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Jeff Waldstreicher

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Jeff Waldstreicher
Member of the Maryland Senate
from the 18th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 9, 2019
Preceded byRichard Madaleno
ConstituencyMontgomery County
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
from the 18th district
In office
January 10, 2007 – January 9, 2019
Serving with Jane Lawton (2006–2007), Alfred C. Carr Jr. (2007–2019), Ana Sol Gutierrez
Preceded byRichard Madaleno
Succeeded byJared Solomon
Personal details
Born (1979-12-31) December 31, 1979 (age 44)
Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Children3
Residence(s)Kensington, Maryland, U.S.
Alma materEmory University (BA)
UC Berkeley School of Law (JD)
OccupationAttorney
Signature
Websitejeffwaldstreicher.com

Jeffrey D. Waldstreicher (born December 31, 1979) is an American politician from Maryland and a member of the Democratic Party. He is currently a member of the Maryland Senate, representing District 18 in Montgomery County after serving two terms in the Maryland House of Delegates.[1]

Early life and career

Waldstreicher was born in Silver Spring, Maryland, on December 31, 1979. He graduated from Montgomery Blair High School and later attended Emory University, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and history.[1] He received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Berkeley in 2003, where he was an editor for the California Law Review.[2]

In the legislature

Waldstreicher was sworn into the Maryland House of Delegates on January 10, 2007, where he served on the Judiciary Committee until 2015, and on the Economic Matters Committee from 2015 to 2019.[1]

In July 2017, Waldstreicher announced his candidacy for the Maryland Senate in District 18, seeking to succeed state senator Richard Madaleno, who unsuccessfully ran for governor in 2018.[3] Waldstriecher endorsed Madaleno in the gubernatorial primary, attending his campaign launch rally.[4] In March 2018, he was accused of encouraging Helga Luest to run for his seat in the Maryland House of Delegates to make it harder for his primary challenger, Dana Beyer, to win the Democratic primary. Waldstreicher denied Luest's allegations in a statement sent to Bethesda Magazine, but did not comment further.[5] His opponents also accused him of dodging candidate events, which Waldstreicher said he missed because of a sickness and legislative duties.[6] Waldstreicher won the Democratic primary on June 26, 2018, defeating Beyer with 49.4 percent of the vote. He ran unopposed in the general election.[7]

He was sworn into the Maryland Senate on January 9, 2019, where he serves as the vice-chair of the Judicial Proceedings Committee and the Chair of the Joint Committee on Federal Relations.[1] In February 2019, President of the Maryland Senate Bill Ferguson appointed Waldstreicher to a work group to study legalizing recreational marijuana in the state.[8]

Waldstreicher ran for re-election to the Maryland Senate in 2022, and was challenged by progressive activist Max Socol in the Democratic primary.[9][10] Socol accused Waldstreicher of weakening the Maryland Police Accountability Act during the 2021 legislative session[11][12] and of again dodging candidate events during the primary, which Waldstreicher responded by saying he held two town halls during the Democratic primary and freely shares his personal cell phone number with constituents.[13] Waldstreicher outraised Socol 4-to-1,[14][15] was endorsed by the Montgomery County Education Association, the state Sierra Club, and Service Employees International Union Local 500,[16] and received support from the Maryland Democratic Senate Caucus Committee.[17] He won the Democratic primary on July 19, 2022, defeating Socol with 63.8 percent of the vote to Socol's 36.2 percent.[11][18]

Personal life

Waldstreicher is married.[19] Together, he and his wife have three children[1] and live in Kensington, Maryland.[11] They are active members of Temple Shalom in Chevy Chase, where Waldstreicher served on the Social Justice Committee and as a substitute Hebrew School teacher.[1]

Political positions

Development initiatives

During the 2019 legislative session, Waldstreicher introduced a bill that would repeal the Maryland Court of Appeals' ruling in Dumbarton Improvement Association, Inc. v. Druid Ridge Cemetery Company, Inc., which blocked development at the Druid Ridge Cemetery in Baltimore County, Maryland. He withdrew the bill in March 2019 after The Baltimore Sun asked him questions about the measure, saying that he hadn't intended to get involved in a Baltimore County land-use issue.[20] Waldstreicher later introduced a bill creating a state office to mediate lawsuits from workers with asbestos-related diseases,[21] the bill unanimously passed the Maryland Senate and received a 96–36 vote in the Maryland House of Delegates, but did not become law.[22]

Environment

During his tenure in the Maryland House of Delegates, Waldstreicher repeatedly introduced legislation that would block state subsidies from going to the Luke Mill, a paper mill that the state government had considered "green energy" despite it releasing carbon dioxide through the burning of black liquor.[23]

