Johnny Ray Salling | |
|---|---|
 Salling in 2017 | |
| Member of theMaryland Senate from the6th district | |
| Assumed office January 14, 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Norman R. Stone Jr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Johnny Ray Salling (1961-10-31)October 31, 1961 (age 64) |
| Political party | Republican |
| Children | 5 |
| Education | Sparrows Point High School |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1979–1981 |
Johnny Ray Salling on a southeast Baltimore County school construction study Recorded April 21, 2022 | |
Johnny Ray Salling (born October 31, 1961) is an American politician who has served as a member of theMaryland Senate representing the6th district since 2015. A member of theRepublican Party, the district covers southeastBaltimore County, includingDundalk,Essex andRosedale.
Salling was born in Baltimore, Maryland on October 31, 1961, where he graduated fromSparrows Point High School. In 1979, he joined theUnited States Army, serving as a combat engineer until 1981. Upon his return to theUnited States, he worked as a steel worker forLaFarge of North America at theBethlehem Steel Mill inSparrows Point, Maryland for more than 30 years,[1] where he gained experience as aunion representative for theUnited Steelworkers of America union.[2]
In September 2013, Salling filed to run for theMaryland Senate,[3] seeking to succeed Democratic state senatorNorman Stone, who had announced his retirement from theGeneral Assembly. He says that the closing of the Sparrows Point mill in 2012 moved him to run for public office.[4] Stone endorsed his challenger, state delegateJohnny Olszewski, during the general election.[5] Salling defeated Olszewski in the general election, garnering 47.9 percent of the vote compared to Olszewski's 44.7 percent.[6]
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Salling was sworn into the Maryland Senate on January 14, 2015. He was a member of the Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee from 2015 to 2019, afterwards serving as a member of the Budget and Taxation Committee.[1] In April 2017, Salling joined the Reform on Tap task force, which was led byComptrollerPeter Franchot and sought to reform the state's regulations on the production and distribution of beer in the state.[7]
In July 2019, Salling responded to atweet about a request for an ethics investigation intoU.S. RepresentativeIlhan Omar with "Get rid of this illegal know!!!!!" TheCouncil on American–Islamic Relations called on Salling to apologize for the tweet or to resign. He deleted the tweet after speaking toThe Baltimore Sun, denying having made the tweet and suggesting that he may have been hacked.[8][9]
In August 2019, Salling announced his candidacy forMaryland's 2nd congressional district in the2020 elections, seeking to take on incumbent DemocratDutch Ruppersberger. He did not have to give up his state senate seat to run for Congress, as he was not up for reelection until 2022.[10] Salling narrowly won the Republican nomination, earning 19.1 percent of the vote in the primary election.[11] He was defeated by Ruppersberger in the general election, receiving 33 percent of the vote.[12][13]
Maryland Matters has described Salling as asocial conservative, but notes that he occasionally votes with Democrats on bills involving workers' rights and opportunities.[14] A self-described lifelong Republican, he has describedDonald Trump has his political idol and supported the businessman's2016 and2024 presidential campaigns.[15][16]
In 2018, the MarylandLeague of Conservation Voters gave Salling a score of 17 percent on its annual legislative scorecard – the lowest score in the Maryland Senate.[17]
During a debate on a sweeping climate action bill in March 2021, Salling introduced an amendment that would lower the bill's pollution reduction goal from 60 percent to 50 percent, contending that it was too ambitious. The amendment was rejected by a vote of 15-31.[18]
In April 2017, Salling denounced an executive order issued byBaltimore County executiveKevin Kamenetz that formalized police policy on undocumented immigrants in the county, calling it "dangerous".[19] In November 2025, Salling opposed a bill to ban287(g) program agreements in Maryland, saying that restrictions on the program could put communities at risk.[20]
Salling says that he does not agree with the legalization ofrecreational marijuana, but he does accept that cannabis does have some medicinal benefits.[21]
Salling supports providing police departments with additional funding and training and disagrees with calls todefund police departments and invest in community social services.[2]
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In March 2024, following theFrancis Scott Key Bridge collapse, Salling and state senatorBryan Simonaire introduced a bill that would allow the governor to declare a year-long state of emergency after damage to critical infrastructure, though it would eliminate the authority to seize private property for government use, as now allowed under a state of emergency.[22] The bill was withdrawn by Simonaire following discussions with the Moore administration.[23]
Salling is a devoutChristian.[15]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Johnny Ray Salling | 2,669 | 100.0 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Johnny Ray Salling | 14,916 | 47.7 | |
| Democratic | Johnny Olszewski | 14,065 | 44.9 | |
| Independent | Scott M. Collier | 2,285 | 7.3 | |
| Write-in | 26 | 0.1 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Johnny Ray Salling (incumbent) | 19,511 | 55.3 | |
| Democratic | Buddy Staigerwald | 14,108 | 40.0 | |
| Independent | Scott M. Collier | 1,631 | 4.6 | |
| Write-in | 23 | 0.1 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Johnny Ray Salling | 5,942 | 19.1 | |
| Republican | Genevieve Morris | 5,134 | 16.5 | |
| Republican | Tim Fazenbaker | 5,123 | 16.4 | |
| Republican | Rick Impallaria | 5,061 | 16.2 | |
| Republican | Jim Simpson | 4,764 | 15.3 | |
| Republican | Scott M. Collier | 3,564 | 11.4 | |
| Republican | Blaine Taylor | 1,562 | 5.0 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Dutch Ruppersberger (incumbent) | 224,836 | 67.7 | |
| Republican | Johnny Ray Salling | 106,355 | 32.0 | |
| Write-in | 835 | 0.3 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Johnny Ray Salling (incumbent) | 18,278 | 61.2 | |
| Democratic | Cory D. Edwards | 11,563 | 38.7 | |
| Write-in | 44 | 0.2 | ||