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Brenda Thiam
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
from the 2B district
In office
October 6, 2020 – January 11, 2023
Appointed byLarry Hogan
Preceded byPaul D. Corderman
Succeeded byBrooke Grossman
Personal details
Born (1969-09-09) September 9, 1969 (age 55)
Raeford, North Carolina, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic (before 2012)
Republican (since 2012)
SpouseMam Thiam
Children1
EducationNorth Carolina Central University (BS)
University of Maryland, College Park (MEd)
Capella University (PhD)
Pennsylvania State University (GradCert)
Signature
WebsiteOfficial website

Brenda Jeanette Thiam (born September 9, 1969) is an American politician who was a member of the Maryland House of Delegates from District 2B from 2020 to 2023. A member of the Republican Party, she was the first African-American Republican woman to serve in the Maryland General Assembly. In 2024, she unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in Maryland's 6th congressional district, losing to former state delegate Neil Parrott in the Republican primary election.

Early life and education

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Brenda Jeanette Thiam[1] was born and raised in Raeford, North Carolina on September 9, 1969.[2] She was one of four children and was raised in a single-mother family after her father, a radio personality, filed for divorce and moved to Memphis, Tennessee.[3]

Thiam graduated from Hoke County High School in 1987, and later attended North Carolina Central University in 1994, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education. She later attended the University of Maryland, College Park, earning a Master of Education degree in 2002; Capella University, where she earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in special-education leadership in 2015; and Pennsylvania State University, where she earned a graduate certificate in applied behavior management in 2017.[2]

Career

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Early career

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After graduating from North Carolina Central University, Thiam worked as a special-education teacher for Washington County Public Schools[4] and for various nonprofits until 2019,[2] While working for the Washington County Public Schools, she secured a $100,000 grant to support the ongoing education of teachers for students with intellectual disabilities.[5] Thiam lost her job just before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic,[6] after which she started her own nonprofit, Oasis Community Support Services Inc., to support the needs of adults with autism.[7]

Thiam first got involved in politics as a member of student government in school.[8] She was a registered Democrat until 2012, when she switched to the Republican Party.[9] From 2016 to 2018, she served as the vice president of the Washington County Republican Club.[2] In 2016, she applied to fill a vacancy on the Washington County Board of Commissioners,[10] which was filled by Wayne Keefer, a small-business owner.[11] In 2020, Thiam successfully ran for the Hagerstown City Council, placing sixth in the nonpartisan primary.[12] Thiam later withdrew from the race after being appointed to the Maryland House of Delegates, but she remained on the ballot for the general election.[13]

Maryland House of Delegates

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In September 2020, following the appointment of Paul D. Corderman to the Maryland Senate, Thiam applied to fill the vacancy left by his resignation in the Maryland House of Delegates.[14] The Washington County Republican Central Committee nominated Thiam to fill the vacancy later that month,[5] and she was appointed to the seat by Governor Larry Hogan on September 23, 2020.[15]

Thiam was sworn into the Maryland House of Delegates on October 6, 2020, where she served on the House Judiciary Committee[2] and was a member of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland.[16] She was the first black Republican woman to serve in the Maryland General Assembly[15] and the first black Republican to serve in the legislature in the nearly three decades since Aris T. Allen died in office in 1991.[17] In 2022, Thiam was appointed deputy minority whip.[18]

Thiam ran for election in 2022, seeking a full term in the Maryland House of Delegates. She won the Republican primary election on July 19, 2022,[19] but was defeated by Democratic challenger Brooke Grossman in the general election on November 8.[20][21] Following her defeat, Thiam called on the Republican Party to "embrace" mail-in voting if it hoped to win future elections.[22]

2024 congressional campaign

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Main article: 2024 Maryland's 6th congressional district election

On June 20, 2023, Thiam filed to run for Congress in Maryland's 6th congressional district in 2024 to succeed David Trone.[23] She announced her candidacy on July 25, 2023.[24] During the Republican primary, she ran on a platform[citation needed] including tackling the opioid epidemic and requiring recipients of disability benefits to undergo additional assessments to determine whether they're still eligible to continue receiving benefits.[25] Thiam was defeated in the Republican primary election by former state delegate Neil Parrott on May 14, 2024, placing second-to-last with 3.3 percent of the vote.[26]