Israel

In November 2023, Waldstreicher and eight other state senators signed a joint letter that threatened to defund immigrants rights group CASA de Maryland because it had called for an immediate ceasefire in the 2023 Israel–Hamas war and condemned the "utilization of US tax dollars to promote the ongoing violence."[24] In response, the ACLU issued a statement noting that the letter by Waldstreicher and others "amounts to unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination."[25]

National politics

In September 2018, Waldstreicher signed a letter calling on local police and prosecutors in Montgomery County to investigate allegations that U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh had committed sexual assault while attending Georgetown Preparatory School in the 1980s.[26][27] The county's chief of police and state's attorney said shortly after that they were "prepared to investigate any allegation, should a victim come forward."[28]

In September 2019, Waldstreicher joined Baltimore City, the town of Gaithersburg, Maryland, and a number of advocacy groups in a lawsuit against the Trump administration over its public charge rule toward granting green cards or permanent residency to certain immigrants using public benefits.[29][30]

Policing

During the 2021 legislative session, Waldstreicher introduced amendments to a bill repealing the state's Law Enforcement Officers' Bill of Rights, seeking to clarify portions of alterations made by state senator Michael A. Jackson.[31] These amendments led to a car rally organized by the Silver Spring Justice Coalition and the Montgomery County Defund/Invest Coalition outside of Waldstreicher's home[32] and calls for Waldstreicher to be removed as vice chair of the Judicial Proceedings Committee.[33]

Social issues

In November 2007, Waldstreicher voted against a bill that would allow voters to decide whether to legalize slot machine gambling in Maryland. The bill passed the Maryland House of Delegates by a vote of 86–52.[34]

In October 2012, Waldstreicher attended a fundraiser event for Marylanders for Marriage Equality, a group supporting Question 6 to legalize same-sex marriage in Maryland.[35]

In March 2013, Waldstreicher voted for a bill to repeal the death penalty in Maryland. The bill passed the Maryland House of Delegates by a vote of 82–56.[36]

During the 2014 legislative session, Waldstreicher introduced a bill that would require police to obtain a search warrant to use drones, email, cellphone towers, or license plate readers to track people.[37][38] The bill was signed into law by Governor Martin O'Malley on April 14, 2014.[39]

During the 2016 legislative session, Waldstreicher introduced a bill that would prohibit restaurants banning customers from posting negative reviews online.[40]

During the 2020 legislative session, Waldstreicher introduced "Olivia's Law", a bill that would require colleges and universities to create plans to address the outbreak of infectious diseases. The bill was named after Olivia Paregol, a University of Maryland freshman who died in 2018 after contracting adenovirus.[41] The bill passed both chambers unanimously and became law on May 8, 2020.[42]

During the 2021 legislative session, Waldstreicher introduced the No Defense to Sexual Crimes Act, a bill that would repeal spousal privilege for sexual crimes.[43] The bill passed both chambers by a unanimous vote in the Maryland Senate and a 115–18 vote in the Maryland House of Delegates, but failed to pass out of the General Assembly.[44]

Transportation

Waldstreicher opposes the widening of Interstate 270 and the Capital Beltway.[45]

During the 2022 legislative session, Waldstreicher introduced a bill prohibiting the state Motor Vehicle Administration from suspending motor vehicle registration as a penalty for toll violations.[46]

Voting rights

During the 2019 legislative session, Waldstreicher introduced a bill that would allow eligible students to register to vote at high schools.[47] The bill failed to pass out of the Committee on Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs.[48]

