Two Lawmakers Sworn In, Impacting Special Session and Local Representation

Two lawmakers took oaths on December 9, 2025 in ceremonies that completed midterm changes in both chambers of the General Assembly and set the stage for a governor called special session later this month to elect a new House speaker. The swearing in placed Kevin Anderson, a Republican from the Lower Shore, into a House vacancy created by the October death of Delegate Charles Otto. It also elevated Delegate Kevin Harris, who represented Charles and Prince George’s counties, to the Senate to fill the seat vacated when Michael Jackson left the legislature to lead the Maryland State Police.

The timing matters because the special session to choose a new House speaker is scheduled for the week of December 16. Newly sworn members will be eligible to participate in that leadership election, and their votes will be part of the institutional calculations made by party leaders and rank and file lawmakers. For Prince George’s County the immediate effect is the arrival of Senator Kevin Harris as the county now has a legislator in the upper chamber who has represented local House constituents, while the delegate position Harris left is vacant pending a local nomination.

Prince George’s County Democratic Central Committee will schedule a meeting to nominate a replacement for the vacated House seat. That committee action is the next formal step for restoring full representation for residents in the affected district and for ensuring local policy priorities have a voice in Annapolis. The nomination process and its timeline will determine how quickly constituents regain a dedicated delegate to handle constituent services, local funding requests, and legislative priorities.

The recent personnel shifts underscore how procedural moves and executive appointments can reshape legislative dynamics quickly. County leaders, civic organizations, and residents who follow budget and policy negotiations should monitor the central committee’s nomination meeting and the outcomes of the special session, as both will influence who speaks for Prince George’s County at the start of the new legislative cycle.