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Ashanti Martinez
Ashanti F. Martinez (born April 25, 1996) is an American politician who has served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates from District 22 in Prince George's County, since 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, he was appointed to the seat by Governor Wes Moore to fill a vacancy left by the appointment of Alonzo T. Washington to the Maryland Senate.
Ashanti F. Martinez was born on April 25, 1996, in Washington, D.C. He grew up in a working-class family and was educated at Parkdale High School. Martinez graduated from Howard University with a bachelor's degree in political science in 2018.
Martinez first got involved with politics when he was 14 years old as a member of the Prince George's County Young Democrats. In 2016, Martinez worked on the congressional campaign of state delegate Joseline Peña-Melnyk. After graduating from Howard University, he worked as the director of constituent services for Prince George's County councilmember Tom Dernoga. He then worked as a research and policy analyst for CASA de Maryland. Martinez also worked as an intern for U.S. Representatives Elijah Cummings and Steny Hoyer, an aide to the Maryland Legislative Latino Caucus, and as a campaign manager for Arkansas House of Representatives candidate Vivian Flowers.
In April 2017, Martinez announced that he would run for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 22. He was defeated in the Democratic primary, placing fifth with 10.1 percent of the vote.
In August 2021, Martinez announced that he would again run for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 22, challenging incumbent state delegate Anne Healey. During the primary, he ran on a platform of improving education, transportation, infrastructure, health care, criminal justice reform, and the environment. He also ran on the issue of abortion, highlighting Healey's opposition to abortion rights. Martinez received endorsements from Pro-Choice Maryland Action and CASA de Maryland. Martinez came in fourth place in the Democratic primary, receiving 13.91 percent of the vote. Following his defeat, he became chief of staff for Prince George's County councilmember Krystal Oriadha.
In January 2023, Martinez filed to run for the nomination to fill the vacancy left by Alonzo T. Washington in District 22 of the Maryland House of Delegates. He was the only one to apply to the open seat and was nominated by the Prince George's County Democratic Central Committee on February 9.
Martinez was into the Maryland House of Delegates on February 24, 2023. He is a member of the House Health and Government Operations Committee. He is the first Latino to represent District 22, and the first openly gay person to represent Prince George's County in the Maryland General Assembly. In December 2025, House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk named Martinez as the House majority whip, succeeding Jazz Lewis, who resigned following the 2025 special legislative session.
In May 2022, Martinez signed a Chesapeake Climate Action Network resolution to move Maryland to 100 percent carbon-free electricity by 2035 and to remove trash incineration from the state's "clean energy" classification.
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Ashanti Martinez
Ashanti F. Martinez (born April 25, 1996) is an American politician who has served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates from District 22 in Prince George's County, since 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, he was appointed to the seat by Governor Wes Moore to fill a vacancy left by the appointment of Alonzo T. Washington to the Maryland Senate.
Ashanti F. Martinez was born on April 25, 1996, in Washington, D.C. He grew up in a working-class family and was educated at Parkdale High School. Martinez graduated from Howard University with a bachelor's degree in political science in 2018.
Martinez first got involved with politics when he was 14 years old as a member of the Prince George's County Young Democrats. In 2016, Martinez worked on the congressional campaign of state delegate Joseline Peña-Melnyk. After graduating from Howard University, he worked as the director of constituent services for Prince George's County councilmember Tom Dernoga. He then worked as a research and policy analyst for CASA de Maryland. Martinez also worked as an intern for U.S. Representatives Elijah Cummings and Steny Hoyer, an aide to the Maryland Legislative Latino Caucus, and as a campaign manager for Arkansas House of Representatives candidate Vivian Flowers.
In April 2017, Martinez announced that he would run for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 22. He was defeated in the Democratic primary, placing fifth with 10.1 percent of the vote.
In August 2021, Martinez announced that he would again run for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 22, challenging incumbent state delegate Anne Healey. During the primary, he ran on a platform of improving education, transportation, infrastructure, health care, criminal justice reform, and the environment. He also ran on the issue of abortion, highlighting Healey's opposition to abortion rights. Martinez received endorsements from Pro-Choice Maryland Action and CASA de Maryland. Martinez came in fourth place in the Democratic primary, receiving 13.91 percent of the vote. Following his defeat, he became chief of staff for Prince George's County councilmember Krystal Oriadha.
In January 2023, Martinez filed to run for the nomination to fill the vacancy left by Alonzo T. Washington in District 22 of the Maryland House of Delegates. He was the only one to apply to the open seat and was nominated by the Prince George's County Democratic Central Committee on February 9.
Martinez was into the Maryland House of Delegates on February 24, 2023. He is a member of the House Health and Government Operations Committee. He is the first Latino to represent District 22, and the first openly gay person to represent Prince George's County in the Maryland General Assembly. In December 2025, House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk named Martinez as the House majority whip, succeeding Jazz Lewis, who resigned following the 2025 special legislative session.
In May 2022, Martinez signed a Chesapeake Climate Action Network resolution to move Maryland to 100 percent carbon-free electricity by 2035 and to remove trash incineration from the state's "clean energy" classification.
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