive in a landslide victory.

Cassilly, a Republican, will be replaced by Democrat Mary-Dulany James as the senator for Havre de Grace, Aberdeen, Edgewood and other areas in District 34.

Frederick County Sen. Mike Hough, a Republican, gave up his seat to pursue an unsuccessful bid for county executive. He lost to Democrat Jessica Fitzwater on a razor-thin margin of 49.5% to 50.4%.

Bill Folden, a Republican, will take Hough’s seat as the Senate’s representative of District 4, which includes Adamstown, Walkersville and New Market.