{{Short description|American politician}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Darryl Barnes | image = Delegate D Barnes.jpg | state_delegate = Maryland | district = 25th | term_start = January 14, 2015 | term_end = April 15, 2023 | predecessor = Aisha Braveboy and Melony G. Griffith <!-- District 25 has three representatives, these two failed to run for reelection in 2014, so therefore are predecessors. --> | successor = Kent Roberson | alongside = Karen Toles, Angela Angel, Dereck E. Davis, and Nick Charles | birth_name = Darryl Lamont Barnes | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|04|21}} | birth_place = Washington, D.C., U.S. | party = Democratic | children = 2 }}
'''Darryl Lamont Barnes''' (born April 21, 1965) is an American politician who was previously a member of the Maryland House of Delegates from 2015 to 2023.<ref name="msa">{{cite web|url=https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa17067.html|title=Darryl Barnes, Maryland State Delegate|website=msa.maryland.gov}}</ref> Barnes had represented Maryland's 25th District.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Maryland_House_of_Delegates_District_25|title=Maryland House of Delegates District 25|website=ballotpedia.com}}</ref> He served as Deputy Majority Whip from 2017 to 2023, and was the Chair of Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland from 2018 to 2022.
==Early life and career== Barnes was born in Washington, D.C., on April 21, 1965. He attended High Point High School in Beltsville, Maryland and graduated from California State University, Long Beach with a degree in computer information systems. He is a small business owner, serving as the President of Barnes International, Ltd. since 2003.<ref name="msa"/>
==In the legislature== Barnes was sworn into the Maryland House of Delegates on January 14, 2015.<ref name="msa"/>
In December 2016, state senator Ulysses Currie announced that he would not seek re-election in the 2018 elections, citing his poor health. Barnes was initially interested in running for the seat,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wiggins |first1=Ovetta |title=Maryland state Sen. Ulysses Currie rescinds resignation |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/maryland-state-sen-ulysses-currie-rescinds-resignation/2016/11/29/1ef64318-b6a0-11e6-a677-b608fbb3aaf6_story.html |access-date=January 17, 2022 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=November 29, 2016}}</ref> but told the Baltimore Afro-American that he would be seeking re-election in the House of Delegates that year instead.<ref>{{cite news |title=Currie's Wife Acts as 'Shadow' Senator |url=https://afro.com/curries-wife-acts-shadow-senator/ |access-date=January 17, 2022 |work=Baltimore Afro-American |date=February 14, 2018}}</ref>
On April 15, 2023, Barnes resigned from the Maryland House of Delegates to become a partner at the Annapolis lobbying firm Evans, Barnes & Associates.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ford |first1=William J. |title=Del. Darryl Barnes will leave legislature, become partner in Annapolis firm |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2023/04/05/del-darryl-barnes-will-leave-legislature-become-partner-in-annapolis-firm/ |access-date=April 5, 2023 |work=Maryland Matters |date=April 5, 2023}}</ref>. This association has since ended.
===Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland=== thumb|left|Barnes speaking at a Legislative Black Caucus breakfast in 2019 On March 29, 2018, the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland voted to elect Barnes as its Chair, making him the first man to lead the caucus in more than a decade.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Adkins |first1=Lenore |title=New Maryland Black Legislative Caucus Chair Lays Out Vision |url=https://afro.com/new-maryland-black-legislative-caucus-chair-lays-vision/ |access-date=January 17, 2022 |work=Baltimore Afro-American |date=April 13, 2018}}</ref> As caucus chairman, Barnes rolled out a long-term policy platform termed the 2030 Maryland Black Agenda, which focused on affordable housing, criminal justice reform, education, health care, and economic justice.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kurtz |first1=Josh |title=Black Caucus Plans Long-Term Policy Agenda |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2018/05/16/black-caucus-plans-long-term-policy-agenda/ |access-date=January 17, 2022 |work=Maryland Matters |date=May 16, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Ford |first1=William J. |title=Education, Criminal Justice Among Priorities for Black Lawmakers |url=https://www.washingtoninformer.com/education-criminal-justice-among-priorities-for-black-lawmakers/ |access-date=January 18, 2022 |work=Washington Informer |date=January 2, 2019}}</ref> In 2019, Barnes stated that "every bill that goes through this year should have the stamp of the Legislative Black Caucus on it."<ref>{{cite news |last1=DePuyt |first1=Bruce |title=Legislative Leaders See Progressive Initiatives Advancing |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2019/01/09/legislative-leaders-see-progressive-initiatives-advancing/ |access-date=January 18, 2022 |work=Maryland Matters |date=January 9, 2019}}</ref>
Ahead of the vote to choose the next Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates, Barnes organized support behind electing a member of the Legislative Black Caucus to serve as the next Speaker.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gaines |first1=Danielle E. |last2=DePuyt |first2=Bruce |title=Race for Speaker Intensifies Amid Speculation GOP Lawmakers Could Hold the Key |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2019/04/17/race-for-speaker-intensifies-amid-speculation-gop-lawmakers-could-hold-the-key/ |access-date=January 18, 2022 |work=Maryland Matters |date=April 17, 2019}}</ref> On April 29, 2019, delegate Regina T. Boyce resigned from the caucus, accusing Barnes of saying, "We are going to let a white lesbian be the speaker of the House?" an apparent reference to Delegate Maggie L. McIntosh, the first openly gay legislator in Maryland history. Barnes said he did not mean to disparage McIntosh, but later asserted he would never use incendiary language about a colleague.<ref>{{cite news |last1=DePuyt |first1=Bruce |title=TOP 10 LIST #5 Del. Boyce Resigns from Black Caucus as Controversy Mounts Over Speaker Vote |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2019/12/26/del-boyce-resigns-from-black-caucus-as-controversy-mounts-over-speaker-vote/ |access-date=January 18, 2022 |work=Maryland Matters |date=December 26, 2019}}</ref> Later that day, members of the caucus announced that they had agreed to vote for delegate Dereck E. Davis as the next Speaker. State legislators would end up electing delegate Adrienne A. Jones as the next Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates on May 1, 2019.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gaines |first1=Danielle E. |title=Annapolis Reflects on a Historic Vote |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2019/05/01/annapolis-reflects-on-a-historic-vote/ |access-date=January 18, 2022 |work=Maryland Matters |date=May 1, 2019}}</ref>
In October 2021, Barnes hosted a gubernatorial forum at the Legislative Black Caucus Reception,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gaskill |first1=Hannah |title=At Legislative Black Caucus Reception, Governor Candidates Asked to Lay Out Their Policies to Bolster the Black Agenda |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2021/10/15/at-legislative-black-caucus-reception-governor-candidates-asked-to-lay-out-their-policies-to-bolster-the-black-agenda/ |access-date=January 18, 2022 |work=Maryland Matters |date=October 15, 2021}}</ref> where he challenged all attending candidates (Rushern Baker (D), Jon Baron (D), Dan Cox (R), Robin Ficker (R), Peter Franchot (D), Doug Gansler (D), Ashwani Jain (D), John King, Jr. (D), David Lashar (L), Wes Moore (D), Tom Perez (D), and Mike Rosenbaum (D)) to post a Black agenda to their campaign websites by November 1. Candidates who complied with Barnes' challenge include Franchot, Moore, King, and Perez.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ford |first1=William J. |title=Del. Barnes: 'Disappointed' by Black Agendas of Some Gubernatorial Candidates |url=https://www.washingtoninformer.com/del-barnes-disappointed-by-black-agendas-of-some-gubernatorial-candidates/ |access-date=January 18, 2022 |work=Washington Informer |date=November 3, 2021}}</ref> Barnes later endorsed Franchot's campaign for governor, but switched his endorsement to Moore after he won the Democratic nomination.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ford |first1=William |title=Franchot Concedes in Maryland Gubernatorial Race |url=https://www.washingtoninformer.com/franchot-concedes-in-maryland-gubernatorial-race/ |access-date=September 16, 2022 |work=The Washington Informer |date=July 22, 2022}}</ref>