Electoral history

Maryland House of Delegates District 18 Democratic primary election, 2006[49]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jane Lawton 8,168 19.7
Democratic Ana Sol Gutierrez 6,733 16.2
Democratic Jeff Waldstreicher 6,345 15.3
Democratic Daniel E. Farrington 5,898 14.2
Democratic Dana Beyer 5,128 12.3
Democratic James Browning 4,507 10.8
Democratic Alfred C. Carr Jr. 3,468 8.3
Democratic Noah Grosfeld-Katz 1,304 3.1
Maryland House of Delegates District 18 election, 2006[50]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jane Lawton 26,994 25.9
Democratic Ana Sol Gutierrez 26,751 25.6
Democratic Jeff Waldstreicher 26,315 25.2
Republican Joan Pleiman 8,137 7.8
Republican Richard A. Fenati 8,134 7.8
Republican Lorri D. Simmons 7,926 7.6
Write-in 134 0.1
Maryland House of Delegates District 18 Democratic primary election, 2010[51]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ana Sol Gutierrez 7,879 24.1
Democratic Jeff Waldstreicher 7,386 22.6
Democratic Al Carr 6,756 20.7
Democratic Dana Beyer 5,450 16.7
Democratic Vanessa Atterbeary 4,247 13.0
Democratic Michael K. Heney 932 2.9
Maryland House of Delegates District 18 election, 2010[52]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Al Carr 26,313 34.0
Democratic Ana Sol Gutierrez 25,545 33.0
Democratic Jeff Waldstreicher 24,822 32.0
Write-in 807 1.0
Maryland House of Delegates District 18 Democratic primary election, 2014[53]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jeff Waldstreicher 7,303 21.6
Democratic Ana Sol Gutierrez 7,181 21.3
Democratic Al Carr 6,437 19.1
Democratic Emily Shetty 3,859 11.4
Democratic Rick Kessler 3,818 11.3
Democratic Natali Fani-Gonzalez 2,758 8.2
Democratic Elizabeth Matory 2,389 7.1
Maryland House of Delegates District 18 election, 2014[54]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ana Sol Gutierrez 23,406 33.3
Democratic Al Carr 23,353 33.2
Democratic Jeff Waldstreicher 22,736 32.3
Write-in 868 1.2
Maryland Senate District 18 Democratic primary election, 2018[55]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jeff Waldstreicher 8,695 49.4
Democratic Dana Beyer 6,527 37.0
Democratic Michelle Carhart 2,396 13.6
Maryland Senate District 18 election, 2018[56]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jeff Waldstreicher 41,360 97.6
Write-in Other Write-Ins 1,009 2.4

