Aletheia McCaskill
{{Short description|American politician (born 1971)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Aletheia McCaskill
| image = Aletheia McCaskill at the Legislative Black Caucus Breakfast.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| state_delegate = Maryland
| district = 44B
| term_start = January 11, 2023
| term_end =
| alongside = Sheila Ruth
| predecessor = Pat Young
| successor =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1971|9|30}}
| birth_place = Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
| party = Democratic
| spouse =
| children =
| residence = Gwynn Oak, Maryland
| education = Villa Julie College (BS)
Community College of Baltimore County (AAS)
Notre Dame of Maryland University (BS)
| alma_mater =
| occupation = Child care provider, union activist
| profession =
| website = [https://www.mccaskill4md.com/ Campaign website]
}}
Aletheia McCaskill (born September 30, 1971){{cite web |title=Members – Delegate Aletheia McCaskill |url=https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Members/Details/mccaskill01 |website=mgaleg.maryland.gov |publisher=Maryland General Assembly |access-date=January 11, 2023 |date=January 11, 2023}} is an American politician and union activist who is a member of the Maryland House of Delegates for District 44B in Baltimore County, Maryland. She was previously a candidate for District 44 of the Maryland Senate in 2018.{{cite news |last1=DePuyt |first1=Bruce |last2=Kurtz |first2=Josh |title=Candidate Mentored by Sen. Kelley Will Run Against Her |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2018/01/29/candidate-mentored-by-sen-kelley-will-run-against-her/ |access-date=August 15, 2022 |work=Maryland Matters |date=January 29, 2018}}
Background
McCaskill graduated from Carver Vo-Tech High School in 1989. She later attended Villa Julie College, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in information systems in 1994, the Community College of Baltimore County, receiving an associate degree in early childhood development in 2010, and the Notre Dame of Maryland University, where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in early elementary education in 2021.
McCaskill is the vice president of the SEIU Local 500 labor union, which represents teachers, child-care professionals, and part-time college faculty in Maryland and Washington, D.C.{{cite news |last1=Shwe |first1=Elizabeth |title=Struggling Child Care Centers Need 'More Support Systems,' Lawmakers Told |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2020/06/24/struggling-child-care-centers-need-more-support-systems-lawmakers-told/ |access-date=August 15, 2022 |work=Maryland Matters |date=June 24, 2020}} She previously served as the leader of the union's bargaining committee and as the chairwoman of its Committee on Political Education (COPE). She also previously worked as an early-learning and child-development specialist.{{cite news |last1=Boteler |first1=Cody |title=In Catonsville's District 44 primary, seven Democrats vie for General Assembly seats |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/baltimore-county/ph-ca-district-44-primary-20180607-story.html |access-date=August 15, 2022 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=June 11, 2018}}
In September 2017, McCaskill announced that she would run for Maryland Senate in District 44, challenging incumbent state senator Shirley Nathan-Pulliam.{{cite news |last1=Dresser |first1=Michael |title=Del. Washington to challenge Conway for Baltimore Senate seat |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-washington-conway-20170907-story.html |access-date=August 15, 2022 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=September 7, 2017}}{{cite news |last1=Shen |first1=Fern |title=McCray joins other candidates challenging Baltimore’s old guard |url=https://baltimorebrew.com/2017/09/17/mccray-joins-other-candidates-challenging-baltimores-old-guard/ |access-date=August 15, 2022 |work=Baltimore Brew |date=September 17, 2017}} In November 2017, McCaskill graduated from Emerge Maryland, a group dedicated to training and electing Democratic women to office.{{cite news |last1=Kurtz |first1=Josh |title=Meet the Members of the New Emerge Maryland Class |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2017/11/20/meet-the-members-of-the-new-emerge-maryland-class/ |access-date=August 15, 2022 |work=Maryland Matters |date=November 20, 2017}} Her candidacy was endorsed by SEIU Local 500{{cite news |last1=Kurtz |first1=Josh |title=Union Opposing Senate President Backs Candidates Likely to Annoy Him |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2018/05/08/union-opposing-senate-president-backs-candidates-likely-to-annoy-him/ |access-date=August 15, 2022 |work=Maryland Matters |date=May 8, 2018}} 1199SEIU,{{cite news |last1=Kurtz |first1=Josh |title=Political Notes: Teachers Back Edwards in Prince George's; SEIU Targets Senators |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2018/04/24/political-notes-teachers-back-edwards-in-prince-george-39-s-seiu-targets-senators/ |access-date=August 15, 2022 |work=Maryland Matters |date=April 24, 2018}} and gubernatorial candidate Ben Jealous.{{cite news |last1=Dresser |first1=Michael |title=Two Baltimore state senators defeated in Maryland General Assembly races; Conway trails in tight contest |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-assembly-20180626-story.html |access-date=August 15, 2022 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=June 26, 2018}} Despite an aggressive primary campaign, McCaskill lost to Nathan-Pulliam in the Democratic primary by a more than 2-1 margin.{{cite news |last1=Kurtz |first1=Josh |title=Senate Committee Vice Chair Resigns |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2019/12/01/senate-committee-vice-chair-resigns/ |access-date=August 15, 2022 |work=Maryland Matters |date=December 1, 2019}}
