27 Facts About Richard Madaleno

Richard Madaleno served as chair of the Montgomery County Senate Delegation from 2008 to 2011.

Richard Madaleno previously served four years in the House of Delegates.

On July 17,2017, Richard Madaleno ran for the Democratic nomination for the 2018 Maryland gubernatorial election.

Richard Madaleno then went to Syracuse University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1987 and a Master of Public Administration in 1989.

On leaving university, Richard Madaleno began his career in Maryland government, working first for the Maryland General Assembly's Department of Fiscal Services, which provides staff support to Senators and Delegates.

Richard Madaleno served in that capacity until his election to the House of Delegates in 2002.

Richard Madaleno is considered an expert in the state budget process and serves on the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee.

Richard Madaleno placed second, out of seven candidates, in the Democratic primary election in September 2002 and, along with his two fellow Democratic nominees, faced no Republican opponents in the general election.

Richard Madaleno decided to seek the Senate seat and quickly established himself as the leading candidate.

Richard Madaleno's was the only open Senate seat in the whole of Maryland that did not see a primary contest.

In 2007, Richard Madaleno sponsored legislation to increase the value of the Maryland Refundable Earned Income Tax Credit, an anti-poverty tool.

Richard Madaleno co-sponsored the law requiring equal pay for equal work.

Richard Madaleno co-sponsored a bill to allow counties to enact public financing for county elections.

Richard Madaleno co-sponsored a bill to increase the number of early-voting centers, and he fought attempts by Republicans to close early voting centers in populous areas of Montgomery County.

Richard Madaleno has led efforts to improve public education and worked for equitable distribution of funding to public schools throughout Maryland.

Richard Madaleno authored the Hunger-Free Schools Act of 2017; as a result, qualified students across Maryland now receive free breakfast and lunch.

Richard Madaleno co-sponsored legislation expanding eligibility for tax credits for college savings and for those saddled with student loan debt, as well as a "tuition freeze" for Maryland college students from 2007 to 2010.

The Washington Post credits Richard Madaleno with helping to keep college affordable in Maryland.

Richard Madaleno co-sponsored the law implementing the Affordable Care Act in Maryland; a 2017 law against price gouging by generic drug manufacturers; the Firearms Safety Act of 2013, which bans assault weapons and high-capacity magazines; a number of environmental regulations, including a ban on fracking; and legislation to improve public transit.

In 2017, Richard Madaleno worked with Maryland's congressional delegation to restore federal funding for programs that protect the Chesapeake Bay.

In May 2017, Richard Madaleno declared his candidacy to be Governor of Maryland.

In February 2018, Richard Madaleno announced that his running mate was business executive and former O'Malley appointee Luwanda Jenkins.

Richard Madaleno would have been the first Italian-American and the first openly gay governor of Maryland.

In November 2018, it was announced that Richard Madaleno would be nominated to serve as budget director for Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich.

Richard Madaleno was the first person to be elected to the General Assembly as an openly gay candidate.

Richard Madaleno is the first openly gay Maryland state senator.

Richard Madaleno is a member of Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church, where he has chaired the Social Justice Council and taught Sunday School.