Political positions

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Governor Larry Hogan and Brenda Thiam stand in front of an excavator with the banner "Groundbreaking Ceremony 2022"
Thiam with Governor Larry Hogan, 2022

During her run for Hagerstown city council, Thiam said she supported addressing the opioid epidemic and improving the city's bond credit rating, and opposed raising taxes.[27] Upon being appointed to the Maryland House of Delegates, she said that her legislative priorities included the opioid epidemic and the Blueprint for Maryland's Future,[5] which she opposed.[28] She also described herself as "pro-life", expressing interest in working with legislators to promote family planning options other than abortions,[29] and said she opposed the "defund the police" movement.[3] Thiam supported the reelection campaign of President Donald Trump in the 2020 United States presidential election.[30]

During the 2021 legislative session, Thiam introduced a bill that would require students to pass a civics test before they could graduate from high school, as well as the "Learning at Home Relief Act", which would provide a $250 per child tax credit toward costs associated with online school, such as child care and internet services. Both bills failed to move out of committee.[31][32] She also voted for the Maryland Police Accountability Act of 2021, which repealed the Law Enforcement Officers' Bill of Rights,[33] and against the Plastic Bag Reduction Act, a bill to ban the sale of plastic bags and to require stores to charge a minimum of 10 cents for paper bags.[34] In February 2021, during debate on a bill to extend the earned-income tax credit to immigrants, Thiam introduced an amendment that required that benefits only go to "taxpayers of lawful status in the United States". The amendment was rejected by a 48-91 vote.[35]

In October 2021, Thiam was one of five Maryland state legislators from Garrett, Allegany and Washington counties who sent a pair of letters to West Virginia officials asking about annexation of Western Maryland to West Virginia.[36] The letters were later withdrawn by their authors, House Minority Leader Jason C. Buckel and state senator George C. Edwards, following criticism from local officials and some constituents.[37]

During the 2022 legislative session, Thiam introduced a bill to allow municipalities to establish Police Accountability Boards and another to prohibit dirt bike drivers from committing motor vehicle offenses; both bills died in committee.[38][39] She also expressed concerns with proposals to legalize recreational marijuana in Maryland, questioning whether black Marylanders would be able to make money from the recreational market.[40] In March 2022, during debate on a bill creating a statewide ballot referendum on codifying the right to abortion access, Thiam introduced an amendment requiring the Maryland Department of Health to collect data regarding abortions performed in the state, including gestational age and number of abortions performed. The amendment was rejected by the Maryland House of Delegates by a 39-83 vote.[41]

In January 2022, Thiam filed a lawsuit against the legislative district maps drawn by the Maryland General Assembly during the 2020 redistricting cycle, seeking to replace the newly passed map with one that uses only single-member districts.[42][43] The Maryland Court of Appeals ruled 4-3 against the plaintiffs in April 2022, upholding the legislature's map.[44][45]

In April 2022, following a spike in gas prices as the result of the Russo-Ukrainian War, Thiam supported Maryland's brief gas tax holiday, which she later made efforts to extend by an additional 45 days.[46][47] She also introduced legislation to decouple the state's gas tax from inflation, which failed to pass out of committee.[48]

In July 2022, Thiam said that she supported voter identification requirements, automatic voter registration, and increased purging of voter rolls.[49]

In 2023, Thiam testified in support of a bill to allow municipalities to enforce laws against driving dirt bikes on public roads.[50]

During her 2024 congressional campaign, Thiam said that she supported restarting construction on the Trump wall and opposed mask and vaccine mandates imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.[51] She also said that she disagreed with Judge Deborah Boardman's ruling against requiring the Montgomery County Public Schools system to provide parents with the ability to opt their students out of classroom instruction on LGBTQ topics,[52] and opposed removing Donald Trump from the 2024 presidential election ballot under the Fourteenth Amendment, saying that she did not believe that the January 6 U.S. Capitol attack was an insurrection. Thiam also expressed support for abolishing the U.S. Department of Education.[53]

