Benjamin Brooks

Benjamin Thomas Brooks Sr. (born April 23, 1950) is an American politician who has served as a member of the Maryland Senate for District 10, based in Baltimore County, since 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously represented the district in the Maryland House of Delegates from 2015 to 2023.

Early life and education Benjamin Thomas Brooks Sr. was born in Sumter, South Carolina, on April 23, 1950. and earned the Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Medal, and the Vietnam Service Medal, and afterwards attended South Carolina State University, where he earned a bachelor of science degree in accounting in 1976.

Maryland General Assembly Brooks ran for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 10 in 2014, during which he won the Democratic primary alongside Jay Jalisi and incumbent Adrienne A. Jones. He was sworn into the Maryland House of Delegates on January 14, 2015, where he served on the Economic Matters Committee during his entire tenure and as the chair of its public utilities subcommittee from 2019 to 2023. Brooks also served as deputy majority whip from 2017 to 2023. Despite this, Brooks received 24 votes in the treasurer election.

In 2022, Brooks ran for the Maryland Senate in District 10, seeking to succeed retiring state Senator Delores G. Kelley. During the Democratic primary, he was endorsed by Kelley whom he defeated with 37.6 percent of the vote. Brooks was sworn into the Maryland Senate on January 11, 2023, and has since served on the Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee.

Political positions Energy During the 2020 legislative session, Brooks introduced a bill to create timelines for Maryland's remaining power plants to transition away from coal and establish a transition fund to mitigate economic impacts for employees. The bill was withdrawn after he and Senate sponsor Chris West announced a deal with AES Corporation that would cause the Warrior Run Generating Station to stop burning coal in 2030.

Environment During the 2023 legislative session, Brooks introduced legislation to establish the Maryland Native Plants Program to encourage garden centers to plant native vegetation. The bill passed and was signed into law by Governor Wes Moore.

Housing During the 2026 legislative session, Brooks introduced the Building Affordably in My Backyard Act, which creates an express approval process for residential development projects in jurisdictions that have formally identified a shortage of affordable housing.

Immigration In November 2015, Brooks signed onto a letter calling on Governor Larry Hogan to allow refugees of the Syrian civil war into Maryland after Hogan said that he would ask the Obama administration to stop sending such refugees to the state.

Policing In November 2020, Brooks expressed support for stricter regulations on police. He attended a simulated police training exercise hosted by the Maryland Fraternal Order of Police, which he said gave him emphasize with the split-second decisions officers have to make, but did not change his mind on policing reforms.

Redistricting In October 2021, Brooks joined a lawsuit against the Baltimore County Council's redistricting plan, which resulted in a new map with a second minority opportunity district.

In February 2026, Brooks said he opposed pursuing mid-decade redistricting in Maryland to 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 that it would not be representative to take away that one seat for the Republican Party.

Personal life

Brooks married his wife, Irene Theresa, on August 10, 1974.

Awards and honors In December 2024, during a visit to his hometown of Sumter, South Carolina, Brooks was issued a medallion by city officials and December 15, 2024, was declared Senator Benjamin T. Brooks Sr. Day.

Electoral history