Mary-Dulany James is a Democratic Maryland state senator from District 34 in Harford County who has held the seat since January 2023 and is seeking re-election in the November 3, 2026 general election.[1][2][3]An attorney, she previously served in the House of Delegates from 1998 to 2015.[2]
Mary-Dulany James was born in Baltimore and attended Havre de Grace High School.[2]She earned a B.S. in psychology with honors from the University of Maryland, College Park, in 1981 and a law degree with honors from the University of Maryland School of Law.[2]James was admitted to the Maryland bar in 1986 and clerked for Judge Edward S. Northrop of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland.[2]She practiced at Whiteford, Taylor & Preston, Venable, Baetjer and Howard, and Hodes, Ulman, Pessin & Katz, and has been a founding partner of James & Zink since 2011.[2]
James served in the Maryland House of Delegates from 1998 to 2015.[2]She assumed office in the state Senate on January 11, 2023, succeeding Bob Cassilly.[1]According to the General Assembly website, she serves on the Executive Nominations Committee and the Judicial Proceedings Committee.[2]
Their recorded votes on bills that divided the chamber (unanimous votes left out), grouped by topic. A bill can sit under more than one topic. "With" and "against" compare each vote with how most Democrats voted. How topics are assigned
›Rights & public safety83 with · 62 against145 votes
On the version voted Apr 13, 2026: Bars local jails, with exceptions, from certain cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, requires state prisons to notify federal authorities within 48 hours before releasing people with immigration detainers, and limits police sharing of information with immigration authorities without a court order.
Apr 10, 2026 · Failed 18–24 · against most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
On the version voted Apr 10, 2026: Lets people, or the Attorney General, sue armed officers with federal arrest powers who, acting under color of law, violate rights under the U.S. Constitution or federal law, seeking damages and court orders within five years; excludes state and local officers on federal task forces.
Mar 19, 2026 · Failed 15–25 · against most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
On the version voted Mar 28, 2026: Broadens the definition of nonprofit housing corporation (501(c)(3), primarily affordable housing) for State and local tax and special assessment exemptions and extends them to subsidiaries. Excludes Baltimore City property and projects that received local government funding before July 1, 2026.
On the version voted Mar 30, 2026: Adjusts state finances for the fiscal 2027 budget by cutting or delaying mandated spending, shifting some teacher pension costs to counties, limiting certain federal depreciation tax breaks, and moving money among state funds, among other changes.
Mar 17, 2026 · Failed 20–24 · against most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
On the version voted Apr 3, 2025: Creates a state farm program recognizing farmers who adopt conservation practices, with at least $900,000 a year through 2030, and changes laws on healthy soils, fish sales, water quality monitoring, fishery plans, aquaculture leases, watershed restoration, water quality trading and stream restoration.
On the version voted Mar 26, 2026: Requires the University System of Maryland to study how climate change relates to homeowner's insurance availability and cost and to disaster preparedness, reporting by July 1, 2027, with up to $100,000 from the Strategic Energy Investment Fund.
Requires health occupations licensees and certificate holders to attest to completing implicit bias and structural racism training at first renewal after April 1, 2026. A state competency program approves the training programs.
Creates a state grant program to improve access to abortion care, funded by surplus money insurers hold in segregated abortion-coverage accounts, with $2 million allocated in fiscal 2026 and annual budget funding required from fiscal 2027.
On the version voted Mar 28, 2026: Broadens the definition of nonprofit housing corporation (501(c)(3), primarily affordable housing) for State and local tax and special assessment exemptions and extends them to subsidiaries. Excludes Baltimore City property and projects that received local government funding before July 1, 2026.
On the version voted Mar 13, 2025: Allows fair housing testers working for government or qualifying nonprofit civil rights programs to record conversations they take part in to gather evidence of housing discrimination, and limits use of those recordings to enforcing fair housing laws.
Mar 12, 2025 · Failed 19–26 · against most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Requires local planning commissions to notify the Maryland Department of Planning when they begin their required 10-year review of a local comprehensive plan, and requires the department to send guidance on state laws and best practices within 60 days.
Apr 8, 2026 · Failed 15–25 · against most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
On the version voted Apr 7, 2025: Reduces state funding for the Coordinated Community Supports Partnership Fund and the per-pupil foundation amount for school aid, delays required teacher collaborative time, creates teacher development and recruitment grant programs, changes community school rules and otherwise revises the Blueprint for Maryland's Future.
Apr 1, 2025 · Failed 17–27 · against most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
On the version voted Apr 1, 2025: Revises the Blueprint for Maryland's Future school funding plan: lowers the per-pupil foundation amount and community supports funding, delays required teacher collaborative time, creates teacher recruitment and development grants, joins an interstate teacher mobility compact, and changes community school rules.
On the version voted Mar 17, 2025: Creates the Maryland Connectivity Coalition to improve wildlife habitat connectivity and reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions. Requires local governments to consider wildlife movement in comprehensive plans, with planning, natural resources and highway agencies supplying information.
Apr 2, 2025 · Passed 34–13 · against most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Requires the Maryland Transit Administration to offer free Purple Line rides for the first month to residents within a quarter mile of the line, and free promotional help to nearby small businesses beginning October 1, 2025.
On the version voted Apr 7, 2025: Raises the number of speed cameras allowed on Interstate 83 in Baltimore City from two to four, with only one per direction operating at a time, and removes the end date of the authorization.
Bars private passenger auto insurers from requiring vehicle-monitoring programs or using their data to cancel, not renew or refuse to underwrite, requires disclosure and a data-correction process, and directs regulations limiting data collected by July 1, 2027. Applies from January 1, 2027.
