Wikipedia

Aletheia McCaskill

Aletheia McCaskill (born September 30, 1971)[1] is an American politician and union activist who is a member of the Maryland House of Delegates for District 44B in Baltimore County, Maryland. She was previously a candidate for District 44 of the Maryland Senate in 2018.[2]

Aletheia McCaskill
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
from the 44B district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 11, 2023
Serving with Sheila Ruth
Preceded byPat Young
Personal details
Born (1971-09-30) September 30, 1971 (age 53)
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
ResidenceGwynn Oak, Maryland
EducationVilla Julie College (BS)
Community College of Baltimore County (AAS)
Notre Dame of Maryland University (BS)
OccupationChild care provider, union activist
WebsiteCampaign website

Background

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McCaskill graduated from Carver Vo-Tech High School in 1989. She later attended Villa Julie College, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in information systems in 1994, the Community College of Baltimore County, receiving an associate degree in early childhood development in 2010, and the Notre Dame of Maryland University, where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in early elementary education in 2021.[1]

McCaskill is the vice president of the SEIU Local 500 labor union, which represents teachers, child-care professionals, and part-time college faculty in Maryland and Washington, D.C.[3] She previously served as the leader of the union's bargaining committee and as the chairwoman of its Committee on Political Education (COPE).[4] She also previously worked as an early-learning and child-development specialist.[5]

In September 2017, McCaskill announced that she would run for Maryland Senate in District 44, challenging incumbent state senator Shirley Nathan-Pulliam.[6][7] In November 2017, McCaskill graduated from Emerge Maryland, a group dedicated to training and electing Democratic women to office.[4] Her candidacy was endorsed by SEIU Local 500[8] 1199SEIU,[9] and gubernatorial candidate Ben Jealous.[10] Despite an aggressive primary campaign, McCaskill lost to Nathan-Pulliam in the Democratic primary by a more than 2-1 margin.[11]

In 2022, McCaskill ran for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 44B. She came in second place alongside incumbent Sheila Ruth, receiving 23.0 percent of the vote in the Democratic primary. She was unopposed in the general election.[12]

In the legislature

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McCaskill in the House Appropriations Committee, 2024

McCaskill was sworn into the Maryland House of Delegates on January 11, 2023.[13] She is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.[14]

Political positions

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Minimum wage

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During the 2016 Baltimore mayoral election, McCaskill canvassed for then-mayoral candidate Catherine Pugh, motivated by her support for a bill to raise the city's minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2022. She was disheartened by Pugh's veto of said bill.[15]

During her 2018 state senate campaign, McCaskill said she would support raising the state's minimum wage to $15 an hour.[5]

Electoral history

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Maryland Senate District 44 Democratic primary election, 2018[16]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Shirley Nathan-Pulliam 10,217 67.3
Democratic Aletheia McCaskill 4,955 32.7
Maryland House of Delegates District 44B Democratic primary election, 2022[17]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sheila Ruth 5,774 25.8
Democratic Aletheia McCaskill 5,132 23.0
Democratic Aisha Khan 4,714 21.1
Democratic Bishop Barry Chapman 3,660 16.4
Democratic Patrick Cusack 1,644 7.4
Democratic Shazia Shah 1,420 6.4
Maryland House of Delegates District 44B election, 2022[18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sheila Ruth 19,682 51.21
Democratic Aletheia McCaskill 18,219 47.40
Write-in 532 1.38

References

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  1. ^ a b "Members – Delegate Aletheia McCaskill". mgaleg.maryland.gov. Maryland General Assembly. January 11, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  2. ^ DePuyt, Bruce; Kurtz, Josh (January 29, 2018). "Candidate Mentored by Sen. Kelley Will Run Against Her". Maryland Matters. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  3. ^ Shwe, Elizabeth (June 24, 2020). "Struggling Child Care Centers Need 'More Support Systems,' Lawmakers Told". Maryland Matters. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  4. ^ a b Kurtz, Josh (November 20, 2017). "Meet the Members of the New Emerge Maryland Class". Maryland Matters. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  5. ^ a b Boteler, Cody (June 11, 2018). "In Catonsville's District 44 primary, seven Democrats vie for General Assembly seats". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  6. ^ Dresser, Michael (September 7, 2017). "Del. Washington to challenge Conway for Baltimore Senate seat". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  7. ^ Shen, Fern (September 17, 2017). "McCray joins other candidates challenging Baltimore's old guard". Baltimore Brew. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  8. ^ Kurtz, Josh (May 8, 2018). "Union Opposing Senate President Backs Candidates Likely to Annoy Him". Maryland Matters. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  9. ^ Kurtz, Josh (April 24, 2018). "Political Notes: Teachers Back Edwards in Prince George's; SEIU Targets Senators". Maryland Matters. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  10. ^ Dresser, Michael (June 26, 2018). "Two Baltimore state senators defeated in Maryland General Assembly races; Conway trails in tight contest". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  11. ^ Kurtz, Josh (December 1, 2019). "Senate Committee Vice Chair Resigns". Maryland Matters. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  12. ^ Gaskill, Hannah (August 2, 2022). "Del. Chanel Branch loses her seat in the House as Baltimore City and County primary races settle". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  13. ^ "Aletheia R. McCaskill, Maryland State Delegate". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. May 30, 2023. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  14. ^ Gaines, Danielle E. (January 5, 2023). "Jones announces new Democratic caucus, committee leaders for 2023 General Assembly session". Maryland Matters. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  15. ^ Shen, Fern (April 2, 2017). "What lessons for labor in Pugh minimum wage flip?". Baltimore Brew. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  16. ^ "Official 2018 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for State Senator". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. July 31, 2018.
  17. ^ "Official 2022 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. August 24, 2022.
  18. ^ "Official 2022 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. December 7, 2022.
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