Two legislative seats are now vacant as County Councilmember Calvin Hawkins (D-At-large) and Del. Jazz Lewis (D- District 24) have announced their resignation to take on new leadership roles.
Hawkins announced that he was resigning his Prince George’s Council seat, effective on Dec. 19, and beginning a position as the county’s assistant deputy chief administrative officer for economic development on Dec. 21.
“I want to express my sincere gratitude especially to you and the residents of Prince George’s County for the trust and support you’ve shown me throughout my tenure on the council. Serving on this body has been a profound honor, and I take immense pride in what we’ve achieved together,” he said in a press statement announcing his resignation. “As I embark on this new chapter, my commitment to the growth and success of the county is unwavering, and I look forward to continuing to collaborate with you, dedicated colleagues and engaged citizens to elevate Prince George’s county to new heights.”
There will be an appointment process through the council to select the next at-large member.
Lewis, originally appointed in 2017, announced he would resign following a Dec. 16 special session and the unanimous election of Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk (D- District 21) as speaker of the House of Delegates. He served as the majority whip for the past two sessions. His resignation will take effect on Jan. 5 and he will serve as the director of government relations for the University of Maryland- College Park.
“This was not a decision I made lightly. Serving my home, the people, and communities of Legislative District 24 and Prince George’s County has been the honor of my life. Being a young man whose family wasn’t from Maryland, but chose this community, meant that our neighborhood, recreational teams, our church, and our public schools were the anchor for me and my family,” he said in an email statement on Dec. 17. “I have so much to be thankful for, and I led with a mindset of trying to be a “hometown hero” for those who never saw themselves in some of the rooms God has graced me with the opportunity to enter.”
LaTasha Ward, who ran for the seat in 2022, is planning to apply for the vacancy when it is made public. Several other candidates are rumored, including Board of Education chair Branndon Jackson (District 6) and lobbyist Maurice Simpson, who also applied for the 2017 vacancy.
“Together, we have built a record of service, legislative achievement, and community investment that will stand the test of time. I am profoundly grateful for every resident who trusted me with their hopes, their challenges, and their belief that public service can still make a difference,” Lewis continued. “As I step into this next chapter, still rooted here in Prince George’s County, still committed to the public good, I want to reflect on what we built together, what this moment means, and why I believe with absolute confidence that the best is yet to come.”