Reduces how often the Attorney General must report on recovering damages from the Port of Baltimore closure and Key Bridge collapse, from monthly to every six months.
Voted against most of their party on 106 of 394 party-divided votes on file.
Most often on: Rights & public safety (60), Jobs & cost of living (25), Housing & rent (16)
Election Districts - General Assembly and Representatives in Congress
What it does: On the version voted Aug 3, 2026: Proposes a constitutional amendment for the November 2026 ballot stating that the Maryland Constitution sets no criteria for congressional district lines, that its districting standar…
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 1–30, Republicans 13–0
Voting Rights Act of 2026 - Counties and Municipal Corporations
What it does: On the version voted Feb 10, 2026: Bars county and municipal election methods that dilute the voting strength of race, color or language minority groups where voting is polarized; lets the Attorney General or others s…
Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 32–1, Republicans 0–13
Voting Rights Act of 2026 - Counties and Municipal Corporations
What it does: On the version voted Feb 10, 2026: Bars county and municipal election methods that dilute the voting strength of race, color or language minority groups where voting is polarized; lets the Attorney General or others s…
Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 32–1, Republicans 1–12
Fair Housing and Housing Discrimination - Regulations, Intent, and Discriminatory Effect
What it does: On the version voted Apr 1, 2026: Bars housing acts with a discriminatory effect (disparate impact on protected groups or reinforcing segregated housing) regardless of intent, unless there was no discriminatory intent…
Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 31–1, Republicans 2–11
Landlord and Tenant - Residential Leases - Prospective Tenant Criminal History Records Check (Maryland Fair Chance Housing Act)
What it does: Bars landlords with five or more rental units from asking about criminal history before a conditional lease offer, except certain convictions such as murder and sex offenses; afterward allows review of felonies from t…
Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 30–1, Republicans 1–12
Substantive votes concern legislation or nominations; procedural votes concern how the chamber considers them. A Yes vote applies to the motion shown, which may not be final passage.
HB 2100 · MD SENATE
Election Districts - General Assembly and Representatives in Congress
YesVOTED
Motion: Third Reading (HB) Calendar No.73 · Bill is on Third Reading for Final Passage.
On the version voted Aug 3, 2026: Proposes a constitutional amendment for the November 2026 ballot stating that the Maryland Constitution sets no criteria for congressional district lines, that its districting standards apply only to legislative districts, and that lawmakers may give the state Supreme Court original review of congressional maps.
On the version voted Aug 3, 2026: Proposes a constitutional amendment for the November 2026 ballot stating that the Maryland Constitution sets no criteria for congressional district lines, that its districting standards apply only to legislative districts, and that lawmakers may give the state Supreme Court original review of congressional maps.
On the version voted Aug 3, 2026: Proposes a constitutional amendment for the November 2026 ballot stating that the Maryland Constitution sets no criteria for congressional district lines, that its districting standards apply only to legislative districts, and that lawmakers may give the state Supreme Court original review of congressional maps.
On the version voted Aug 3, 2026: Proposes a constitutional amendment for the November 2026 ballot stating that the Maryland Constitution sets no criteria for congressional district lines, that its districting standards apply only to legislative districts, and that lawmakers may give the state Supreme Court original review of congressional maps.
On the version voted Aug 3, 2026: Proposes a constitutional amendment for the November 2026 ballot stating that the Maryland Constitution sets no criteria for congressional district lines, that its districting standards apply only to legislative districts, and that lawmakers may give the state Supreme Court original review of congressional maps.
On the version voted Aug 3, 2026: Proposes a constitutional amendment for the November 2026 ballot stating that the Maryland Constitution sets no criteria for congressional district lines, that its districting standards apply only to legislative districts, and that lawmakers may give the state Supreme Court original review of congressional maps.
Election Districts - General Assembly and Representatives in Congress
NoVOTED
Motion: Third Reading (HB) Calendar No.73 · Floor Amendment West /943226/1
On the version voted Aug 3, 2026: Proposes a constitutional amendment for the November 2026 ballot stating that the Maryland Constitution sets no criteria for congressional district lines, that its districting standards apply only to legislative districts, and that lawmakers may give the state Supreme Court original review of congressional maps.
Election Districts - General Assembly and Representatives in Congress
YesVOTED
Motion: Third Reading (HB) Calendar No.73 · (Const) · Suspended Rule 24 to allow two readings of a bill in the same day
On the version voted Aug 3, 2026: Proposes a constitutional amendment for the November 2026 ballot stating that the Maryland Constitution sets no criteria for congressional district lines, that its districting standards apply only to legislative districts, and that lawmakers may give the state Supreme Court original review of congressional maps.
Arbitration Reform for State Employees Act of 2026 - Withdraw and Repeal of Duplicate Proposed Constitutional Amendment
YesVOTED
Motion: Third Reading (HB) Calendar No.72 · (Emerg) · Suspended Rule 24 to allow two readings of a bill in the same day
Repeals a duplicate proposed constitutional amendment on collective bargaining for State employees, so only one copy appears on the November 2026 ballot. An identical amendment in another act stays on the ballot. Takes effect immediately as an emergency.
Election Districts - General Assembly and Representatives in Congress
YesVOTED
Motion: Education, Energy, and the Environment Report No. 54 · (Const) · Motion to limit debate
On the version voted Aug 3, 2026: Proposes a constitutional amendment for the November 2026 ballot stating that the Maryland Constitution sets no criteria for congressional district lines, that its districting standards apply only to legislative districts, and that lawmakers may give the state Supreme Court original review of congressional maps.
