Deni Taveras

Taveras was born in New York City in December 13, 1972. When Taveras was only four years old, her mother, Filomena Garcia, committed suicide. She moved between family members in New York and the Dominican Republic before settling with her father, Bienvenido Taveras. Taveras' father was killed while he was driving his taxi cab when she was eight years old. After this, she was placed under the care of her maternal grandmother in the neighborhood of Harlem.{{cite news |last1=Lopez-Bernstein |first1=Maria |title=The Sky's No Limit |url=https://www.pgsuite.com/people/2017/3/21/deni-taveras |access-date=August 4, 2022 |work=Prince George's Suite |date=April 27, 2017}}

Taveras attended Barnard College, where she earned a B.A. in chemistry in 1995, the University of Utah, where she earned a M.S. in chemistry in 1998, and the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University, where she earned a M.P.A. degree in public affairs and urban regional planning in 2003.{{cite web |title=Deni Taveras, Maryland State Delegate |url=https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa17008.html |website=Maryland Manual On-Line |publisher=Maryland State Archives |access-date=January 15, 2023 |date=January 9, 2023}}

Taveras moved to Maryland after receiving a job offer from the Dominican American National Roundtable in Washington, D.C. Taveras became unemployed when the Great Recession hit. At the same time, the condominium complex she lived in was going bankrupt, and Taveras assumed leadership of the condo association.

After earning her master's degree, Taveras worked for the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Her concern for environmental issues prompted her to lead efforts to ban both fracking and styrofoam in her county.{{cite news |last1=Lynn |first1=Michele |title=Called to Serve |url=https://barnard.edu/news/called-serve |access-date=August 4, 2022 |work=Barnard College |date=October 31, 2019}} She became involved with Dominicans 2000, a group of Dominicans seeking to make community change through political action.

From 2011 to 2013, Taveras worked as the chief of staff for state senator Victor R. Ramirez.

Taveras made her first run for public office in 2014 for the Prince George's County Council in District 2, seeking to succeed councilmember Will Campos, who ran for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 47B. During her primary campaign, Taveras sought to win over Hispanic voters and received endorsements from Campos, County Executive Rushern Baker, and state delegate Joseline Peña-Melnyk.{{cite news |last1=Hernández |first1=Arelis |title=Opportunity sparks Latino rivalry in new Prince George's legislative district |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/opportunity-sparks-latino-rivalry-in-new-prince-georges-legislative-district/2014/04/29/4364ff82-ceef-11e3-937f-d3026234b51c_story.html |access-date=August 4, 2022 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=April 29, 2014}}{{cite news |last1=Hernández |first1=Arelis |title=After outreach to Latino voters, Niemann and Taveras are separated by a mere 13 votes |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/after-outreach-to-latino-voters-niemann-and-taveras-are-separated-by-a-mere-six-votes/2014/06/26/3273858e-fc91-11e3-8176-f2c941cf35f1_story.html |access-date=August 4, 2022 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=June 26, 2014}} She won the Democratic primary in June 2014, edging out state delegate Doyle Niemann by six votes.{{cite news |last1=Hernández |first1=Arelis |title=Deni Taveras wins Prince George's Council seat by just six votes |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/with-all-votes-counted-deni-taveras-keeps-slim-lead-in-prince-georges-council-race/2014/07/07/6b0774f4-05f2-11e4-a0dd-f2b22a257353_story.html |access-date=August 4, 2022 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=July 7, 2014}} After the ballots were counted, Neimann requested a recount but it did not change the vote difference.{{cite news |last1=Hernández |first1=Arelis |title=Doyle Niemann concedes to Deni Taveras after primary for Pr. George's council seat |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/pr-georges-council-district-2-primary-finally-ends-in-concession-by-niemann/2014/07/16/c1b025f2-0d00-11e4-8c9a-923ecc0c7d23_story.html |access-date=August 4, 2022 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=July 16, 2014}} Taveras was unopposed in the general election.{{cite news |last1=Wu |first1=Sydney |title=How Bowie, Prince George's County Voted in 2014 Election |url=https://patch.com/maryland/bowie/how-prince-georges-county-voted-2014-election-0 |access-date=August 4, 2022 |work=Patch |date=November 7, 2014}}

