Historic Transition as House Elects Peña-Melnyk Speaker

During a special session this week, the Maryland House of Delegates elected Joseline Peña-Melnyk as the next Speaker, marking another historic moment for the chamber as it prepares for a challenging fiscal and policy year ahead.

Speaker Peña-Melnyk becomes the first Afro-Latina and immigrant to lead the House. She steps into the role with unanimous support from her colleagues following Speaker Adrienne Jones’s decision earlier this month to step aside after more than six years at the helm.

A longtime delegate representing Anne Arundel and Prince George’s Counties, Peña-Melnyk brings nearly two decades of legislative experience and, most recently, chaired the Health and Government Operations Committee.

In her remarks to the chamber, she credited Jones with breaking barriers and opening doors for a new generation of leadership, while setting a tone of fairness, accountability, and steadiness. Speaker Peña-Melnyk emphasized an all-boats-rise approach, stressing that leadership means recognizing that “every county matters, every voice matters.”

Speaker Peña-Melnyk outlined priorities that include affordability, access to education and health care, public safety, and sustainability. She also acknowledged fiscal pressures, citing the looming budget gap and the need for a disciplined approach as lawmakers head into the 2026 session.

Senate President Bill Ferguson and Governor Wes Moore both welcomed Peña-Melnyk’s elevation and emphasized the importance of close coordination between chambers as budget work begins in earnest. The Speaker selection also sets the stage for upcoming decisions on committee leadership and the House’s broader policy posture entering the next session.

MACo looks forward to working with Speaker Peña-Melnyk on the shared priorities facing counties, particularly budget pressures, infrastructure needs, and the state–local partnership that underpins effective governance.

Stay tuned to Conduit Street for more information.