{{short description|American politician|bot=PearBOT 5}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2022}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Chanel Branch | image = Chanel Branch 2020.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = Branch in 2020 | state_delegate = Maryland | district = 45th | term_start = January 28, 2020 | term_end = January 11, 2023 | alongside = Talmadge Branch (D), Stephanie M. Smith (D) | predecessor = Cheryl Glenn | successor = Caylin Young | birth_name = Chanel A. Branch | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1980|02|06}} | birth_place = Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. | party = Democratic | spouse = | children = Tyrone Ray Jr. | father = Talmadge Branch | education = | alma_mater = | occupation = | profession = }} '''Chanel Branch''' (born February 6, 1980) is an American politician who represented the 45th legislative district in the Maryland House of Delegates from 2020 to 2023.<ref name="msa">{{cite web |title=Chanel A. Branch, Maryland State Delegate |url=https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/former/html/msa18254.html |website=Maryland Manual On-Line |publisher=Maryland State Archives |access-date=February 1, 2020 |date=January 30, 2020}}</ref> Governor Larry Hogan appointed Branch mid-term in January 2020 after a controversy with the previous office holder had forced them to resign.<ref name="Richman">{{cite news |last1=Richman |first1=Talia |title=Gov. Hogan appoints Chanel Branch of Baltimore to replace Cheryl Glenn in Maryland House |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-pol-chanel-branch-20200127-5eplz5frqnfktplgwpein2jnoe-story.html |access-date=February 1, 2020 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=January 28, 2020}}</ref> In 2022, Branch ran for the office during the normal election cycle and lost.
==Background== Branch was born on February 6, 1980, in Baltimore, Maryland, where she graduated from Paul Laurence Dunbar High School. She attended Baltimore City Community College and the TESST College of Technology.<ref name="msa "/>
In July 2017, Branch's son was murdered in Baltimore City. She lobbied, alongside her father, Delegate Talmadge Branch, for stricter sentences for handgun violations and for $3.6 million to expand Safe Streets, an anti-violence initiative.<ref name="Richman 2">{{cite news |last1=Richman |first1=Talia |title=Chanel Branch nominated to replace Baltimore Del. Cheryl Glenn in Maryland House after corruption scandal |url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-pol-cheryl-glenn-replacement-20200114-dtixp6qxibcnbksxa6f5aeeevy-story.html |newspaper=The Baltimore Sun |accessdate=February 12, 2020 |date=January 14, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Dance |first1=Scott |title=Baltimore legislator seeks to prevent senseless shootings, like the one that killed his grandson |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-branch-safe-streets-20180219-story.html |access-date=March 13, 2022 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=February 20, 2018}}</ref> Since 2019, she has been a member of Safe Streets and Mothers of Murdered Sons & Daughters.<ref name="msa" />
In the summer of 2019, Branch filed to fill a vacancy in the Baltimore City Council that was left by the appointment of Brandon Scott to serve as the council's president. In October 2019, Branch announced her candidacy for the Baltimore City Council, seeking to challenge councilmember Danielle McCray, who won the nomination over Branch.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kurtz |first1=Josh |title=Political Fundraisers Become Family Affairs (Or Stoke Political Family Feuds) |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2019/10/03/political-fundraisers-become-family-affairs-or-stoke-political-family-feuds/ |access-date=March 13, 2022 |work=Maryland Matters |date=October 3, 2019}}</ref> Branch dropped out of the race for the Baltimore City Council on February 4, 2020.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Zorzi |first1=William F. |title=Newly-Installed Delegate Drops Out of City Council Race |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2020/02/04/newly-installed-delegate-drops-out-of-city-council-race/ |access-date=March 13, 2022 |work=Maryland Matters |date=February 4, 2020}}</ref>
