Kathy Szeliga

Kathy Szeliga (born October 10, 1961) is an American politician who has served as a Republican member of the Maryland House of Delegates since January 12, 2011, and as Minority Whip since 2013. Szeliga was the Republican nominee for the United States Senate in 2016 to replace Barbara Mikulski, who retired.[1]

Kathy Szeliga
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
from the 7th district
Assumed office
January 12, 2011
Preceded byJ. B. Jennings
Personal details
Born (1961-10-10) October 10, 1961
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Mark (1980–present)
EducationTowson University (BA)

Background

Szeliga was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in October 1961. She is of Polish descent.[2] She was raised in a military family, her father being a lieutenant colonel in the US Army. Szeliga married her husband in 1980, and the couple struggled financially at first. Szeliga worked as a dishwasher, a maid, and a housekeeper. She entered college in her 30s, enrolling at Towson State University and graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education. She began working as a teacher in Baltimore City Public Schools and started a construction business with her husband. She began her political career after a family friend, James M. Kelly, was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates. She worked as a legislative aide to Del. James M. Kelly, then for Del. John G. Trueschler, and eventually became chief of staff for then-State Senator Andy Harris. Szeliga decided to run for Delegate after Del. J. B. Jennings decided to run for State Senate. She was elected and immediately placed on the Appropriations Committee.[3][4][5][6][7]

In the legislature

Szeliga serves on the Environment and Transportation Committee (since 2015), Rules and Executive Nominations Committee (since 2014), and Legislative Policy Committee (since 2015). She was previously a member of the Appropriations Committee (2011–15), House Emergency Medical Services System Work Group (2012), and Joint Committee on the Selection of the State Treasurer (2015). She is a member of the Women Legislators of Maryland Caucus (since 2011), Maryland Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus (since 2012), and Maryland Veterans Caucus (since 2012).[3]

In April 2013, Delegate Szeliga was elected into leadership by her peers and serves as the Whip in the House Republican Caucus. She serves with Leader Nic Kipke of Anne Arundel County. Szeliga is the highest-ranking Republican woman in Maryland's state legislature and has been described as one of the most powerful female politicians in the state.[8][9]

US Senate campaign

Szeliga announced in November 2015 that she would be running for the Republican nomination to replace Senator Barbara Mikulski in the 2016 US Senate election in Maryland.[10] She was the first Republican in the 2016 Senate primary to release ads on television.[11] On April 15, Citizens United announced they had bought $25,000 worth of radio airtime to promote Del. Szeliga ahead of the April 26 primary.[12] Szeliga won the primary on April 26, 2016, and faced Representative Chris Van Hollen in the general election on November 8, 2016,[13] in which she was defeated by a landslide 61% – 36% spread.[14]

Election results

  • 2018 Republican Primary Election for Maryland House of Delegates – District 7 [15]
Voters to choose up to three:
Name Votes Percent Outcome
Kathy Szeliga 7,127   23.3%    Won
Richard K. Impallaria 4,494   14.7%    Won
Lauren Arikan 4,173   13.6%    Won
Aaron Penman 3,216   10.5%    Lost
Bill Paulshock 2,869   9.4%    Lost
Michael Geppi 2,044   6.7%    Lost
David Seman 1,981   6.5%    Lost
Tammy Larkin 1,934   6.3%    Lost
Joshua Barlow 1,548   5.1%    Lost
Angela Sudano-Marcellino 498   1.6%    Lost
Russ English, Jr. 374   1.2%    Lost
Norm Gifford 219   0.7%    Lost
Trevor Leach 148   0.5%    Lost
  • 2016 General Election for U.S. Senator from Maryland[16]
Voters to choose one:
Name Votes Percent Outcome
Chris Van Hollen 1,659,907   60.9%    Won
Kathy Szeliga 972,557   35.7%    Lost
Margaret Flowers 89,970   3.3%    Lost
Write-Ins 3,736   0.1%    Lost
  • 2016 Republican Primary Election for US Senator from Maryland [17]
Voters to choose one:
Name Votes Percent Outcome
Kathy Szeliga 135,337   35.6%    Won
Chris Chaffee 52,066   13.7%    Lost
Chrys Kefalas 36,340   9.6%    Lost
Richard J. Douglas 29,007   7.6%    Lost
Dave Wallace 23,226   6.1%    Lost
Sean P. Connor 21,727   5.7%    Lost
Lynn Richardson 20,792   5.5%    Lost
John R. Graziani 16,722   4.4%    Lost
Greg Holmes 16,148   4.3%    Lost
Mark McNicholas 9,988   2.6%    Lost
Joseph David Hooe 8,282   2.2%    Lost
Anthony Seda 3,873   1.0%    Lost
Richard Shawver 3,155   0.8%    Lost
Garry Thomas Yarrington 2,988   0.8%    Lost
  • 2014 General Election for Maryland House of Delegates – District 7[18]
Voters to choose three:
Name Votes Percent Outcome
Pat McDonough, Rep. 35,627   26.9%    Won
Kathy Szeliga, Rep. 33,197   25.0%    Won
Richard Impallaria, Rep. 32,560   24.6%    Won
Bob Bowle, Jr., Dem. 11,154   8.4%    Lost
Norman Gifford, Jr., Dem. 10,192   7.7%    Lost
Pete Definbaugh, Dem. 9,707   7.3%    Lost
Other Write-Ins 145   0.1%    Lost
  • 2014 Republican Primary Election for Maryland House of Delegates – District 7 [19]
Voters to choose up to three:
Name Votes Percent Outcome
Pat McDonough 6,971   29.0%    Won
Kathy Szeliga 6,125   25.5%    Won
Richard K. Impallaria 5,790   24.1%    Won
David Seman 3,483   14.5%    Lost
Tina Sutherland 1,675   7.0%    Lost
  • 2010 General Election for Maryland House of Delegates – District 7[20]
Voters to choose three:
Name Votes Percent Outcome
Richard Impallaria, Rep. 27,217   23.1%    Won
Pat McDonough, Rep. 25,450   21.6%    Won
Kathy Szeliga, Rep. 24,573   20.9%    Won
Jeff Beard, Dem. 14,885   12.6%    Lost
Kristina A. Sargent, Dem. 13,551   11.5%    Lost
James Ward Morrow, Dem. 11,960   10.2%    Lost
Other Write-Ins 111   0.1%    Lost
  • 2010 Republican Primary Election for Maryland House of Delegates – District 7 [21]
Voters to choose up to three:
Name Votes Percent Outcome
Pat McDonough 6,479   27.2%    Won
Richard K. Impallaria 5,678   23.8%    Won
Kathy Szeliga 4,021   16.9%    Won
Brian Bennett 1,838   7.7%    Lost
Marilyn Booker 1,808   7.6%    Lost
Roger Zajdel 1,783   7.5%    Lost
John Cromwell 1,031   4.3%    Lost
Jim Berndt 873   3.7%    Lost
Laine O. C. Clark 312   1.3%    Lost

References

  1. Gaudiano, Nicole (March 2, 2015). "Longtime Sen. Barbara Mikulski to retire". USA Today. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  2. Cox, Erin. "Kathy Szeliga, Republican everywoman, says she brings business experience, blue-collar background". baltimoresun.com. Retrieved Sep 4, 2019.
  3. "Kathy Szeliga, Maryland State Delegate". Msa.maryland.gov. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
  4. "Kathy Szeliga, Republican everywoman, says she brings business experience, blue-collar background". Baltimore Sun. April 21, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  5. "Kathy Szeliga wins GOP Senate nomination". Baltimore Sun. April 26, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  6. "Harford 2010: The Dagger's Top Ten Stories Of The Year". Dagger Press. December 30, 2010. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  7. "House of Delegates committee assignments are in". Baltimore Sun. December 30, 2010. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  8. "Kathy Szeliga Brings Experience and Dedication to U.S. Senate Campaign". Montgomery County GOP. April 3, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  9. "Important Down-Ticket Primaries Tomorrow". Red State. April 25, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  10. Dresser, Michael (November 10, 2015). "Kathy Szeliga joins Senate race, seeking Mikulski's seat". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved April 15, 2016.
  11. Fritze, John (April 7, 2016). "Kathy Szeliga airs first ad in GOP Senate primary race". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved April 15, 2016.
  12. Nirappil, Fenit (April 15, 2016). "Citizens United airs Md. radio ads backing GOP Senate candidate Kathy Szeliga". Washington Post. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
  13. "Del. Kathy Szeliga wins the Republican nomination for open U.S. Senate seat". ABC 2 Baltimore. Associated Press. April 26, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  14. "Maryland Senate Race: Chris Van Hollen Easily Defeats Kathy Szeliga". Bethesda-Chevy Chase, MD Patch. Nov 8, 2016. Retrieved Sep 4, 2019.
  15. "2018 House of Delegates Primary Results". Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved August 15, 2018
  16. "Official 2016 Presidential General Election results for U.S. Senator". Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved February 26, 2017.
  17. "US Senate Primary Results". Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved August 15, 2018
  18. "Official 2014 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates Legislative District 7". Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
  19. "House of Delegates Primary Results". Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved on August 15, 2018
  20. "Official 2010 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates Legislative District 7". Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  21. "House of Delegates Primary Results". Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved on August 15, 2018
Party political offices
Preceded by
Eric Wargotz
Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from Maryland
(Class 3)

2016
Most recent
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