Aisha Braveboy

Main article: 2014 Maryland Attorney General election

Braveboy campaigning in 2013

On September 19, 2013, Braveboy filed to run for Attorney General of Maryland. ^[11] Her platform included supporting the state's historically black colleges and universities, opposing the death penalty, and fighting against large polluters. ^[12]

During the Democratic primary, her campaign received endorsements from various labor unions, including the Washington D.C. Building and Construction Trades Council and International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1619. ^[13]

Braveboy was defeated by state senator Brian Frosh in the Democratic primary on June 24, 2014, placing last with 20.1 percent of the vote. ^[14] If elected, she would have been Maryland's first African American attorney general. ^[5] Following her defeat, Braveboy worked as a lobbyist for the Children's National Health System and the Innovations Group LLC until 2018. ^{[15] [16]}

Prince George's State's Attorney

Elections

On November 9, 2017, Braveboy announced her candidacy for state's attorney of Prince George's County. ^[17] She ran on a progressive platform ^[18] that included prosecuting domestic violence, expanding county diversion programs, ^[15] and prosecuting repeat violent offenders. ^[7] Braveboy led the Democratic primary in endorsements, ^[15] which included the Prince George's County Fraternal Order of Police, correctional officers union, and various labor unions. ^[10] She won the Democratic primary on June 26, 2018, receiving 62.8 percent of the vote, ^[19] and ran unopposed in the general election. ^[20]

Braveboy ran for reelection unopposed in 2022. ^{[21] [22]}

Tenure

Braveboy was sworn in as state's attorney on January 7, 2019. Upon being sworn in, she named juvenile justice reform and crackdowns on illegal guns as her top priorities while in office. ^[23]

In 2019, Braveboy created the state's first conviction and sentencing integrity unit to weigh new consideration for county convictions and sentencings, which led to the release of seven people sentenced to life as juveniles. ^[24] Later that year, she announced that the county would no longer recommend cash bail as a condition of release, instead requesting alternatives including counseling, drug testing, and mental health evaluations. ^{[25] [26]}

In March 2020, after Prince George's County recorded its first case of COVID-19, Braveboy sought the release of 150 pretrial defendants to reduce the spread of the virus. ^{[27] [28]}

During the 2020 legislative session, Braveboy supported legislation to make strangulation a first-degree felony assault ^[29] and another bill to allow prosecutors to pursue hate crime charges for acts "motivated in part" by hate. ^[30] In October 2020, she launched an initiative to support victims of domestic violence and strangulation. ^[29]

In May 2021, following a national spike in carjackings, Braveboy launched a task force to increase awareness and prevention of carjackings in Prince George's County, ^[31] which collaborated with community organizers to host community-focused events and broadcast commercials targeting young people. ^[32] She also worked with U.S. Attorney Erek Barron to prosecute carjackings. ^[33]

In August 2021, Braveboy endorsed efforts encouraging the Biden administration to create a task form to reform the justice system to be less punitive and more equitable. ^[34]

Political positions

Criminal justice

In 2013, Braveboy introduced a bill to remove the check box that asks if applicants have a criminal record from hiring applications for state jobs. The bill passed and was signed into law by Governor Martin O'Malley. ^[35] She also voted in favor of legislation to repeal the death penalty, ^[36] which passed the House of Delegates by a 82–56 vote. ^[37]

In June 2020, after the American Civil Liberties Union released a 92-page partially redacted report detailing discriminatory actions taken by the Prince George's County Police Department that prompted the resignation of Chief Hank Stawinski, Braveboy called for increased police transparency and sought greater access to police officer records. ^[38]

In September 2020, Braveboy said she opposed ceding the ability to prosecute police officers to an independent body, ^{[39] [40]} and lobbied against efforts to pass a bill doing so during the 2021 legislative session. ^{[41] [42]} In 2021, she testified in support of the Maryland Police Accountability Act of 2021, a police transparency and accountability reform package. ^[43] In October 2021, she released the county's "do-not-call" list of 57 officers with credibility issues. ^[44]

In 2021, Braveboy said she supported legislation to end life sentences without parole for juveniles. ^[45]

During the 2023 legislative session, Braveboy said she supported legislation to establish a "safe harbor" to protect minors who are victims of trafficking. ^[46]

During the 2024 legislative session, Braveboy will support legislation to extend probationary periods for gun crimes committed by juveniles, limit the Child Interrogation Protection Act, and allow state's attorneys to file a motion to modify an incarcerated individual's sentence "at any time". ^{[47] [48]}

Education

During the 2012 legislative session, Braveboy introduced legislation to require students to stay in school until they turn 18 years old, which passed and was signed into law by Governor Martin O'Malley. ^[49] She also opposed shifting the state's $239 million teacher pension system to counties. ^[50]

Environment

In 2012 and 2013, Braveboy opposed bills to levy a five cent tax on disposable bags. ^[51]

Gun control

In April 2013, Braveboy voted for the Firearm Safety Act of 2013, a gun control reform package. ^[52]

In May 2021, Braveboy launched the "Our Streets, Our Future" campaign to promote gun violence prevention efforts in Prince George's County ^[53] through community engagement, employment services, and social media advertisements targeted toward young people. ^{[54] [55]}

