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 by | J. B. Jennings |
Personal details | |
Born | Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. | October 10, 1961
Political party | Republican |
Spouse(s) | Mark (1980–present) |
Education | Towson 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
- Gaudiano, Nicole (March 2, 2015). "Longtime Sen. Barbara Mikulski to retire". USA Today. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
- Cox, Erin. "Kathy Szeliga, Republican everywoman, says she brings business experience, blue-collar background". baltimoresun.com. Retrieved Sep 4, 2019.
- "Kathy Szeliga, Maryland State Delegate". Msa.maryland.gov. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
- "Kathy Szeliga, Republican everywoman, says she brings business experience, blue-collar background". Baltimore Sun. April 21, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
- "Kathy Szeliga wins GOP Senate nomination". Baltimore Sun. April 26, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
- "Harford 2010: The Dagger's Top Ten Stories Of The Year". Dagger Press. December 30, 2010. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
- "House of Delegates committee assignments are in". Baltimore Sun. December 30, 2010. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
- "Kathy Szeliga Brings Experience and Dedication to U.S. Senate Campaign". Montgomery County GOP. April 3, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
- "Important Down-Ticket Primaries Tomorrow". Red State. April 25, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
- Dresser, Michael (November 10, 2015). "Kathy Szeliga joins Senate race, seeking Mikulski's seat". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved April 15, 2016.
- Fritze, John (April 7, 2016). "Kathy Szeliga airs first ad in GOP Senate primary race". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved April 15, 2016.
- Nirappil, Fenit (April 15, 2016). "Citizens United airs Md. radio ads backing GOP Senate candidate Kathy Szeliga". Washington Post. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
- "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.
- "Maryland Senate Race: Chris Van Hollen Easily Defeats Kathy Szeliga". Bethesda-Chevy Chase, MD Patch. Nov 8, 2016. Retrieved Sep 4, 2019.
- "2018 House of Delegates Primary Results". Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved August 15, 2018
- "Official 2016 Presidential General Election results for U.S. Senator". Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved February 26, 2017.
- "US Senate Primary Results". Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved August 15, 2018
- "Official 2014 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates Legislative District 7". Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
- "House of Delegates Primary Results". Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved on August 15, 2018
- "Official 2010 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates Legislative District 7". Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
- "House of Delegates Primary Results". Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved on August 15, 2018
External links
- Official Senate Campaign Site
- Profile at Vote Smart
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Appearances on C-SPAN
Party political offices | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by Eric Wargotz |
Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from Maryland (Class 3) 2016 |
Most recent |