Joanne Benson
Maryland State Senator, District 24 since 2010. Did not run for re-election in 2026; leaves office in January 2027.
- In office
- 16 yrs
- Since 2010
- Bills became law
- 12
- 59 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 38.0%
- Chamber median 3.2%
- With party
- 99%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +0.1
- Won 2006
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Budget and Taxation
- Committee on Children, Youth and Families
- Committee on Fair Practices and State Personnel Oversight
- Special Joint Committee on Pensions
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
Certifications · Became law May 2026
Higher Education · Became law Apr 2026
Aging, Department of · Became law Apr 2026
Awareness and Outreach · Failed in the House Mar 2026
Armed Forces and Uniformed Services · Failed in committee Mar 2026
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Benson sits in the Maryland State Senate
Benson is closer to the center than 6% of the chamber's Democrats.
Closest: Karen Young, Shelly Hettleman, Cheryl Kagan
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:52 PM ET
With Benson’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Democrats99%
Black tick: the average of Democrats in the Maryland State Senate.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Benson’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Democrats.
| Date | Bill | Benson | Dem. majority | Rep. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 27, 2026 | HB 711: Data Privacy - Consumer Data, Public Records, and Message Switching System (Data Privacy… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 28–8 |
| Mar 27, 2026 | SB 594: Cannabis - Advertising - Alterations | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 38–8 |
| Mar 27, 2026 | SB 12: Residential Rental Apartments - Air-Conditioning Requirement | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 35–11 |
| Mar 27, 2026 | HB 141: State Personnel - Collective Bargaining - Graduate Assistants | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 32–11 |
| Mar 27, 2026 | HB 1249: Certified Recovery Residences - Refusing Services to Individuals Receiving… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 36–10 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Benson was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.
Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Elections
Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Maryland State Senate, District 24 | Won | — |
| 2018 | Maryland State Senate, District 24 | Won | — |
| 2014 | Maryland State Senate, District 24 | Won | — |
| 2010 | Maryland State Senate, District 24 | Won | — |
| 2006 | Maryland House of Delegates, District 24 | Won | D+0.1 |
| 2002 | Maryland House of Delegates, District 24 | Won | D+1.5 |
| 1998 | Maryland House of Delegates, District 24 | Won | Even |
| 1994 | Maryland House of Delegates, District 24 | Won | D+0.1 |
| 1990 | Maryland House of Delegates, District 24 | Won | R+0.7 |
Source: 99chambers results archive
Seats Benson has held
- Maryland State Senate, District 24 · since 2010
- Maryland House of Delegates, District 24 · 1990–2010
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Benson has run against
- Carolyn J. B. Howard (D) · 2006 general, won
- Michael L. Vaughn (D) · 2002 general, won
- Carolyn J. B. Howard (D) · 1998 general, won
- Nathaniel Exum (D) · 1994 general, won
- Sylvania W. Woods Jr. (D) · 1990 general, won
Source: 99chambers results archive
How we know Benson
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/a5a952f8-f001-4619-9056-103a1f4e4d8e
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET