J. B. Jennings

Jonathan Bartlett Jennings (born March 27, 1974) is an American politician serving as a senator in the Maryland State Senate since 2011. A member of the Republican Party, he was first elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 2002 to represent District 7, which covers both Baltimore County and Harford Counties. He served as minority leader of the Senate from 2014 to 2020.[1]

J. B. Jennings
Member of the Maryland Senate from the 7th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 12, 2011
Preceded by	Andy Harris
Minority Leader of the Maryland Senate
In office November 12, 2014 – October 10, 2020
Preceded by	E. J. Pipkin
Succeeded by	Bryan Simonaire
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the 7th district
In office January 8, 2003 – January 12, 2011
Preceded by	Jacob J. Mohorovic Jr.
Succeeded by	Kathy Szeliga
Personal details
Born	Jonathan Bartlett Jennings March 27, 1974 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Michelle Slusher ​ (m. 2004)​
Children	2
Education	Community College of Baltimore County University of Baltimore (BS)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Air Force
Years of service	2008–present
Unit	Maryland Air National Guard

Personal life and family

Jennings grew up in Phoenix, Maryland. As a child he was an active 4-Her, raising market lambs and cattle and showing them at various fairs including the Maryland State Fair. At the age of sixteen he joined the Jacksonville Volunteer Fire Company Station 47, where he was a firefighter and emergency medical technician.[2] He eventually became a lieutenant before serving on the board of directors. In 1994,a he, and several other firefighters from Maryland, were sent to Idaho to fight wildfires that were raging due to extreme drought. They received recognition from Maryland Governor William Donald Schaefer for their actions.

He is a graduate of Baltimore County Public Schools. Jennings attended Carrol Manor Elementary School, Cockeysville Middle School and graduated from Dulaney High School. After graduation, he attended Essex Community College, where he graduated and received his A.A. in 1995. Jennings then transferred to the University of Baltimore, where he graduated in 1997 with his B.S. in Business Administration.

While in college, he worked at the United States Capitol for Congressman Robert Ehrlich as a staff assistant. In 1998, Jennings became co-owner and president of a feed store in Hereford, Maryland, The Maryland Feed Company. In 2007, he merged The Maryland Feed Company with The Mill to create The Mill of Hereford.[2]

Jennings has been farmer since his days in 4-H. While in college he worked on a dairy farm before starting his own beef cattle farm where he raises Black Angus.

He married Michelle Slusher in 2004.

Jennings is an instrument rated pilot. He has served in the Maryland Air National Guard with the 135th Airlift Squadron since 2008.[2] He is a loadmaster having initially trained on the C-130 before transitioning to the C-27J Spartan. In 2012, he transferred to the 276th Cyberspace Operations Squadron. He was activated and deployed during the 2015 Baltimore protests and riots.

House

Jennings was a member of the Maryland House of Delegates from 2003 to 2011.[2] Since his election to the House of Delegates, Jennings has been very active in environmental and agricultural issues. He served on Environmental Matters Committee (2003–06), the Agriculture Preservation & Open Space subcommittee (2003–06), the Wetlands & Waterways Funding Work Group in 2004, and the Natural Resources subcommittee in 2006. Jennings was the chair of the Natural Resources work group in 2004, was a member of the Agricultural Stewardship Commission from 2005 to 2006, and has been a member of the Maryland Fire, Rescue and EMS Caucus since 2003. He has also been on the Maryland Rural Caucus and the Maryland Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus since 2003.

His efforts were recognized when he was selected as Deputy Minority Whip (2003–06).

Legislative notes

• voted against the Healthy Air Act in 2006 (SB154)[3]
• voted for slots in 2005 (HB1361)[4]
• voted against in-state tuition for illegal immigrants in 2007 (HB6)[5]

Senate

Jennings was elected to the Maryland Senate in 2010,[2] and served on the Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee (environment and health occupations subcommittees, 2011–15), Joint Advisory Committee on Legislative Data Systems (2011–14), and Joint Committee on Transparency and Open Government (2011–14). He was appointed as the Senate's Minority Leader in 2014 and won reelection that year. Since 2015, Jennings has served on the Finance Committee (property & casualty and transportation subcommittees), Legislative Policy Committee, the Joint Committee on Legislative Information Technology and Open Government, the Joint Committee on Spending Affordability, and the Public Safety and Policing Work Group. In 2016, he joined the Executive Nominations Committee. In 2020, Jennings stepped down from his post as Minority Leader and was succeeded by Bryan Simonaire.[6]

Election results

• 2014 General Election for Maryland State Senator – District 7[7]

Voters to choose one:

Name	Votes	Percent	Outcome
J. B. Jennings, Rep.	36,913	74.6%	Won
Kim Letke	12,502	25.3%	Lost
Other Write-Ins	46	0.1%	Lost

• 2010 General Election for Maryland State Senator – District 7[8]

Voters to choose one:

Name	Votes	Percent	Outcome
J. B. Jennings, Rep.	28,890	65.9%	Won
Rebecca Weir Nelson, Dem.	14,848	33.9%	Lost
Jim Stavropoulos, Jr. (Dem. write-in)	53	0.1%	Lost
Other Write-Ins	64	0.1%	Lost

• 2006 election for Maryland House of Delegates – District 7[9]

Voters to choose three:

Name	Votes	Percent	Outcome
Richard Impallaria, Rep.	21,333	18.7%	Won
J. B. Jennings, Rep.	21,189	18.6%	Won
Pat McDonough, Rep.	23,184	20.3%	Won
Linda W. Hart, Dem.	17,122	15.0%	Lost
Jack Sturgill, Dem.	15,390	13.5%	Lost
Rebecca L. Nelson, Dem.	13,481	11.8%	Lost
Kim Fell, Green	2,307	2.0%	Lost
Other Write-Ins	83	0.1%	Lost

• 2002 election for Maryland House of Delegates – District 7[10]

Voters to choose three:

Name	Votes	Percent	Outcome
Richard Impallaria, Rep.	18,749	17.0%	Won
J. B. Jennings, Rep.	22,470	20.4%	Won
Pat McDonough, Rep.	20,869	18.9%	Won
Michael F. Linder, Libertarian	2,817	2.6%	Lost
Jack Sturgill, Dem.	15,390	15.0%	Lost
Other Write-Ins	80	0.1%	Lost

References and notes

1. Wood, Pamela. "Maryland GOP senators elect new, more conservative leaders". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2020-10-28.
2. Anderson, David. "Kim Letke challenges J.B. Jennings for District 7 Senate seat". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2020-09-23.
3. "2006 Regular Session – Vote Record 0942". General Assembly of Maryland. March 30, 2006. Retrieved March 2, 2016.
4. "2005 Regular Session – Vote Record 0152". General Assembly of Maryland. February 25, 2005. Retrieved March 2, 2016.
5. "2007 Regular Session – Vote Record 0690". General Assembly of Maryland. March 26, 2007. Retrieved March 2, 2016.
6. Wood, Pamela. "Maryland GOP senators elect new, more conservative leaders". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2020-10-28.
7. "Official 2014 Gubernatorial General Election results for State Senator". Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
8. "Official 2010 Gubernatorial General Election results for State Senator". Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved March 2, 2016.
9. "Official 2006 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved September 22, 2007.
10. "2002 Gubernatorial General – Official Results". Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved September 22, 2007.

External links

• Official biography