Antonio Hayes

Antonio Lamar Hayes (born December 9, 1977) is an American politician who represents the 40th legislative district of Baltimore in the Maryland Senate. He previously represented the 40th district in the Maryland House of Delegates from 2015 to 2019.

Background

Hayes was born in Baltimore. He attended Frostburg State University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in political science in 2000.

Since 2010, Hayes has served as the Chief of Staff of the Baltimore City Department of Social Services.

In the legislature

In 2014, Hayes defeated two-term incumbent Shawn Z. Tarrant to win a seat in the House of Delegates. He was sworn in on January 14, 2015. He defeated Robinson in the Democratic primary, earning 65.4 percent of the vote. He ultimately won the general election unchallenged Later that month, he said that he would not run for the seat.

In 2020, Hayes ran for national delegate pledged to Joe Biden in Maryland's 7th congressional district at the Democratic National Convention. He won the primary election, receiving 18.4 percent of the vote. He also served as a delegate to the 2024 Democratic National Convention, pledged to Kamala Harris.

Committee assignments Member, Finance Committee, 2019–present (energy & public utilities subcommittee, 2019–present) Member, Joint Committee on Federal Relations, 2019–present Senate Chair, Joint Committee on Behavioral Health and Opioid Use Disorders, 2019–present Member, Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review, 2020–present Member, Executive Nominations Committee, 2021–present Member, Health and Government Operations Committee, 2015–2019 (government operations & long-term care subcommittee, 2015–2017; health facilities & occupations subcommittee, 2015–2017; government operations & estates & trusts subcommittee, 2017–2019; health facilities & pharmaceuticals subcommittee, 2017–2019) Member, Joint Committee on Children, Youth, and Families, 2015–2019 Member, Public Safety and Policing Work Group, 2015–2016 Member, Affordable Care Act Work Group, 2018 Member, Opioid Work Group, 2018

Other memberships Chair, Baltimore City Senate Delegation, 2019–2020 Member, Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, 2015–present Vice-Chair, Democratic Party Caucus, 2020–present

Political positions Education During the 2026 legislative session, Hayes introduced a bill that would allow the mayor of Baltimore to appoint members to Baltimore's school board with advice and consent of the Maryland Senate, replacing the current process that restricts school board appointments to a preapproved slate.

Electoral reform In October 2025, Hayes expressed skepticism toward mid-decade redistricting in Maryland, saying that he wasn't sure "the juice was worth the squeeze" in countering the second presidency of Donald Trump. In February 2026, he opposed holding a floor vote on a bill that would redraw Maryland's congressional districts to improve the Democratic Party's chances of winning the 1st congressional district, the only congressional district held by Republicans in the state, saying it was "too late" to move a map and give the Maryland State Board of Elections enough time to make the changes needed to run an election.

During the 2026 legislative session, Hayes voted against a bill that would replace the party central committee appointment process used to fill vacancies in the Maryland General Assembly with special elections held at the same time as regular state primary elections, saying that the central committee appointment process has "afforded us to have one of the most diverse legislatures in the country" and switching to special elections would negatively affect African American candidates that "don't typically have the same amount of resources needed in campaigns".

Paid family leave During the 2020 legislative session, Hayes introduced the "Time to Care Act", a bill that would provide Maryland workers with up to 12 weeks of paid family leave. The bill was reintroduced in 2021 and 2022, during which it passed and became law after the General Assembly voted to override Governor Larry Hogan's veto.

Social issues In April 2026, Hayes expressed concerns with a bill to designate a Muslim American Heritage Month and Jewish American Heritage Month in Maryland, saying that while he understood the symbolism and people behind the legislation, he had a "serious problem with the process that were are in the final days of the legislative session, committing so much time and energy to something that I think creates even more division".

Personal life Hayes is a congregant at the Empowerment Temple African Methodist Episcopal Church in Baltimore.