State

State Senator, 11th District

Vote for: 1
Term: 4 years
Candidates: 2
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A state senator votes on Maryland laws and the state budget and confirms the Governor's appointments.

Candidates Compare by issue

Jim Simpson

Republican

Author; former diplomatic security officer · Baltimore County

The gist

Proposes abandoning the Blueprint (Kirwan) education plan.
Supports substantial tax and regulation cuts.
Proposes ending sanctuary policies and deporting undocumented immigrants.
Proposes relying on gas, hydro, nuclear and coal power.
Opposes the offshore wind project.
Proposes portable school taxes for private and home schooling.
Supports rolling back home construction regulations.

More about Jim

View sources (1)

Proposes abandoning the Blueprint (Kirwan) education plan.
Maryland Senate District 11: 2026 Maryland Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · The Baltimore Banner · May 18, 2026 · thebanner.com
“In the education section, I propose abandoning Kirwan entirely.”
Supports substantial tax and regulation cuts.
Maryland Senate District 11: 2026 Maryland Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · The Baltimore Banner · May 18, 2026 · thebanner.com
“I would advocate substantial reductions in taxes and regulations”
Proposes ending sanctuary policies and deporting undocumented immigrants.
Maryland Senate District 11: 2026 Maryland Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · The Baltimore Banner · May 18, 2026 · thebanner.com
“I would also abolish Maryland's illegal sanctuary policies and send home the hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens”
Proposes relying on gas, hydro, nuclear and coal power.
Maryland Senate District 11: 2026 Maryland Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · The Baltimore Banner · May 18, 2026 · thebanner.com
“Revert all energy sources to natural gas, hydroelectric, nuclear and clean coal.”
Opposes the offshore wind project.
Maryland Senate District 11: 2026 Maryland Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · The Baltimore Banner · May 18, 2026 · thebanner.com
“The ridiculously expensive, environmentally destructive and navigation hazard offshore wind project should be completely abandoned.”
Proposes portable school taxes for private and home schooling.
Maryland Senate District 11: 2026 Maryland Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · The Baltimore Banner · May 18, 2026 · thebanner.com
“Make school taxes portable, so people choosing to send their kids to private school or home school could keep those monies”
Supports rolling back home construction regulations.
Maryland Senate District 11: 2026 Maryland Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · The Baltimore Banner · May 18, 2026 · thebanner.com
“roll back regulations, especially those governing new home construction”

Shelly L. Hettleman

DemocraticIncumbent

State senator · Baltimore County

The gist

Supports universal background checks and safe gun storage.
Supports ending mandatory minimums for nonviolent offenders.
Supports permitting reform to expand housing supply.
Supports a data-based mix of cuts and new revenue.
Supports renewable energy such as wind and solar.
Sponsored climate impact assessments for highway expansions.In office
Sponsored a clearinghouse for screening school educators.In office

In office = from the candidate's own official statements or legislation as an officeholder, not their campaign.

More about Shelly

View sources (4)

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”
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”
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”
Supports a data-based mix of cuts and new revenue.
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.”
Supports renewable energy such as wind and solar.
Protecting the Environment & Our Democracy - Shelly Hettleman
Campaign website · Friends of Shelly Hettleman · shellyhettleman.com
“Renewable energy sources, like wind, solar, and biomass”
Sponsored climate impact assessments for highway expansions.
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”
Sponsored a clearinghouse for screening school educators.
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”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 7 issues covered in this race.