File:Swearing in of Deni Taveras.jpg

Taveras was sworn into the Prince George's County Council on December 1, 2014, making her the first Latina elected to the council. She was re-elected in 2018 after narrowly winning the Democratic primary against Hyattsville mayor Candace Hollingsworth.{{cite news |last1=Chason |first1=Rachel |title=New faces on Prince George's council, and two races still too close to call |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/new-faces-on-prince-georges-council-and-two-races-still-too-close-to-call/2018/06/28/b6c7ad7c-7af7-11e8-80be-6d32e182a3bc_story.html |access-date=August 4, 2022 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=June 28, 2018}}{{cite news |last1=Chason |first1=Rachel |title=New council leaders elected in Prince George's, pledging to work with Alsobrooks |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/new-council-leaders-elected-in-prince-georges-pledging-to-work-with-alsobrooks/2018/12/04/23947aac-f753-11e8-863c-9e2f864d47e7_story.html |access-date=August 4, 2022 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=December 4, 2018}} In December 2020, the council voted to elect Taveras to serve as its vice chair.{{cite news |last1=Chason |first1=Rachel |title=Calvin Hawkins to lead Prince George's County Council |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/hawkins-taveras-prince-georges-council/2020/12/01/c3ac5ac8-33e7-11eb-a997-1f4c53d2a747_story.html |access-date=August 4, 2022 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=December 1, 2020}}

In September 2021, Taveras, termed out of running for a third term on the Prince George's County Council, announced that she would for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 47B in 2022.{{cite news |last1=Gaines |first1=Danielle |title=Aide to Del. Wanika Fisher Announces Bid to Replace Her in House |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2021/09/08/aide-to-del-wanika-fisher-announces-bid-to-replace-her-in-house/ |access-date=August 4, 2022 |work=Maryland Matters |date=September 8, 2021}} She won the Democratic primary on July 19, 2022, receiving 52.6 percent of the vote in the Democratic primary election.

Taveras was sworn into the Maryland House of Delegates on January 11, 2023. She is a member of the House Health and Government Operations 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}}

In February 2025, Taveras spoke in support of a bill that would require require public schools to teach age-appropriate health education that included sexual orientation, family, and gender identity courses, saying that such courses would have helped her understand her first menstrual cycle.{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Danielle J. |title=Delegates share vulnerable, personal stories during debate on health education bill |url=https://marylandmatters.org/2025/02/14/delegates-share-vulnerable-personal-stories-during-debate-on-health-education-bill/ |access-date=February 15, 2025 |work=Maryland Matters |date=February 14, 2025}}

In 2016, Taveras introduced legislation that would hold landlords and property managers accountable for sex trafficking at their rental properties. The bill passed the county council unanimously and was signed into law by County Executive Baker.{{cite news |last1=Hernández |first1=Arelis |title=New law could make landlords liable for sex trafficking at their rentals |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/new-law-could-make-landlords-liable-for-sex-trafficking-at-their-rentals/2016/11/18/7d036756-ab6a-11e6-a31b-4b6397e625d0_story.html?itid=lk_inline_manual_24 |access-date=August 4, 2022 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=November 18, 2016}}

In October 2018, Taveras voted against overriding County Executive Rushern Baker's veto on a bill that would waive a school facilities surcharge for certain residential developers.{{cite news |last1=Chason |first1=Rachel |title=In Prince George's, a battle over whether developers must fund school construction |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/in-prince-georges-a-battle-over-whether-developers-must-fund-school-construction/2018/10/15/9865195e-c742-11e8-b1ed-1d2d65b86d0c_story.html |access-date=August 4, 2022 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=October 15, 2018}}

In September 2020, Taveras introduced the "Fair Housing Act", a bill to strengthen the county's code enforcement to improve the quality of housing.{{cite news |last1=Wanneh |first1=Gabrielle |title=Joint Effort Aims at Addressing Housing Ills in Predominantly Latino Neighborhood |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2020/01/02/joint-effort-aims-at-addressing-langley-park-housing-ills/ |access-date=August 4, 2022 |work=Maryland Matters |agency=Capital News Service |date=January 2, 2020}}

In 2019, Taveras voted in favor of legislation that would block all county agencies from engaging in immigration enforcement.{{cite news |last1=Chason |first1=Rachel |title=Prince George's Council bans agencies from working with ICE |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/prince-georges-council-considers-law-barring-agencies-from-working-with-ice/2019/11/19/250085e4-0aca-11ea-8397-a955cd542d00_story.html |access-date=August 4, 2022 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=November 19, 2019}}

