Jazz Lewis

Jazz M. Lewis (born February 26, 1989) is an American politician and Democratic member of the Maryland House of Delegates^[1] and Democratic candidate for Maryland's 4th congressional district. Lewis represents Maryland's 24th district, currently serves on the House Appropriations Committee and is the chair of the Maryland House Democratic Caucus.^[2]

Official Jazz Lewis portrait.

Early life and education[]

Lewis was born in Silver Spring, Maryland. Lewis graduated from Charles H. Flowers High School in Springdale, Maryland in 2007. In 2011, he graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park with a Bachelor of Arts degree in government and politics. He later returned to the University of Maryland later to earn his Master of Public Policy.

Career[]

Jazz Lewis began his work as a campus organizer, organizing students on campus against proposed tuition increase, successfully pressuring campus administration to not increase tuition on campus. After earning his undergraduate degree, Lewis worked as a community organizer with Good Jobs, Better Baltimore, an affiliate of the Service Employees International Union focused on jobs and the economy. At GJBB, Lewis worked to intervene in the merger between BGE and Exelon energy, to ensure consumer protection provisions weren’t repealed, along with putting pressure on banks that preyed on low-income families. Lewis went on to work as a regional field director for Senator Ben Cardin’s 2012 re-election campaign, helping him win his re-election. During graduate school, Lewis worked at College Success Scholars, a program focused on increasing the retention and graduation rate of black and latino males at the University of Maryland. Lewis also worked in the University of Maryland Office of procurement and supply, assisting the director of business diversity in outreach and marketing procurement opportunities to minority and small businesses.

After graduation, Lewis went to work for U.S. Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, first working as his campaign manager, and currently serves as a Senior Advisor to him working on issues of housing, small business, and transportation. During the 2016 election, Lewis served as Maryland Political Director for Secretary Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign.^[3] Lewis is on the Board of Governors of the University of Maryland Alumni Association, is a founding member of the Prince George’s County Problem Solving Courts foundation, and a founding member of Progressive Prince George’s County. He lives in Glenarden Maryland with his wife, Aurin and son Miguel. He is a member of First Baptist Church of Glenarden.

Maryland House of Delegates[]

Lewis was appointed to a vacancy in the Maryland House of Delegates in February 2017 and was assigned to the Judiciary committee. In late-2018, House Speaker Michael E. Busch appointed Lewis to the position of vice chair of the House Democratic Caucus. After his passing, Lewis, along with then Caucus Chair Eric Luedtke, presided over the election of new House Speaker Adrienne Jones. In September 2019, Lewis was chosen to become the next chair of the Maryland House Democratic Caucus. He is a member of the House Appropriations Committee and serves on the Transportation and Environmental Subcommittee

References[]

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