Derrick Coley

Last updated
Okeysha Brooks
​
(m. 2002)​
Derrick Coley
Member of the MarylandHouseofDelegates
from the 24th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 13, 2026
Education North Carolina State University (BA)
American University (MA)

Derrick L. Coley (born 1975) is an American politician who has served as a Democratic member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the 24th district since 2026.

Contents

Early life and education

Coley was born in 1975 [1] [2] to Francesca Brooks and Michael Brooks. [3] He graduated from Suitland High School, afterwards attending North Carolina State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biological sciences in 1998, and American University, where he earned a Master of Arts degree in public policy in 2003. [1] [4]

Career

Coley previously worked as a staff associate at the United States Conference of Mayors, where he managed the organization's annual "Recycling America's Land: A National Report on Brownfield Redevelopment" report and collaborated with the federal government to promote sustainable development in American cities. [4] He later worked as an assistant to Michael Herman, the chief of staff of Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson, until 2004, [4] afterwards serving as a deputy chief of staff to Johnson from 2004 to 2009 and as Johnson's chief of staff from 2009 to 2010. [5] In 2011, Coley was appointed as a public affairs liaison for the Prince George's County Council. [4] He later served as the executive director of external relations for the Maryland Higher Education Commission and as the special assistant for government operations at Bowie State University. [5] From summer 2025 to January 2026, Coley worked as a deputy director for the Prince George's County Department of the Environment, [2] supervising the Animal Services Division, Climate and Energy Division, and legislative affairs. [5]

Coley unsuccessfully ran for the Prince George's County Council in the 3rd district in 2006, [6] [7] placing third in the Democratic primary with 12.5 percent of the vote. [8]

In the legislature

In December 2025, after state delegate Jazz Lewis announced that he would resign from the Maryland House of Delegates, Coley applied to serve the remainder of Lewis's term. His candidacy was supported by Prince George's County Executive Aisha Braveboy. The Prince George's County Democratic Central Committee unanimously voted to nominate Coley to the seat on January 5, 2026. [2] Governor Wes Moore appointed Coley to the seat on January 12, 2026, [9] and he was sworn in the next day. He is a member of the Ways and Means Committee. [10]

Personal life

Coley married his wife, Okeysha Brooks, on August 31, 2002. [3] Together, they have four children. [10]

Electoral history

Prince George's County Council District 3 Democratic primary election, 2006 [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Eric C. Olson 3,480 41.7
Democratic Florence Hendershot2,47729.7
Democratic Derrick L. Coley1,04612.5
Democratic Terence D. Collins3193.8
Democratic James E. Henderson2993.6
Democratic Kenneth Laureys2883.4
Democratic Melvin B. Johnson2302.8
Democratic Lee P. Walker2122.5
Total votes8,351 100.0
Prince George's County Democratic Central Committee District 24 election, 2018 [11]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Derrick L. Coley 35,537 33.2
Democratic Chris Stevenson30,81228.8
Democratic Pat Thornton22,11020.7
Democratic Donjuan Williams18,42717.2
Total votes106,886 100.0
Prince George's County Democratic Central Committee District 24 election, 2022 [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Derrick L. Coley (incumbent) 60,631 58.2
Democratic Rudy D. Anthony43,49941.8
Total votes104,130 100.0

References

  1. 1 2 "Derrick L. Coley". The Washington Post . August 31, 2006. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 Ford, William J. (January 6, 2026). "Derrick Coley unanimously chosen by Prince George's Democrats for District 24 seat". Maryland Matters . Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  3. 1 2 "Coley-Brooks". The Goldsboro News-Argus . November 27, 2002. p. 6. Retrieved January 6, 2026– via Newspapers.com.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Office of the Director". princegeorgescountymd.gov. Prince George's County, Maryland . Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 Gaskill, Hannah (January 12, 2026). "Gov. Moore announces appointments to PSC, House vacancies". Maryland Daily Record. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
  6. ↑ Wiggins, Ovetta (January 5, 2006). "Denied the Executive's Seat Once, Baker Is Primed for an Uphill Battle". The Washington Post . Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  7. ↑ Helderman, Rosalind; Wiggins, Ovetta (August 31, 2006). "Executive Race Tops Full Ballot". The Washington Post . Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  8. 1 2 "Prince George's County, Maryland - Primary Election Returns 2006". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. September 12, 2006. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  9. ↑ Williams, Ilana (January 12, 2026). "Odom tapped for District 27A delegate seat in Charles, P.G." Southern Maryland News. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
  10. 1 2 "Derrick L. Coley, Maryland State Delegate - Maryland Manual On-Line". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives . Retrieved January 14, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Official 2018 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for Prince George's County". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  12. ↑ "Official 2022 Gubernatorial Primary Election Results for Prince George's County". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
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