In October 2023, amid the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel and subsequent Israel–Hamas war, Thiam expressed support for Israel and its right to defend itself, as well as the expansion of the Abraham Accords and humanitarian efforts in Gaza;[54] however, she later said that she opposed giving foreign aid to any country without first addressing domestic issues and implementing limits on how much aid could be given and for how long.[55] Thiam also opposed calls for a ceasefire in the war, saying that it would allow Hamas to retreat and restrategize for another, deadlier attack on Israel.[56]

Personal life

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Thiam is married to her husband, Mam Malick Thiam, who migrated to the United States from Guinea in 2000 and unsuccessfully ran for Washington County Treasurer in 2022.[6] Thiam moved to Germantown, Maryland in 1995. Together, they moved to Hagerstown in October 2006,[57] and have a daughter.[58]

In July 2022, Thiam and her daughter were involved in a car crash in Hagerstown. Both were transported to Meritus Medical Center with minor injuries, and were released later that day.[59]

Electoral history

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Hagerstown City Council primary election, 2020[60]
Candidate Votes %
Kristin B. Aleshire 3,762 13.2
Shelley McIntire 3,052 10.7
Bob Bruchey 2,517 8.8
Tiara Burnett 2,513 8.8
Penny May Nigh 2,451 8.6
Brenda J. Thiam 2,420 8.5
Peter E. Perini, Sr 2,021 7.1
Austin Heffernan 1,990 7.0
Tekesha Martinez 1,972 6.9
Brooke Grossman 1,907 6.7
Chip Snyder 1,825 6.4
Matthew J. Schindler 1,586 5.5
Travis Aaron Sites 585 2.0
Hagerstown City Council election, 2020[61]
Candidate Votes %
Tiara Burnett 6,840 13.6
Kristin B. Aleshire 6,178 12.5
Tekesha A. Martinez 5,601 11.3
Shelley McIntire 5,380 10.8
Bob Bruchey 4,770 9.6
Peter E. Perini, Sr. 4,717 9.5
Brooke Grossman 4,293 8.7
Penny May Nigh 4,024 8.1
Austin Heffernan 3,817 7.7
Brenda J. Thiam (withdrawn) 3,772 7.6
Write-in 202 0.4
Maryland House of Delegates District 2B Republican primary election, 2022[62]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Brenda J. Thiam (incumbent) 916 54.2
Republican Thomas Stolz 773 45.8
Maryland House of Delegates District 2B election, 2022[63]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Brooke Grossman 5,001 54.2
Republican Brenda J. Thiam (incumbent) 4,222 45.7
Write-in 12 0.1
Maryland's 6th congressional district Republican primary results, 2024[64]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Neil Parrott 22,604 45.9
Republican Dan Cox 14,797 30.1
Republican Mariela Roca 6,071 12.3
Republican Tom Royals 2,060 4.2
Republican Chris Hyser 1,625 3.3
Republican Brenda Thiam 1,607 3.3
Republican Todd Puglisi (withdrawn) 446 0.9

