Editor’s note: More than a dozen Democrats and Republicans are running in the May 14 primary election to be their party’s nominee in the race for the 6th Congressional District seat now held by Rep. David Trone (D), who is running for the U.S. Senate. MoCo360 is running profiles of the candidates based on questionnaire answers submitted for our voters guide. Beginning with the Republican candidates, a profile will be published every weekday until the May 2 start of early voting.
Today’s profile features Democratic candidate Tekesha Martinez.
Tekesha Martinez
Party: Democrat
Age: 45
Residence: Hagerstown
Education: North Hagerstown High School; St. Ann’s Infant and Maternity Home
Current/most recent role: mayor of Hagerstown, community mediator
Previous political experience: Hagerstown mayor, Hagerstown City Council member
Website: https://www.tekeshamartinez.com/
Why are you running?
I am the first Black mayor of my hometown of Hagerstown. An American success story against all odds. Growing up as a foster child, I persevered through teen pregnancy and eventually had five kids.
I am a poet and a trained community mediator, spending decades engaging youth and facilitating conversation through conflict – serving my hometown by bringing neighbors together.
I am running because no one like me has ever held a position like this in Western Maryland. No one is bringing this perspective, homegrown grit, and dedication in a way that can’t be ignored.
If elected, what would your priorities be within your first 100 days in Congress?
We must immediately work to guarantee voting rights and codify reproductive rights. Democrats have been fighting for years to get these basic packages past in order to protect our democracy. I would be first in line to help quickly push through the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and the Women’s Health Protection Act.
What district-specific issues are you most passionate about and how would you use your platform to address them?
As a mayor in one of the fastest-growing regions, I have a unique perspective on getting things done. I grew up in foster care, but I now oversee an unprecedented $1.8 billion in growth in and around my hometown. Western Maryland could flourish with a representative who understands the unique relationships of local officials. No elected person is more accessible and held more accountable than a mayor. We are the face of our city and are the first to be called for an emergency at 4 a.m. Having that experience, I know how to make Congress more accessible to all.
What do you think Congress’ role should be when it comes to public schools? What can you do to best support the schools?
Pre-K through 12 education should be freely and justly available to all. I believe in untying school funding from property taxes to provide equitable funding to all schools in a region and finding ways to reimplement school diversity programs. I am opposed to school vouchers, as they threaten to erode public schools.
We are also in desperate need of expanded federal funding in order to build new schools and meet the needs of unprecedented growth. Simultaneously, we have to ensure teachers are heard, understood, and fairly paid so that we can retain the best and the brightest for our students.
How should Congress address crime?
As a trained community mediator I have worked between police and the communities they are intended to serve on many occasions. I am committed to expanding evidence-based approaches to policing that involve other resources in the community such as mediators and mental health crisis counselors so that both police and citizens have the tools they need to ensure that their personal and public safety is paramount and that no one feels unsafe in their own home, neighborhood or workplace.
How should Congress address gun violence?
As a person intimately affected by gun violence, I understand the importance of common sense measures like universal background checks that reduce the chance of firearms getting into the wrong hands while protecting the rights of responsible owners. I support closing dangerous loopholes that allow people to circumvent proper checks as well as those that allow abusive partners with restraining orders access to firearms. I also support reinstating the bipartisan assault weapons ban.
The Dobbs v. Jackson decision in 2022 that overturned Roe v. Wade has changed the face of reproductive care access across the country. What should Congress’ role be in the abortion conversation?
I carry my personal journey into my passionate advocacy for the fundamental right to control our bodies. In my commitment to reproductive rights, I am determined to ensure that every person can access safe and legal abortions nationwide. Drawing from my extensive background as a community mediator, I emphasize the importance of offering proper resources, care, and attention to everyone, regardless of their personal choices or circumstances.
There should be no government interference in a woman’s personal health decisions. I believe Congress’s only involvement should be guaranteeing the right to make those decisions in the first place.
The same Supreme Court decision has raised concerns about marriage rights and gender-affirming care access for LGBTQ+ people. How should Congress address this?
Several of my close aunts and uncles grew up proudly displaying their gay, non-binary, and transgender identities. My heritage is one of a long line of changemakers and trailblazers.
As representatives of the people, Congress MUST protect marriage equality and access to gender-affirming care. The government should not be involved in who you are or who you love. There are serious repercussions for the mental health of LGBTQ+ people to see their rights constantly under attack. I will be an advocate and ally to the end.
What should Congress’ role be in addressing a changing climate?
I was deprived of nature in my childhood, but I grew to understand the significance of restoring and protecting the plants, animals, and land around us. I will combine my experience with the beauty of our region to make a national appeal: let’s save our planet while we can.
My priorities include working to achieve a 50% reduction in carbon emissions from 2005 levels by 2030 and net zero by 2050, ensuring an equitable and just transition away from fossil fuel dependency, supporting retrofit programs to help homeowners cut energy costs and reduce carbon footprint, and more.
Is there anything else you want to share with prospective voters?
Please think about whether you would want to elect a representative who lives outside of your district or one who was born and raised here. Whether you would want a representative funded by a handful of massive donations from rich friends or almost 20,000 individual contributions averaging around $23 (like me).
On May 14th, you will have the opportunity to make those basic choices about what your representation looks like, sounds like, and where they are pulling their experience from. Do your research!
Learn more about me and my campaign, sign up to volunteer, and donate at tekeshamartinez.com.
This is the eighth in a series of candidate profiles. Check out the first profile here.