Benjamin F. Kramer
Maryland State Senator, District 19 since 2018. Ran in 6 elections between 2006 and 2022, winning 6. Re-elected in 2026. Next on the ballot in 2030.
Maryland State Senator, District 19Born 1957
- In office
- 7 yrs
- Since 2018
- Bills became law
- 36
- 79 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 1.2%
- Chamber median 3.2%
- With party
- 100%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +94.1
- Won 2026
- Next election
- 2030
- Nov 5, 2030
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:52 PM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Unemployment Insurance Oversight · chair
- Finance
- Protocol
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
Construction · Became law May 2026
Appeals · Became law May 2026
Claims · Became law May 2026
Collective Bargaining · Became law May 2026
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Kramer sits in the Maryland State Senate
Kramer is closer to the center than 35% of the chamber's Democrats.
Closest: Jim Rosapepe, Arthur Ellis, Ben Brooks
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:52 PM ET
With Kramer’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Democrats100%
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: Kramer’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Democrats.
| Date | Bill | Kramer | Dem. majority | Rep. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 27, 2026 | HB 711: Data Privacy - Consumer Data, Public Records, and Message Switching System (Data Privacy… | Not voting | 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 Kramer 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 State Senate, District 19 | Won | D+94.1 | D+49.6 | +44.5 |
| 2022 | Maryland State Senate, District 19 | Won | D+52.9 | D+56.0 | −3.1 |
| 2018 | Maryland State Senate, District 19 | Won | D+77.3 | — | — |
| 2014 | Maryland House of Delegates, District 19 | Won | D+1.1 | — | — |
| 2014 | Maryland House of Delegates, District 19 (primary) | Won | +6.7 | — | — |
| 2010 | Maryland House of Delegates, District 19 | Won | D+1.4 | — | — |
| 2006 | Maryland House of Delegates, District 19 | Won | R+0.2 | — | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: civicAPI (unofficial)Updated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Campaign money, 2025–26
- Raised
- $62.5K
- Spent
- $67.2K
Source: Maryland State Board of Elections filings through Oct 14, 2026Updated Nov 1, 2026, 12:44 AM ET
Campaign committees
Open committees can still raise and spend money.
| Kramer, Ben Friends Of State | Active |
Source: Maryland State Board of Elections filings through Oct 14, 2026Updated Nov 1, 2026, 12:44 AM ET
Seats Kramer has held
- Maryland State Senate, District 19 · since 2018
- Maryland House of Delegates, District 19 · 2006–2018
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Kramer has run against
- Nonpartisan (I) · 2026 election, won
- Anita M. Cox (R) · 2022 election, won
- David George Jeang (G) · 2018 election, won
- Bonnie Cullison (D) · 2014 election, won
- Sam Arora (D) · 2010 election, won
- Henry B. Heller (D) · 2006 election, won
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: civicAPI (unofficial)
How we know Kramer
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/f43bc1a5-01e8-416f-86ca-bd857bf6ed80
- Wikidata Q4888549
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:52 PM ET