In 2022, Braveboy said she supported a bill to ban privately made firearms in Maryland. ^[56]

Housing

During the 2014 legislative session, Braveboy testified in support of a bill that would ban deficiency judgments and place a six-month moratorium on foreclosures. ^[57]

Minimum wage

In 2013, Braveboy introduced legislation to raise the state minimum wage to $10.10 per hour by 2015. ^[58] In 2014, she voted for a bill to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour by 2017. ^[59]

Redistricting

During the 2010 redistricting cycle, Braveboy supported efforts to create a third minority-majority congressional district. ^[60] She later voted against the state's redistricting plan, ^[61] which she said "dilutes minority votes by breaking them up into several districts". ^[62]

In 2014, Braveboy said she supported the Open Our Democracy Act, which would require states to use independent redistricting commissions to draw federal and state districts. ^[63]

Social issues

Braveboy speaks at an Equal Rights Amendment rally, 2024

In 2008, Braveboy voted against bills that would give domestic partners hospital visitation and medical decision-making rights in emergency situations. In 2011, during debate on the Civil Marriage Protection Act, which she voted against, ^{[64] [65]} Braveboy introduced an amendment that would block the bill from going into effect unless it was approved in a statewide referendum. Her amendment was criticized by supporters of same-sex marriage rights as a delay tactic, but she later defended her amendment as a way to gauge public opinion. In 2014, Braveboy voted for legislation to ban discrimination against transgender individuals. ^[66]

In 2011, Braveboy abstained from voting on a bill to prohibit Prince George's County officials from taking contributions from developers with development proposals in the county, saying that she would prefer a statewide ban on such contributions. ^[67]

During the 2012 legislative session, Braveboy introduced a bill to repeal a law that gave presiding religious denominations the legal authority to seize properties of local congregations. ^[68]

In November 2012, Braveboy spoke against Question 4, a ballot referendum that sought to repeal Maryland's Dream Act, a bill that would extend in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants. ^[69]

In 2014, Braveboy said she supported a bill to decriminalize simple marijuana possession in Maryland. ^[70]

In July 2022, following the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization , which repealed Roe v. Wade , Braveboy said she would not cooperate with extradition requests for individuals who travel across state lines to get an abortion. ^[71]

Taxes

In 2013, Braveboy voted against a bill to index the state's gas tax to inflation to fund the state's transportation budget. ^[72]

Aisha Braveboy
Braveboy in 2007
Prince George's County State's Attorney
Incumbent
Assumed office January 7, 2019 Interim: December 3, 2018 – January 7, 2019

Maryland House of Delegates District 25 Democratic primary election, 2006 ^[73]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Melony G. Griffith (incumbent)	7,745	20.9
	Democratic	Dereck E. Davis (incumbent)	7,365	19.8
	Democratic	Aisha Braveboy	5,841	15.7
	Democratic	James L. Walls	5,170	13.9
	Democratic	Shirley P. Thompson	5,000	13.5
	Democratic	Sharrarne Morton	3,882	10.5
	Democratic	Robert J. Barnes	2,110	5.7

Maryland House of Delegates District 25 election, 2006 ^[74]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Aisha Braveboy	22,632	32.6
	Democratic	Melony G. Griffith (incumbent)	21,584	31.1
	Democratic	Dereck E. Davis (incumbent)	21,540	31.1
	Republican	Patrick A. Schaeffer Jr.	2,541	3.7
	Green	David Kiasi	999	1.4
	Write-in		62	0.1

Maryland House of Delegates District 25 election, 2010 ^[75]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Aisha Braveboy (incumbent)	27,804	35.3
	Democratic	Dereck E. Davis (incumbent)	25,723	32.6
	Democratic	Melony G. Griffith (incumbent)	25,095	31.8
	Write-in		173	0.2

Maryland Attorney General Democratic primary election, 2014 ^[76]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Brian Frosh	228,360	49.6
	Democratic	Jon S. Cardin	139,582	30.3
	Democratic	Aisha Braveboy	92,664	20.1

Prince George's County State's Attorney Democratic primary election, 2018 ^[19]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Aisha Braveboy	78,320	62.8
	Democratic	Victor R. Ramirez	33,653	27.0
	Democratic	D. Michael Lyles	12,680	10.2

Prince George's County State's Attorney election, 2018 ^[20]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Aisha Braveboy	285,741	98.7
	Write-in		3,674	1.3

Prince George's County State's Attorney election, 2022 ^[77]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Aisha Braveboy	216,017	99.1
	Write-in		1,896	0.9

References

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66. Hernández, Arelis R. (May 20, 2014). "Braveboy says her position on same-sex marriage has evolved — just like Obama's". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
67. Spivack, Miranda A. (March 25, 2011). "Prince George's ethics bill gets key approval". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
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External links

• "Honorable Aisha N. Braveboy". pgsao.org. Office of the State's Attorney for Prince George's County. Retrieved June 17, 2023.

Preceded by Angela Alsobrooks

State's Attorney for Prince George's County, Maryland 2018–present

Incumbent