In 2022, McCaskill ran for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 44B. She came in second place alongside incumbent Sheila Ruth, receiving 23.0 percent of the vote in the Democratic primary. She was unopposed in the general election.{{cite news |last1=Gaskill |first1=Hannah |title=Del. Chanel Branch loses her seat in the House as Baltimore City and County primary races settle |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/elections/bs-md-pol-city-county-primary-results-20220802-xbvm5dnodfadhaumka4l7bch4e-story.html |access-date=August 15, 2022 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=August 2, 2022}}
In the legislature
File:ENOUGH Act Hearing (53559821985) (McCaskill crop).jpg
McCaskill was sworn into the Maryland House of Delegates on January 11, 2023.{{cite web |title=Aletheia R. McCaskill, Maryland State Delegate |url=https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa18404.html |access-date=August 5, 2023 |work=Maryland Manual On-Line |publisher=Maryland State Archives |date=May 30, 2023}} She is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.{{cite news |last1=Gaines |first1=Danielle E. |title=Jones announces new Democratic caucus, committee leaders for 2023 General Assembly session |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2023/01/05/jones-announces-new-democratic-caucus-committee-leaders-for-2023-general-assembly-session/ |access-date=January 5, 2023 |work=Maryland Matters |date=January 5, 2023}}
Political positions
= Minimum wage =
During the 2016 Baltimore mayoral election, McCaskill canvassed for then-mayoral candidate Catherine Pugh, motivated by her support for a bill to raise the city's minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2022. She was disheartened by Pugh's veto of said bill.{{cite news |last1=Shen |first1=Fern |title=What lessons for labor in Pugh minimum wage flip? |url=https://www.baltimorebrew.com/2017/04/02/what-lessons-for-labor-in-pugh-minimum-wage-flip/ |access-date=August 15, 2022 |work=Baltimore Brew |date=April 2, 2017}}
During her 2018 state senate campaign, McCaskill said she would support raising the state's minimum wage to $15 an hour.
Electoral history
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Maryland Senate District 44 Democratic primary election, 2018{{cite web
| title = Official 2018 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for State Senator
| work = elections.maryland.gov
| publisher = Maryland State Board of Elections
| url = https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2018/results/primary/gen_results_2018_1_01544.html
| date = July 31, 2018}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Shirley Nathan-Pulliam
|votes = 10,217
|percentage = 67.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Aletheia McCaskill
|votes = 4,955
|percentage = 32.7
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Maryland House of Delegates District 44B Democratic primary election, 2022{{cite web
| title = Official 2022 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates
| work = elections.maryland.gov
| publisher = Maryland State Board of Elections
| url = https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2022/primary_results/gen_results_2022_7_67.html
| date = August 24, 2022}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Sheila Ruth
|votes = 5,774
|percentage = 25.8
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Aletheia McCaskill
|votes = 5,132
|percentage = 23.0
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Aisha Khan
|votes = 4,714
|percentage = 21.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Bishop Barry Chapman
|votes = 3,660
|percentage = 16.4
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Patrick Cusack
|votes = 1,644
|percentage = 7.4
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Shazia Shah
|votes = 1,420
|percentage = 6.4
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Maryland House of Delegates District 44B election, 2022{{cite web
| title = Official 2022 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates
| work = elections.maryland.gov
| publisher = Maryland State Board of Elections
| url = https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2022/general_results/gen_results_2022_7_67.html
| date = December 7, 2022}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Maryland Democratic Party
|candidate = Sheila Ruth
|votes = 19,682
|percentage = 51.21
}}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Maryland Democratic Party
|candidate = Aletheia McCaskill
|votes = 18,219
|percentage = 47.40
}}{{Election box write-in with party link no change
|votes = 532
|percentage = 1.38
}}
{{Election box end}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{cite web |title=Members – Delegate Aletheia McCaskill |url=https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Members/Details/mccaskill01 |website=mgaleg.maryland.gov |publisher=Maryland General Assembly |access-date=January 11, 2023 |date=January 11, 2023}}
{{Current members of the MD House of Delegates}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McCaskill, Aletheia}}
Category:21st-century African-American politicians
Category:21st-century American women politicians
Category:African-American state legislators in Maryland
Category:21st-century African-American women politicians
Category:Community College of Baltimore County alumni
Category:Democratic Party members of the Maryland House of Delegates
Category:Notre Dame of Maryland University alumni
Category:Stevenson University alumni
Category:Trade unionists from Maryland
Category:Women state legislators in Maryland
Category:21st-century members of the Maryland General Assembly