References

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  1. ^ "Women's Legislative Summit Speaker bios". The Daily Record. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Brenda J. Thiam, Maryland State Delegate". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. October 7, 2020. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  3. ^ a b Sears, Bryan P. (October 6, 2020). "Thiam makes history as Md.'s first Black woman GOP delegate". The Daily Record. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  4. ^ Lammers, Carlee (April 13, 2016). "North High students learn to hear the 'voices' of autism". The Herald-Mail. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c Shea, Tim (September 22, 2020). "Thiam 'very excited' to be nominated to fill Md. House delegate seat". The Herald-Mail. Hagerstown, Maryland. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  6. ^ a b McMillion, Dave (July 18, 2022). "Washington County treasurer candidate's legal woes extended to 2010". The Herald-Mail. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  7. ^ "Thiam breaks barriers as she's sworn in to represent Washington County". The Herald-Mail. October 6, 2020. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  8. ^ Fitzpatrick, Alexis (September 9, 2020). "Discussion shows personal side of Hagerstown's female council candidates". The Herald-Mail. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  9. ^ Waldman, Tyler (October 7, 2020). "Thiam, first Black Republican woman to serve as state delegate, 'excited' for new role". WBAL (AM). Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  10. ^ Lovelace, CJ (March 1, 2016). "Wivell 'unofficially withdraws' from BOE race". The Herald-Mail. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  11. ^ Lovelace, CJ (March 22, 2016). "Keefer's nomination to county commission goes to Md. Senate floor this week". The Herald-Mail. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  12. ^ "Official 2020 Presidential Primary Election results for Washington County". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. July 2, 2020. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  13. ^ Nowell, Joyce F. (September 23, 2020). "Now appointed, Thiam anxious to get to work in Annapolis". The Herald-Mail. Hagerstown, Maryland. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  14. ^ Greene, Julie E. (September 10, 2020). "Four Hagerstown council candidates apply for state delegate seat". The Herald-Mail. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  15. ^ a b "Governor Hogan Announces Appointment of Dr. Brenda J. Thiam to the Maryland House of Delegates". Official Website for the Governor of Maryland (Press release). September 23, 2020. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  16. ^ Kurtz, Josh (September 24, 2020). "Legislative Black Caucus Welcomes Republican Into the Fold". Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  17. ^ Kurtz, Josh (September 24, 2020). "Legislative Black Caucus Welcomes Republican Into the Fold". Maryland Matters. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  18. ^ Baker, Tamela; Garcia, Michael D. (January 17, 2022). "Thiam appointed deputy minority whip; Washington County delegates talk liquor". The Herald-Mail. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  19. ^ "Live updates: Holsinger overtakes Albert for sheriff". The Herald-Mail. July 19, 2022. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  20. ^ Greene, Julie E. (November 10, 2022). "Republican incumbent concedes Maryland House of Delegates seat after more ballots counted". The Herald-Mail. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  21. ^ Gaines, Danielle E.; Kurtz, Josh (November 11, 2022). "Counting continues: Democratic legislators in tight races and Rep. David Trone claim victory". Maryland Matters. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  22. ^ Allen, Sasha (December 1, 2022). "Maryland Republicans who lost midterms say party should prioritize mail-in voting". The Diamondback. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  23. ^ Fernandez, Madison (June 20, 2023). "How abortion is playing into Tuesday's elections in Virginia". Politico. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  24. ^ Bixby, Ginny; Peck, Louis (July 25, 2023). "Political Notes: New faces join race for 6th Congressional District". MoCo360. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  25. ^ "Republican congressional candidates weigh in on Western Maryland's top priorities". The Herald-Mail. April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  26. ^ Shepherd, Katie; Asbury, Nicole; Portnoy, Jenna (May 14, 2024). "April McClain Delaney to face Neil Parrott in Md. 6th District in Nov". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  27. ^ Fitzpatrick, Alexis (September 10, 2020). "10 candidates vying for 5 Hagerstown council seats". The Herald-Mail. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  28. ^ O'Neill, Madeleine (February 8, 2021). "Maryland House overrides Hogan's veto of Kirwan school funding bill". The Herald-Mail. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  29. ^ Nowell, Joyce F. (September 23, 2020). "Now appointed, Thiam anxious to get to work in Annapolis". The Herald-Mail. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  30. ^ Henry, John (October 9, 2020). "Meet Maryland's first Black female Republican state legislator". WUSA-TV. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  31. ^ Shwe, Elizabeth (January 29, 2021). "Republican Delegates Offer Bills Pushing In-Person Learning". Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  32. ^ Lewis, Mike (May 13, 2021). "Lawmakers discuss Washington County's gains from 2021 session". The Herald-Mail. