The Gist
State Senator, 11th District
Photo of Shelly L. Hettleman
Shelly L. HettlemanOfficial portrait — Maryland General Assembly

Shelly L. Hettleman

Candidate for State Senator, 11th District

DemocraticIncumbent

Background

Occupation
State senator
Lives in
Baltimore County
Campaign website
shellyhettleman.com

State senator for District 11 since 2020; member of the House of Delegates 2015-2020. Serves on the Budget and Taxation Committee; previously campaign manager for Ben Cardin's U.S. Senate campaigns and a senior planner at The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore.

Report

Photo: Official portrait — Maryland General Assembly

Documented positions

Taxes & budget

  • Supports a data-based mix of cuts and new revenue.

    Answer to The Banner's question on closing the structural deficit: pare back programs or raise revenues.

    Maryland Senate District 11: 2026 Maryland Voter Guide

    Candidate questionnaire · The Baltimore Banner · May 18, 2026 · thebanner.com

    “In all likelihood, it's a combination of both, but we need to make that determination only after reviewing the data.”
    Report

Public safety

  • Supports universal background checks and safe gun storage.

    Public Safety & Criminal Justice - Shelly Hettleman

    Campaign website · Friends of Shelly Hettleman · shellyhettleman.com

    “Common sense gun safety measures including safe storage, regulating access, and universal background checks”
    Report

Education

  • Sponsored a clearinghouse for screening school educators.In office

    Primary sponsor of SB 648 (2026 regular session), titled "Local School Systems - Educator Screening - Educator Identification Clearinghouse (School Personnel Vetting and Hiring Transparency Act)".

    Senator Shelly Hettleman, member page, Maryland General Assembly

    Government record · Maryland General Assembly · Legislation: SB 648 · mgaleg.maryland.gov

    “Local School Systems - Educator Screening - Educator Identification Clearinghouse”
    Report

Housing

  • Supports permitting reform to expand housing supply.

    Maryland Senate District 11: 2026 Maryland Voter Guide

    Candidate questionnaire · The Baltimore Banner · May 18, 2026 · thebanner.com

    “I have supported policies, including permitting reform, that both address expanding the supply of housing”
    Report

Roads & infrastructure

  • Sponsored climate impact assessments for highway expansions.In office

    Primary sponsor of SB 59 (2026 regular session), titled "Transportation - Major Highway Capacity Expansion Projects and Impact Assessments (Transportation and Climate Alignment Act of 2026)".

    Senator Shelly Hettleman, member page, Maryland General Assembly

    Government record · Maryland General Assembly · Legislation: SB 59 · mgaleg.maryland.gov

    “Transportation - Major Highway Capacity Expansion Projects and Impact Assessments”
    Report

Environment & parks

Courts & justice

  • Supports ending mandatory minimums for nonviolent offenders.

    Public Safety & Criminal Justice - Shelly Hettleman

    Campaign website · Friends of Shelly Hettleman · shellyhettleman.com

    “Sentencing reform, including eliminating mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent offenders”
    Report

All sources (7)

Positions are summarized from the sources listed and are not inferred from party affiliation. Items marked “Provided by” were published by the candidate's verified campaign or party office under our campaign content standards. See something wrong? Use the Report link beside it, or contact us.