In 2019, Taveras introduced legislation that would require all police officers to wear body cameras. Following the killing of William Green, a handcuffed man, by police officer Michael Owen Jr. in January 2020, Taveras reintroduced the bill.{{cite news |last1=Chason |first1=Rachel |title=Pressure grows for full deployment of body cameras in Prince George's after fatal shooting of handcuffed man |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/pressure-grows-for-full-deployment-of-body-cameras-in-prince-georges-after-fatal-shooting-of-handcuffed-man/2020/02/01/30f5eea0-43b1-11ea-b5fc-eefa848cde99_story.html |access-date=August 4, 2022 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=February 3, 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Lambert |first1=Evan |title=New push for body cameras for PGPD officers after officer-involved shooting |url=https://www.fox5dc.com/news/new-push-for-body-cameras-for-pgpd-officers-after-officer-involved-shooting |access-date=August 4, 2022 |work=WTTG |date=February 3, 2020}}

In 2015, Taveras was one of two county councilmembers to vote in favor of a proposal to provide paid sick leave to workers in Prince George's County.{{cite news |last1=Hernández |first1=Arelis |title=Paid sick leave fails in Prince George's; council wants to wait for state to act |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/paid-sick-leave-fails-in-prince-georges-council-wants-to-wait-for-state-to-act/2015/10/13/244a4b88-71d3-11e5-8d93-0af317ed58c9_story.html |access-date=August 4, 2022 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=October 13, 2015}}

In 2018, Taveras voted in favor of legislation that would establish a public financing program for local candidates by 2026.{{cite news |last1=Chason |first1=Rachel |title=Prince George's approves matching funds for local candidates — starting in 2026 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/prince-georges-approves-public-finance-system-for-local-candidates/2018/10/24/47f7b75a-d738-11e8-a10f-b51546b10756_story.html |access-date=August 4, 2022 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=October 24, 2018}}

Taveras endorsed Hillary Clinton for president on November 17, 2015.{{cite news |last1=Fritze |first1=John |title=Hillary Clinton unveils more than 70 Md. endorsements |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bal-clinton-unveils-more-than-70-md-endorsements-20151116-story.html |access-date=August 4, 2022 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=November 17, 2015}}

In 2021, Taveras endorsed state delegate Brooke Lierman for Comptroller of Maryland.{{cite news |last1=Leckrone |first1=Bennett |title=Hoyer, Prince George's County Elected Officials Endorse Lierman for Comptroller |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2021/05/24/hoyer-prince-georges-county-elected-officials-endorse-lierman-for-comptroller/ |access-date=August 4, 2022 |work=Maryland Matters |date=May 24, 2021}} She initially endorsed former Prince George's County Executive Rushern Baker for Governor of Maryland,{{cite news |last1=DePuyt |first1=Bruce |title=Prince George's Councilmembers Endorse Rushern Baker's Second Bid for Governor |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2021/08/31/prince-georges-councilmembers-endorse-rushern-bakers-second-bid-for-governor/ |access-date=August 4, 2022 |work=Maryland Matters |date=August 31, 2021}} but later endorsed author and former nonprofit CEO Wes Moore after Baker suspended his campaign.{{cite news |last1=DePuyt |first1=Bruce |title=Franchot Won't Debate Perez, Moore on Radio Show; Baker Endorsement is on Hold |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2022/06/29/franchot-wont-debate-perez-moore-on-radio-show-baker-endorsement-is-on-hold/ |access-date=August 4, 2022 |work=Maryland Matters |date=June 29, 2022}}

