Leaving office January 1, 2027.Lost re-election in 2026. This page switches to the former-officeholder layout when the term ends.
Joseline Peña-Melnyk
Photo: CC BY 2.0
DemocratIn office until January 1, 2027

Joseline Peña-Melnyk

Maryland State Delegate, District 21 since 2006. Lost re-election in 2026; leaves office in January 2027.

Maryland State Delegate, District 21Born 1966

In office
20 yrs
Since 2006
Bills became law
104
178 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
Votes missed
0.2%
Chamber median 2.8%
With party
100%
On votes splitting the parties
Last margin
+-0.8
Won 2022

Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:51 PM ET

Committees

As of 2026-10.

  • Legislative Policy · chair
  • Federal Action Oversight
  • Spending Affordability

Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET

Legislation

2025–2026 session · 178 sponsored · 104 became law
BillIntroCmteHouseSenateLaw
HB 1364 Public Health - Mammograms - Arterial Calcification Notice
Health · Became law May 2026
HB 1365 Health Occupations, Public Health, and Insurance - Menopause - Provider Training Coverage Requirements,…
Certifications · Became law May 2026
HB 200 Sale of Residential Real Property - Required Flood Risk Disclosure
Boundaries · Became law May 2026
HB 161 Property Tax Credit - Retail Service Station Conversions
Baltimore City · Became law May 2026
HB 552 Commission on the House of Reformation and Instruction for Colored Children - Establishment
Abuse · Became law May 2026

Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET

Voting record

2025–2026 session · placement by roll-call votes

Where Peña-Melnyk sits in the Maryland House of Delegates

Peña-Melnyk is closer to the center than 13% of the chamber's Democrats.

Dem. medianRep. medianPeña-MelnykMore liberalMore conservative

Closest: Aaron Kaufman, Jheanelle Wilkins, Emily Shetty

Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:52 PM ET

With Peña-Melnyk’s party

  • Votes with the chamber's Democrats100%

Black tick: the average of Democrats in the Maryland House of Delegates.

Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships

Key votes

Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Peña-Melnyk’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Democrats.

Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls

Career

Offices held, and every time Peña-Melnyk 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.

YearRaceResultMarginSeat+/−
2026Maryland Delegate District 21Lost—D+57.1—
2022Maryland House of Delegates, District 21WonR+0.8——
2018Maryland House of Delegates, District 21WonR+0.6——
2014Maryland House of Delegates, District 21WonR+2.0——
2010Maryland House of Delegates, District 21WonR+0.7——
2006Maryland House of Delegates, District 21WonR+0.7——

Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: civicAPI (unofficial)Updated Nov 7, 2026, 3:01 PM ET

Campaign money, 2025–26

Raised
$701.1K
Spent
$487.7K

Source: Maryland State Board of Elections filings through Oct 16, 2026Updated Nov 1, 2026, 12:44 AM ET

Campaign committees

Open committees can still raise and spend money.

Pena-Melnyk, Joseline Friends Of
State
Active—

Source: Maryland State Board of Elections filings through Oct 16, 2026Updated Nov 1, 2026, 12:44 AM ET

Seats Peña-Melnyk has held

Source: 99chambers results archive

Who Peña-Melnyk has run against

Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: civicAPI (unofficial)

How we know Peña-Melnyk

One person, matched across every source we use.

Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:51 PM ET