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  33. ^ Gaskill, Hannah; Kurtz, Josh (April 8, 2021). "General Assembly Passes Police Reform Package On to the Governor". Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  34. ^ Greene, Julie E. (April 2, 2021). "Republican leaders condemn as racist remarks directed at delegate". The Herald-Mail. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  35. ^ Leckrone, Bennett (February 26, 2021). "After Debate, House Approves Relief for Tax-Paying Immigrants". Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  36. ^ Lewis, Mike (October 25, 2021). "Notion of moving Western Maryland to West Virginia 'a dead issue,' Wivell says". The Herald-Mail. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  37. ^ Larry, Greg (October 24, 2021). "Western Maryland secession effort loses support". The Frederick News-Post. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  38. ^ Hogan, Jack (April 27, 2022). "Mayors content with county's Police Accountability Board, but they might want their own". The Frederick News-Post. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  39. ^ Garcia, Michael D. (May 9, 2022). "Washington County delegation touts monetary wins during annual post-legislative forum". The Herald-Mail. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  40. ^ Wood, Pamela (February 14, 2022). "Maryland lawmakers get first look at plan for full marijuana legalization". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  41. ^ Gaskill, Hannah (March 9, 2022). "After Republican Amendment Attempts, House Moves Forward with Abortion Access Bills". Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  42. ^ Garcia, Michael D. (February 15, 2022). "Western Maryland, Eastern Shore delegates file petition against new legislative maps". The Herald-Mail. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  43. ^ Stole, Bryn; Wood, Pamela (February 10, 2022). "Maryland Republican delegates ask state's highest court to throw out new General Assembly district map". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  44. ^ Stole, Bryn (April 13, 2022). "Maryland's highest court rejects legislative map challenge, clearing way for July 19 primary". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  45. ^ Lash, Steve (September 1, 2022). "Just-released opinion reveals Md. high court approved redistricting by single vote". The Daily Record. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  46. ^ Shwe, Elizabeth (April 7, 2022). "Republican Lawmakers Fail in Attempt to Extend Gas Tax Holiday". Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  47. ^ Dance, Scott; Knezevich, Alison (April 15, 2022). "Maryland gas prices set to surge above $4 per gallon Sunday as monthlong tax holiday expires". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  48. ^ Greene, Julie E. (March 17, 2022). "Maryland set to get break on gas tax, but for how long?". The Herald-Mail. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  49. ^ "Hagerstown's delegate in Annapolis faces primary challengers from GOP, Democrats". The Herald-Mail. July 6, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  50. ^ Weingarten, Dwight A. (March 3, 2023). "Dirt bikes on Maryland streets: Road toward solution from Annapolis filled with obstacles". The Herald-Mail. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  51. ^ Kurtz, Josh (September 21, 2023). "GOP candidates bash Biden in first forum for Trone's congressional seat". Maryland Matters. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  52. ^ Bixby, Ginny (September 21, 2023). "Republican hopefuls for Maryland's Sixth Congressional District largely agree on national security, parental involvement in school curriculum". MoCo360. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  53. ^ Bixby, Ginny (February 19, 2024). "Race for GOP nomination heats up at Maryland 6th Congressional District forum". MoCo360. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  54. ^ Bixby, Ginny (October 31, 2023). "How do Maryland's Sixth Congressional District candidates think the Israel-Hamas crisis should be handled?". MoCo360. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  55. ^ Pagnucco, Adam (April 25, 2024). "CD6 Questionnaire: America's Top Foreign Policy Challenge". Montgomery Perspective. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  56. ^ Pagnucco, Adam (April 29, 2024). "CD6 Questionnaire: Unconditional Ceasefire in Gaza". Montgomery Perspective. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  57. ^ Fitzpatrick, Alexis (November 7, 2019). "Legislators discuss medical marijuana caregiver laws, transportation, speed cameras with residents". The Herald-Mail. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  58. ^ "Hagerstown student attends STEM camp". The Herald-Mail. September 11, 2016. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  59. ^ Garcia, Michael D. (July 12, 2022). "Del. Brenda Thiam involved in car crash Sunday afternoon". The Herald-Mail. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  60. ^ "Official 2020 Presidential Primary Election results for Washington County". Maryland State Board of Elections.
  61. ^ "Official 2020 Presidential General Election results for Washington County". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. December 4, 2020. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  62. ^ "Official 2022 Gubernatorial Primary Election Results for House of Delegates". msa.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  63. ^ "Official 2022 Gubernatorial General Election Results for House of Delegates". msa.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  64. ^ "Unofficial 2024 Presidential Primary Election Results for Representative in Congress". Maryland State Board of Elections. May 31, 2024. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
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