
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
Certifications · Became law May 2026
Boundaries · Became law May 2026
Abuse · Became law May 2026
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Peña-Melnyk sits in the Maryland House of Delegates
Peña-Melnyk is closer to the center than 13% of the chamber's Democrats.
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.
| Date | Bill | Peña-Melnyk | Dem. majority | Rep. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2, 2026 | HB 191: Consumer Protection - Retail Transactions for Essential Consumer Goods - Cash Payments | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 99–28 |
| Apr 2, 2026 | SB 286: Public Safety - Elevator Inspection Certificates - Searchable Database | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 113–21 |
| Apr 2, 2026 | SB 249: Tobacco Product Licensees - Additional Licensure for Electronic Smoking Devices | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 106–30 |
| Apr 2, 2026 | HB 1109: Public Health Reform Act | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 95–18 |
| Apr 2, 2026 | SB 290: Baltimore City - Ordinance Enforcement - Fines and Penalties | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 112–24 |
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.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin | Seat | +/− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Maryland Delegate District 21 | Lost | — | D+57.1 | — |
| 2022 | Maryland House of Delegates, District 21 | Won | R+0.8 | — | — |
| 2018 | Maryland House of Delegates, District 21 | Won | R+0.6 | — | — |
| 2014 | Maryland House of Delegates, District 21 | Won | R+2.0 | — | — |
| 2010 | Maryland House of Delegates, District 21 | Won | R+0.7 | — | — |
| 2006 | Maryland House of Delegates, District 21 | Won | R+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
- Maryland House of Delegates, District 21 · since 2006
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Peña-Melnyk has run against
- Democratic (D) · 2026 general, lost
- Mary A. Lehman (D) · 2022 general, won
- Ben Barnes (D) · 2018 general, won
- Barbara A. Frush (D) · 2014 general, won
- Ben Barnes (D) · 2010 general, won
- Ben Barnes (D) · 2006 general, won
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: civicAPI (unofficial)
How we know Peña-Melnyk
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/366c0122-84a8-460e-bc98-93d4ca5f0176
- Wikidata Q6280395
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:51 PM ET