99chambers

Maryland House of Delegates seat · lines in effect since 2022

Maryland Delegate District 21

A district of about 148,000 people, 24% Hispanic and 34% Black, 45% of adults with a bachelor's degree. It votes D+57.5 relative to the nation for president.

Ben Barnes (D) · since Nov 7, 2006Joseline Peña-Melnyk (D) · since Nov 7, 2006Mary Lehman (D) · since Nov 6, 2018Next election Nov 5, 2030The 2026 race →

Where it sits among all 71 seats

Every Maryland House of Delegates seat by partisan lean, from most Democratic to most Republican. Lean is the seat's presidential vote on current lines, relative to the nation.

D+57.520th most
Democratic
Most DemocraticMost Republican36th seat · the majority lineDistrict 21

Source: 99chambers: 2024 and 2020 presidential results on current lines, relative to the nation (2024 weighted 3:1)Updated Oct 16, 2026, 5:19 AM ET

Who lives here, compared

Grey bars show the spread of all 71 seats. Small marks are other seats in Maryland. The black marker is District 21.

Adults with a bachelor's degree45% 61st pct · 28th of 71 in MD

Higher than 61% of seats.

White adults without a degree13% 27th pct · 52nd of 71 in MD

Lower than 73% of seats.

Hispanic residents24% 90th pct · 8th of 71 in MD

Higher than 90% of seats.

Black residents34% 76th pct · 18th of 71 in MD

Higher than 76% of seats.

Asian residents9% 84th pct · 12th of 71 in MD

Higher than 84% of seats.

People per square mile2,167 63rd pct · 27th of 71 in MD

Denser than 63% of seats.

Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, allocated to current linesUpdated Oct 13, 2026, 5:06 AM ET

Seats most like this one

Nearest seats on demographics, density and lean.

District 19
28% Hispanic · 51% college gradsD+51.2Held DDistrict 46
27% Black · 52% college gradsD+64.4CountingDistrict 20
23% Hispanic · 32% BlackD+74.8Held DDistrict 14
28% Black · 57% college gradsD+46.0Held D

Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, allocated to current lines; 99chambers: 2024 and 2020 presidential results on current lines, relative to the nation (2024 weighted 3:1)Updated Oct 16, 2026, 5:19 AM ET

Who has held it

These lines took effect in 2022.

  1. Democratic (D)
    2027– · Won 2026 unopposed
  2. Mary A. Lehman (D)
    2023–2027 · Won 2022 by 93.8
  3. Joseline A. Peña-Melnyk (D)
    2023–2027 · Won 2022 by 93.6
  4. Ben Barnes (D)
    2023–2027 · Won 2022 by 93.5

Source: Past results: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)