Taveras expressed concern over the construction of the Purple Line in her district, saying "I don't want to lose the vibrancy and the diversity that we currently have in our community. That is what makes us who we are in Langley Park and gives us the rich vibrancy that we have." Despite her concerns, she acknowledged that this displacement was inevitable in the long run, even with all the potential benefits of the Purple Line.{{cite news |last1=Lazo |first1=Luz |title=For low-income communities, the Purple Line is an opportunity and a threat |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/for-low-income-communities-the-purple-line-is-an-opportunity-and-a-threat/2017/02/18/035666ce-f214-11e6-a9b0-ecee7ce475fc_story.html |access-date=August 4, 2022 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=February 18, 2017}} She also expressed skepticism over a plan to add toll lanes to the Capital Beltway and Interstate 270 using public-private partnerships.{{cite news |last1=Shaver |first1=Katherine |title=Despite Purple Line problems, Maryland will pursue public-private partnership for toll lane plan |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/despite-purple-line-problems-maryland-will-pursue-public-private-partnership-for-toll-lane-plan/2020/09/26/8fd86142-fdcd-11ea-b555-4d71a9254f4b_story.html |access-date=August 4, 2022 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=September 26, 2020}}{{cite news |last1=DePuyt |first1=Bruce |title=MDOT Secretary Questioned On Under-Beltway Utilities, Possible Purple Line Settlement |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2020/11/05/mdot-secretary-questioned-on-under-beltway-utilities-possible-purple-line-settlement/ |access-date=August 4, 2022 |work=Maryland Matters |date=November 5, 2020}}

Taveras lives in Adelphi, Maryland,{{cite news |last1=Chason |first1=Rachel |title=Meet the members of the Prince George's County Council |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/meet-the-members-of-the-prince-georges-county-council/2018/12/27/379f5244-ffc1-11e8-83c0-b06139e540e5_story.html |access-date=August 4, 2022 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=December 27, 2018}} and attends religious services at the Grace DC Church in Washington, D.C.

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Prince George's County Council District 2 Democratic primary election, 2014{{cite web

| title = Official 2014 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for Prince George's County

| work = elections.maryland.gov

| publisher = Maryland State Board of Elections

| url = https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2014/results/primary/gen_results_2014_1_by_county_170.html

| date = July 16, 2014 }}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Deni Taveras

|votes = 2,423

|percentage = 50.1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Doyle Niemann

|votes = 2,417

|percentage = 49.9

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Prince George's County Council District 2 election, 2014{{cite web

| title = Official 2014 Gubernatorial General Election results for Prince George's County

| work = elections.maryland.gov

| publisher = Maryland State Board of Elections

| url = https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2014/results/General/gen_results_2014_2_by_county_170.html

| date = February 12, 2014 }}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Deni Taveras

|votes = 10,000

|percentage = 98.5

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

|votes = 152

|percentage = 1.5

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Prince George's County Council District 2 Democratic primary election, 2018{{cite web

| title = Official 2018 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for Prince George's County

| work = elections.maryland.gov

| publisher = Maryland State Board of Elections

| url = https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2018/results/primary/gen_results_2018_1_by_county_170.html

| date = July 31, 2018}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Deni Taveras

|votes = 3,597

|percentage = 52.6

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Candace Hollingsworth

|votes = 3,240

|percentage = 47.4

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Prince George's County Council District 2 election, 2018{{cite web

| title = Official 2018 Gubernatorial General Election results for Prince George's County

| work = elections.maryland.gov

| publisher = Maryland State Board of Elections

| url = https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2018/results/general/gen_results_2018_2_by_county_17-1.html

| date = November 12, 2018 }}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Deni Taveras

|votes = 16,290

|percentage = 98.3

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

|votes = 279

|percentage = 1.7

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Maryland House of Delegates District 47B 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_71.html

| date = August 24, 2022 }}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Deni Taveras

|votes = 1,012

|percentage = 52.6

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Marlin Jenkins

|votes = 872

|percentage = 45.3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Jorge Sactic

|votes = 41

|percentage = 2.1

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Maryland House of Delegates District 47B 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_71.html }}

| date = July 12, 2022

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Maryland Democratic Party

|candidate = Deni Taveras

|votes = 3,259

|percentage = 98.10

}}{{Election box write-in with party link no change

|votes = 63

|percentage = 1.90

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{reflist}}

{{Current members of the MD House of Delegates}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Taveras, Deni}}

Category:1972 births

Category:21st-century American women politicians

Category:African-American women in politics

Category:American politicians of Dominican Republic descent

Category:Barnard College alumni

Category:Christians from Maryland

Category:Democratic Party members of the Maryland House of Delegates

Category:Living people

Category:Hispanic and Latino American politicians

Category:Hispanic and Latino American state legislators in Maryland

Category:Politicians from New York City

Category:Princeton School of Public and International Affairs alumni

Category:University of Utah alumni

Category:Women state legislators in Maryland

Category:County commissioners in Maryland

Category:Politicians from Prince George's County, Maryland

Category:21st-century members of the Maryland General Assembly

Category:21st-century African-American politicians