In January 2020, after the resignation of Delegate Cheryl Glenn following federal corruption charges, Branch applied to fill the seat vacated by Glenn in the Maryland House of Delegates. The Baltimore City Democratic Central Committee voted to recommend Branch to the seat, with three members, including herself, voting for Branch and the other four members split among three other candidates.<ref name="Richman 2" /> During the committee vote, party officials prevented reporters from entering the meeting room, claiming that media was not allowed at the request of Humanim, the non-profit that owned the Wiessner-American Brewery building where the meeting took place. Reporters were later allowed to attend the second half of the meeting, and Humanim clarified it was not their policy to ban reporters from the open Democratic process.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shen |first1=Fern |title=Reporter booted out of meeting where Chanel Branch is voted in |url=https://www.baltimorebrew.com/2020/01/14/reporter-booted-out-of-meeting-where-chanel-branch-is-voted-in/ |access-date=March 13, 2022 |work=Baltimore Brew |date=January 14, 2020}}</ref> Following this incident, 45th District residents delivered a letter to Baltimore Democratic leaders, alleging that the process of filling a House of Delegates vacancy violated party bylaws and the Maryland Open Meetings Act. The letter called for Governor Hogan and the Baltimore City Democratic State Central Committee to reject the nomination and do the vote over.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shen |first1=Fern |title=Residents contest selection of Branch to replace Glenn, request re-vote |url=https://www.baltimorebrew.com/2020/01/16/residents-contest-selection-of-branch-to-replace-glenn-request-re-vote/ |access-date=March 13, 2022 |work=Baltimore Brew |date=January 16, 2020}}</ref> Nevertheless, Governor Hogan appointed Branch to the Maryland House of Delegates on January 28, 2020.<ref name="Richman" />
==In the legislature== Branch was sworn in as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates on January 28, 2020. She was assigned to the House Ways and Means committee and is member of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland and the Women Legislators of Maryland.<ref name="msa" />
Branch filed to run for a full term in the 2022 elections.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Opilo |first1=Emily |title=Baltimore Del. Talmadge Branch calls it a career as Maryland's primary filing deadline passes |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-ci-maryland-filing-deadline-20220416-4iylvvc64bf7vnjqezzflzarom-story.html |access-date=August 2, 2022 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=April 15, 2022}}</ref> She lost the Democratic primary on July 19, 2022, finishing fourth behind Caylin Young, who had bested her by 116 votes.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gaskill |first1=Hannah |title=Del. Chanel Branch loses her seat in the House as Baltimore City and County primary races settle |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/elections/bs-md-pol-city-county-primary-results-20220802-xbvm5dnodfadhaumka4l7bch4e-story.html |access-date=August 2, 2022 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=August 2, 2022}}</ref> {{Election box begin no change |title=Democratic primary results<ref>{{cite web |title=2022 Gubernatorial Primary Election Results for House of Delegates |url=https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2022/primary_results/gen_results_2022_by_county_3.html |website=elections.maryland.gov |publisher=Maryland State Board of Elections |access-date=August 2, 2022 |date=July 19, 2022}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Democratic Party |candidate = Jackie Addison |votes = 9,577 |percentage = 25.3 }}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Democratic Party |candidate = Stephanie M. Smith (incumbent) |votes = 8,638 |percentage = 22.9 }}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Democratic Party |candidate = Caylin Young |votes = 8,567 |percentage = 22.7 }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Democratic Party |candidate = Chanel Branch (incumbent) |votes = 8,451 |percentage = 22.4 }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Democratic Party |candidate = George Johnson |votes = 2,567 |percentage = 6.8 }}{{Election box end}}
==Political positions== ===Crime=== Branch introduced legislation in the 2022 legislative session that would establish specialized gun courts in Baltimore to expedite some firearm cases and, when appropriate, offer resources and support services instead of incarceration.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Skene |first1=Lea |title=Could a specialized 'gun court' help curb violence in Baltimore? Some hope so. |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/crime/bs-md-ci-cr-gun-court-proposal-20220308-zzgwsafu75belm3hfi4gpvbidm-story.html |access-date=March 13, 2022 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=March 8, 2022}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{cite web |title=Members - Delegate Chanel A. Branch |url=http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Members/Details/branch01 |website=mgaleg.maryland.gov |publisher=Maryland General Assembly |accessdate=February 1, 2020 |date=February 1, 2020}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Branch, Chanel A.}} Category:1980 births Category:21st-century American women politicians Category:Living people Category:Democratic Party members of the Maryland House of Delegates Category:Women state legislators in Maryland Category:21st-century members of the Maryland General Assembly