On September 27, 2022, Barnes announced that he would step down as chair of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland on December 5, 2022.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ford |first1=William |last2=Kurtz |first2=Josh |title=Maryland Black Caucus will have new leadership with resignations of Dels. Barnes, Brooks |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2022/09/27/maryland-black-caucus-will-have-new-leadership-with-resignations-of-dels-barnes-brooks/ |access-date=September 27, 2022 |work=Maryland Matters |date=September 27, 2022}}</ref> He was succeeded by state delegate Jheanelle Wilkins.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kinnally |first1=Kevin |title=MD Black Caucus Announces New Chair |url=https://conduitstreet.mdcounties.org/2022/12/07/md-black-caucus-announces-new-chair/ |access-date=December 7, 2022 |work=Maryland Association of Counties |date=December 7, 2022}}</ref>
===Committee assignments=== * Ways and Means Committee, 2015–present (finance resources subcommittee, 2015–2018; revenues subcommittee, 2015–2018; election law subcommittee, 2017–2018; chair, local revenues subcommittee, 2019–present; member, revenues subcommittee, 2020–present; racing & gaming subcommittee, 2021–present) * House Cannabis Referendum and Legalization Work Group, 2021–present * Tax Credit Evaluation Committee, 2017–2021 * Work Group to Address Police Reform and Accountability in Maryland, 2020
===Other memberships=== * 2nd Vice-Chair, Prince George's County Delegation, 2018–present (county affairs committee, 2015–2017; vice-chair, 2017–present, & chair, 2018–present, education committee) * Chair, Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, 2018–present (parliamentarian, 2015–2016; 1st vice-chair, 2016–2018) * Maryland Veterans Caucus, 2015–present
==Post-legislative career== In July 2025, Prince George's County Executive Aisha Braveboy nominated Barnes as chair of the Prince George's Planning Board. The county council unanimously approved his nomination on July 8, 2025.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ford |first1=William J. |last2=Brown |first2=Danielle J. |title=Follow the leaders: Barnes, Davis, Kimmel take charge, more political notes |url=https://marylandmatters.org/2025/07/09/follow-the-leaders-barnes-davis-kimmel-take-charge-more-political-notes/ |access-date=July 9, 2025 |work=Maryland Matters |date=July 9, 2025}}</ref> In February 2026, Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission chief legal officer Debra Borden filed a complaint against Barnes, alleging that he engaged in misconduct, self-dealing, personal benefit, and procurement interference, and threatened to have Borden fired after she raised legal and ethical concerns about his conduct. Barnes denied the allegations and disputed the "accuracy, completeness, and characterization" of the accounts in the complaint. The commission and Braveboy subsequently opened their own separate investigations into the allegations.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hogan |first1=Jack |title=Prince George's planning chair Darryl Barnes faces a slew of misconduct allegations |url=https://www.thebanner.com/politics-power/local-government/darryl-barnes-prince-georges-county-complaint-ERCIBQDM2ZDOXGLYD5KZ7OP4WA/ |access-date=May 15, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Banner |date=May 15, 2026 |language=en}}</ref> After ''The Baltimore Banner'' reported on the complaint in May 2026, Braveboy moved to oust Barnes from the planning board.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hogan |first1=Jack |title=Braveboy moves to oust beleaguered Prince George’s planning board chair |url=https://www.thebanner.com/politics-power/local-government/darryl-barnes-removal-planning-board-LE5JPF7D2RGCVIWKLIHHEU5DCY/ |access-date=May 15, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Banner |date=May 15, 2026 |language=en}}</ref> Barnes resigned from the Prince George's County Planning Board on May 16, 2026.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hogan |first1=Jack |title=Prince George’s planning chair resigns, avoiding showdown with County Council |url=https://www.thebanner.com/politics-power/local-government/darryl-barnes-planning-board-resigns-GZNQG2UYAJAG7OFFTJWIONVBTY/ |access-date=May 18, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Banner |date=May 18, 2026 |language=en}}</ref> Multiple investigations remain ongoing.
