Ashanti Martinez | |
|---|---|
 Martinez in 2023 | |
| Member of theMaryland House of Delegates from the22nd district | |
| Assumed office February 24, 2023 Serving with Anne Healey andNicole A. Williams | |
| Appointed by | Wes Moore |
| Preceded by | Alonzo T. Washington |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ashanti F. Martinez (1996-04-25)April 25, 1996 (age 29) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence(s) | New Carrollton, Maryland, U.S. |
| Education | Howard University |
| Website | Campaign website |
Ashanti F. Martinez (born April 25, 1996) is an American politician. He is currently a member of theMaryland House of Delegates fromDistrict 22 inPrince George's County, having been appointed to the seat by GovernorWes Moore to fill a vacancy left by the appointment ofAlonzo T. Washington to theMaryland Senate. He previously ran for the House seat in 2018 and 2022.
Ashanti F. Martinez[1] was born on April 25, 1996,[2][3] inWashington, D.C.[4] He grew up in a working-class family and was educated atParkdale High School.[5] He first got involved with politics when he was 14 years old as a member of the Prince George's County Young Democrats. In 2016, Martinez worked on thecongressional campaign of state delegateJoseline Peña-Melnyk.[6] After graduating fromHoward University with abachelor's degree in political science in 2018, he worked as the director of constituent services forPrince George's County councilmember Tom Dernoga. He then worked as a research and policy analyst forCASA de Maryland.[7] Martinez also worked as an intern for U.S. RepresentativesElijah Cummings andSteny Hoyer, an aide to the Maryland Legislative Latino Caucus, and as a campaign manager forArkansas House of Representatives candidateVivian Flowers.[8]
In April 2017, Martinez announced that he would run for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 22.[3] He was defeated in the Democratic primary, placing fifth with 10.1 percent of the vote.[9]
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In August 2021, Martinez announced that he would run for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 22, challenging incumbent state delegateAnne Healey. During the primary, he ran on a platform of improving education, transportation, infrastructure, health care, criminal justice reform, and the environment.[10][11] He also ran on the issue ofabortion, highlighting Healey's opposition toabortion rights.[12][13] Martinez received endorsements from Pro-Choice Maryland Action[14] and CASA de Maryland.[15] Martinez came in fourth place in the Democratic primary, receiving 13.91 percent of the vote.[16] Following his defeat, he became chief of staff for Prince George's County councilmember Krystal Oriadha.[5]
In January 2023, Martinez filed to run for the nomination to fill the vacancy left byAlonzo T. Washington in District 22 of the Maryland House of Delegates.[7] He was the only one to apply to the open seat and was nominated by the Prince George's County Democratic Central Committee on February 9.[5]
Martinez was into the Maryland House of Delegates on February 24, 2023. He is a member of the House Health and Government Operations Committee.[17] Martinez is the first Latino to represent District 22, and the firstopenly gay person to represent Prince George's County in theMaryland General Assembly.[18][19]
In May 2022, Martinez signed aChesapeake Climate Action Network resolution to move Maryland to 100 percent carbon-free electricity by 2035 and to removetrash incineration from the state's "clean energy" classification.[20]
In June 2021, Martinez attended and spoke at a rally against gun violence inLandover, Maryland.[21]
Martinez supportsuniversal health care.[22]
In January 2024, Martinez attended and spoke at a rally at theMaryland State House to support a resolution calling onMaryland's congressional delegation to support a ceasefire in theGaza war.[23]
In October 2021, Martinez spoke in support of theBuild Back Better Act.[24]
In April 2025, Martinez attended and spoke at a rally protesting thedeportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, saying that he believed that there was a "constitutional crisis" in the country and faultingDonald Trump for failing to do "not just the right thing, the moral thing".[25]
In May 2022, Martinez attended the Lets Say Gay Parade at theUniversity of Maryland, College Park, where he spoke in support of the Trans Health Equity Act, a bill that would require the state'sMedicaid program to provide coverage forgender-affirming treatment.[26] In May 2023, he and delegateGabriel Acevero signed onto a letter condemning the censure of two transgender legislators—Zooey Zephyr andMauree Turner—in Montana and Oklahoma.[27]
Martinez supports bringing the newFederal Bureau of Investigation headquarters to Prince George's County.[7]
In July 2025, Martinez supported theFederal Railroad Administration's cancellation of federal grants to study a proposedMaglev train betweenWashington, D.C. andBaltimore, saying that thousands would have been displaced and disconnected "in the name of a project that served too few and risked too much".[28]
Martinez is openly gay,[6][12] coming out to his family at age 13.[29] He lives inNew Carrollton, Maryland.[30]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Alonzo T. Washington (incumbent) | 10,739 | 31.2 | |
| Democratic | Tawanna P. Gaines (incumbent) | 8,615 | 25.0 | |
| Democratic | Anne Healey (incumbent) | 6,853 | 19.9 | |
| Democratic | Nicole A. Williams | 4,761 | 13.8 | |
| Democratic | Ashanti Martinez | 3,486 | 10.1 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Alonzo T. Washington (incumbent) | 9,809 | 30.4 | |
| Democratic | Nicole A. Williams (incumbent) | 8,250 | 25.5 | |
| Democratic | Anne Healey (incumbent) | 5,280 | 16.3 | |
| Democratic | Ashanti Martinez | 4,494 | 13.9 | |
| Democratic | Patrick A. Paschall | 2,510 | 7.8 | |
| Democratic | Chiquita Jackson | 1,967 | 6.1 | |
Media related toAshanti Martinez at Wikimedia Commons