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Jeff Waldstreicher, Maryland State Senator". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  2. ^ Hernández, Arelis R.; Wiggins, Ovetta (January 9, 2019). "Meet the freshman class of the Maryland General Assembly". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  3. ^ Peck, Louis (July 19, 2017). "Del. Waldstreicher To Seek District 18 Senate Seat Being Vacated by Madaleno". Bethesda Magazine. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  4. ^ Metcalf, Andrew (July 17, 2017). "Madaleno Formally Announces Run for Governor". Bethesda Magazine. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  5. ^ Metcalf, Andrew (March 6, 2018). "Candidate in District 18 Delegate Race Details Alleged Political Maneuvering by Waldstreicher". Bethesda Magazine. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  6. ^ Metcalf, Andrew (June 12, 2018). "Waldstreicher's Opponents Accuse Him of Hiding on Campaign Trail". Bethesda Magazine. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  7. ^ Peck, Louis (June 27, 2018). "Updated: Waldstreicher Bests Beyer To Win Madaleno's Senate Seat in Heated District 18 Race". Bethesda Magazine. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  8. ^ Wood, Pamela (February 19, 2019). "Maryland lawmakers to study legalizing recreational marijuana in 2020 with state law or by referendum". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  9. ^ Kurtz, Josh (November 3, 2021). "Sen. Waldstreicher Gets Democratic Primary Challenge From the Left". Maryland Matters. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  10. ^ Radelat, Ana (November 19, 2021). "Waldstreicher challenged on left by activist Democrat in state Senate race". Bethesda Magazine. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  11. ^ a b c Peck, Louis (July 20, 2022). "Waldstreicher appears to have beaten back high-profile primary challenge from his left". Bethesda Magazine. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  12. ^ Kurtz, Josh (June 14, 2022). "At Forum, Waldstreicher's Foe Throws a Few Jabs, But Incumbent Ignores Him". Maryland Matters. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  13. ^ Rodgers, Bethany (May 19, 2022). "State Sen. Waldstreicher again accused of dodging his primary opponent". Bethesda Magazine. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  14. ^ Rodgers, Bethany (June 16, 2022). "Waldstreicher campaign raises over four times more than Democratic rival for District 18 Senate seat". Bethesda Magazine. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  15. ^ Schere, Dan (July 11, 2022). "As District 18 primary looms, Waldstreicher has more than twice as much cash as Socol". Bethesda Magazine. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  16. ^ Rodgers, Bethany (June 29, 2022). "Waldstreicher runs on record while Senate District 18 challenger says he's more progressive". Bethesda Magazine. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  17. ^ Bohnel, Steve (July 11, 2022). "As primary approaches, state Democratic Senate Caucus draws criticism for mailers attacking Max Socol". Bethesda Magazine. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  18. ^ Kurtz, Josh (July 20, 2022). "Eckardt, 5 other state lawmakers appear to have lost their primaries; others could still fall". Maryland Matters. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  19. ^ "Jeff Waldstreicher from District 18 in Montgomery County". zirkinandschmerlinglaw.com. Zirkin & Schmerling Law. June 4, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  20. ^ Knezevich, Alison; Wood, Pamela (March 25, 2019). "Maryland senator to withdraw bill that would allow development at Pikesville cemetery". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  21. ^ Wood, Pamela (April 3, 2019). "Late push in Maryland General Assembly would move thousands of asbestos lawsuits into mediation". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  22. ^ "Legislation - SB1049". mgaleg.maryland.gov. Maryland General Assembly. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  23. ^ Dance, Scott (December 7, 2017). "A Maryland paper mill burns a polluting sludge called black liquor. The state calls it green energy". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  24. ^ Thakker, Prem (November 9, 2023). "Maryland Democrats Threaten Funding of Immigrant Rights Group That Called for Gaza Ceasefire". The Intercept. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  25. ^ "ACLU of Maryland Statement in Support of CASA and the First Amendment". ACLU of Maryland (Press release). November 14, 2023.
  26. ^ Broadwater, Luke (September 26, 2018). "State delegates call on Montgomery County police, prosecutor to investigate Kavanaugh allegations". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  27. ^ Morse, Dan; Wiggins, Ovetta (September 26, 2018). "11 Md. lawmakers call for Montgomery County investigation into sexual assault allegations against Kavanaugh". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  28. ^ Joyner, Jim (September 28, 2018). "Montgomery officials 'prepared to investigate' Kavanaugh allegations — if an alleged victim comes forward". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  29. ^ Davis, Phil (September 30, 2019). "Baltimore, Gaithersburg sue Trump administration over 'public charge' rule limiting green cards, visas to immigrants on public assistance". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  30. ^ Pollak, Suzanne (October 10, 2019). "Gaithersburg, Sen. Waldstreicher file lawsuit against DHS". Montgomery County Sentinel. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  31. ^ Gaskill, Hannah (February 20, 2021). "Carter Says Amended Law Enforcement Officers' Bill of Rights Bill 'Guts the Concept of a Repeal'". Maryland Matters. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  32. ^ Gaskill, Hannah (March 2, 2021). "Rifts Form Among Senate Democrats Over Police Transparency". Maryland Matters. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  33. ^ Gaskill, Hannah (March 4, 2021). "In Police Reform Debate, Senators Receive Pushback From 'Triad of Interests'". Maryland Matters. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  34. ^ Drew, James; Smitherman, Laura (November 17, 2007). "House OKs slots plan by 2 votes". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  35. ^ "Bethesda Pols Hosting Same-Sex Marriage Fundraiser". Bethesda Beat. October 3, 2012. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  36. ^ Wagner, John (March 15, 2013). "How the Maryland House voted on repealing the death penalty". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  37. ^ Cox, Erin (January 10, 2014). "Maryland lawmakers to take up anti-spying measures". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  38. ^ Kendrick, Lyle (March 10, 2014). "Technology bills would make it harder to monitor Marylanders". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  39. ^ "Legislation - SB0698". mgaleg.maryland.gov. Maryland General Assembly. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  40. ^ Kraut, Aaron (February 3, 2016). "Local State Delegate Introduces 'Right to Yelp' Law in Annapolis". Bethesda Magazine. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  41. ^ Opilo, Emily (October 1, 2020). "From hairstyles to child support, these are some of the new Maryland laws going into effect Thursday". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  42. ^ "Legislation - SB0329". mgaleg.maryland.gov. Maryland General Assembly. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  43. ^ Seif, Kimberly (March 30, 2021). "Bill to repeal spousal defense for sexual crimes moves to Maryland House of Delegates". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  44. ^ "Legislation - SB0250". mgaleg.maryland.gov. Maryland General Assembly. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  45. ^ Schere, Dan (April 11, 2019). "Montgomery Senator Holds A Different View on Widening I-270, Beltway". Bethesda Magazine. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  46. ^ Price, Lilly (February 24, 2022). "Maryland transportation officials approve plan to waive toll late fees during backlog of bills, customer service problems". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  47. ^ Oyefusi, Daniel (March 13, 2019). "Bills would permit high school voter registration in Maryland". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  48. ^ "Legislation - SB0934". mgaleg.maryland.gov. Maryland General Assembly. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  49. ^ "Official 2006 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for Legislative District 18". Maryland State Board of Elections.
  50. ^ "Official 2006 Gubernatorial General Election results for Legislative District 18". Maryland State Board of Elections.
  51. ^ "Official 2010 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections.
  52. ^ "Official 2010 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections.
  53. ^ "Official 2014 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections.
  54. ^ "Official 2014 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections.
  55. ^ "Official 2018 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for State Senator". Maryland State Board of Elections.
  56. ^ "Official 2018 Gubernatorial General Election results for State Senator". Maryland State Board of Elections.
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