==Electoral history== {| class="wikitable" ! colspan="4" |Maryland House of Delegates 25th District Democratic Primary Election, 2014<ref>{{cite web |title=Official 2014 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates |url=https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2014/results/primary/gen_results_2014_1_01625.html |publisher=Maryland State Board of Elections |access-date=January 18, 2022}}</ref> |- |'''Party''' |'''Candidate''' |'''Votes''' |'''%''' |- |Democratic |'''Dereck E. Davis''' |9,088 |26 |- |Democratic |'''Angela Angel''' |7,104 |20 |- |Democratic |'''Darryl Barnes''' |5,702 |16 |- |Democratic |Juanita D. Miller |3,804 |11 |- |Democratic |Nick Charles |3,032 |9 |- |Democratic |Matthew F. Fogg |1,713 |5 |- |Democratic |Tony Jones |1,498 |4 |- |Democratic |Geraldine Gerry Eggleston |1,299 |4 |- |Democratic |Larry R. Greenfield |1,094 |3 |- |Democratic |Stanley Onye |1,014 |3 |} {| class="wikitable" ! colspan="4" |Maryland House of Delegates 25th District General Election, 2014<ref>{{cite web |title=Official 2014 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates |url=https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2014/results/General/gen_results_2014_2_01625.html |publisher=Maryland State Board of Elections |access-date=January 18, 2022}}</ref> |- |'''Party''' |'''Candidate''' |'''Votes''' |'''%''' |- |Democratic |'''Angela Angel''' |26,792 |36 |- |Democratic |'''Dereck E. Davis''' |23,593 |32 |- |Democratic |'''Darryl Barnes''' |23,372 |32 |- |Other/Write-in |Other/Write-in |161 |0 |} {| class="wikitable" ! colspan="4" |Maryland House of Delegates 25th District Democratic Primary Election, 2018<ref>{{cite web |title=Official 2018 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates |url=https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2018/results/primary/gen_results_2018_1_01625.html |publisher=Maryland State Board of Elections |access-date=January 18, 2022}}</ref> |- |'''Party''' |'''Candidate''' |'''Votes''' |'''%''' |- |Democratic |'''Darryl Barnes''' |13,050 |27 |- |Democratic |'''Dereck E. Davis''' |12,152 |25 |- |Democratic |'''Nick Charles''' |8,330 |17 |- |Democratic |Wala Blegay |6,217 |13 |- |Democratic |Kent Roberson |3,126 |6 |- |Democratic |Sherman R. Hardy |2,200 |5 |- |Democratic |Stanley Onye |2,070 |4 |- |Democratic |Maurice Culbreath |2,041 |4 |} {| class="wikitable" ! colspan="4" |Maryland House of Delegates 25th District General Election, 2018<ref>{{cite web |title=Official 2018 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates |url=https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2018/results/general/gen_results_2018_2_01625.html |publisher=Maryland State Board of Elections |access-date=January 18, 2022}}</ref> |- |'''Party''' |'''Candidate''' |'''Votes''' |'''%''' |- |Democratic |'''Darryl Barnes''' |36,845 |35 |- |Democratic |'''Dereck E. Davis''' |35,229 |33 |- |Democratic |'''Nick Charles''' |33,411 |32 |- |Other/Write-in |Other/Write-in |474 |0 |}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Barnes, Darryl}} Category:Democratic Party members of the Maryland House of Delegates Category:Living people Category:1965 births Category:Politicians from Washington, D.C. Category:Politicians from Prince George's County, Maryland Category:African-American state legislators in Maryland Category:21st-century African-American politicians Category:21st-century members of the Maryland General Assembly