In a 10-9 vote, the Anne Arundel County Democratic Central Committee recommended Annapolis-area Del. Shaneka Henson to fill the vacant District 30 Senate seat.

Henson was favored by the committee over District 30A Del. Dana Jones for the position. Her name will now be forwarded to Gov. Wes Moore for final consideration for the seat formerly held by Sarah Elfreth, who vacated the position to be sworn into Congress Friday as the U.S. representative for Maryland’s 3rd Congressional District.

Henson was appointed as a delegate representing District 30A in 2019 following the death of House of Delegates Speaker Michael Busch. In 2022, Henson was elected to a four-year term.

Prior to serving as a delegate, Henson was an Annapolis City Council alderwoman representing Ward 6.

In April, it was discovered by a Joint Committee on Legislative Ethics that Henson did not disclose her financial relationship with an Odenton child care center when approving state bond funding for the nonprofit, displaying “an appearance of a conflict of interest.”

The yearlong investigation found that Henson was listed as the legal representative for Kingdom Kare, Inc., a church-affiliated organization providing educational, health and other services, in a grant application for state funding through Maryland State Legislative Bond Initiatives in 2022 and 2023.

At the same time, the nonprofit was paying Henson for legal services.

As a delegate, Henson has worked to expand the business personal property tax exemption for small businesses.

She has also worked on funding bonuses for frontline school workers during the pandemic and improvement to public housing.

If appointed to the District 30 Senate seat, Henson would be the first Black woman in the State Senate to represent Anne Arundel County.

“I congratulate Henson and look forward to working with her in her new role, and helping introduce her to new constituents in South County,” said Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman.

Another recommendation for appointment in Anne Arundel County leadership was made by the Anne Arundel County Republican Central Committee, which recommended LaToya Nkongolo to fill the District 31 House seat vacated by the resignation of Del. Rachel Munoz.

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