{{Short description|American politician (born 1967)}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Keiffer Mitchell Jr. | image = Keifmitchell.jpg | caption = Mitchell in 2011 | office = Chief of Staff to the Governor of Maryland | status = Acting | governor = Larry Hogan | term_start = August 17, 2020 | term_end = October 26, 2020 | predecessor = Roy McGrath | successor = Amelia Chassé Alcivar | state_delegate1 = Maryland | term_start1 = January 12, 2011 | term_end1 = January 14, 2015 | predecessor1 = Ruth M. Kirk | successor1 = Keith E. Haynes (redistricting) | district1 = 44th | office2 = Member of the Baltimore City Council | term_start2 = December 7, 1995 | term_end2 = December 6, 2007 | predecessor2 = Lawrence A. Bell | successor2 = William H. Cole IV | constituency2 = 4th district (1995–2004)<br>11th district (2004–2007) | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1967|9|28}} | birth_place = Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | party = Democratic | relatives = Clarence Mitchell Jr. (grandfather)<br />Juanita Jackson Mitchell (grandmother)<br />Clarence Mitchell III (uncle)<br />Parren Mitchell (uncle)<br />Clarence Mitchell IV (cousin) | spouse = Nicole Kramer | children = 2 }} '''Keiffer Jackson Mitchell Jr.''' (born September 28, 1967) is an American politician and government official who served as the chief legislative officer for Maryland Governor Larry Hogan from 2019 to 2022. He also served as a senior advisor to Hogan from 2017 to 2019 and from 2020 to 2022, and as Hogan's acting chief of staff from August to October 2020. He is a member of the Democratic Party.
Born in Baltimore, Mitchell graduated from Emory University and the University of the District of Columbia School of Law. He began his career as a law clerk to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and as a White House intern during the Clinton administration. Mitchell was elected to the Baltimore City Council in 1995, representing the 4th district from 1995 to 2004 and the 11th district from 2004 to 2007. He ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Baltimore in 2007, losing to incumbent mayor Sheila Dixon in the Democratic primary election. Mitchell was elected to represent the 44th district of the Maryland House of Delegates in 2010, but lost renomination in 2014 after redistricting drew him into District 44A.
==Early life and education== Mitchell was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on September 28, 1967,<ref name="msa">{{cite web |title=Keiffer Jackson Mitchell, Jr., Chief Legislative Officer & Senior Advisor, Maryland Governor's Office |url=https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/08conoff/gov/staff/former/html/msa14509.html |website=Maryland Manual On-Line |publisher=Maryland State Archives |access-date=February 10, 2026}}</ref> to Keiffer Mitchell, a physician, and Nannette Mitchell, a budget analyst for the Baltimore County Department of Social Services.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Campbell |first1=Colin |title=Dr. Keiffer Mitchell Sr. dies at 73 |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2015/08/18/dr-keiffer-mitchell-sr-dies-at-73/ |access-date=February 10, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=August 18, 2015}}</ref><ref name="NextGen" /> He is the grandson of Clarence M. Mitchell Jr., and grandnephew of U.S. Representative Parren Mitchell. His uncle, Clarence Mitchell III, was a Maryland state senator, and his father's younger brother, Michael B. Mitchell Sr., was a Baltimore city councilmember and later Maryland state senator.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Basara |first1=Mindy |title=Mitchell family's leadership, influence goes back generations |url=https://www.wbaltv.com/article/mitchell-family-clarence-mitchell-jr-maryland/39173309 |access-date=February 10, 2026 |work=WBAL-TV |date=February 20, 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Ford |first1=William J. |title=Parren Mitchell, the first Black member of Congress from Maryland, honored with memorial |url=https://marylandmatters.org/2025/05/29/parren-mitchell-the-first-black-member-of-congress-from-maryland-honored-with-memorial/ |access-date=February 10, 2026 |work=Maryland Matters |date=May 29, 2025}}</ref>
Mitchell was raised in Baltimore, living in the city's northeast before moving to Guilford.<ref name="Boots">{{cite news |last1=Reddi |first1=Sumanthi |title=Candidate wears his campaign boots |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-candidate-wears-his-ca/191044454/ |access-date=February 10, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=September 7, 2007 |page=A15}}</ref> He graduated from the Boys' Latin School of Maryland in 1986, where he was active in basketball, tennis, and student government.<ref name="Boots" /> Afterwards, Mitchell attended Emory University, where he helped organize demonstrations against racism in Forsyth County, Georgia, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science in 1990. He then attended the University of the District of Columbia, where he provided free legal help to people with HIV/AIDS and earned a Juris Doctor degree in 1994.<ref name="msa" /><ref name="NextGen">{{cite news |last1=White |first1=Victoria |title=MITCHELL: Next generation |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-mitchell-next-generat/191037079/ |access-date=February 10, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=April 27, 1994 |page=42}}</ref>
==Career== While attending Emory University, Mitchell worked on several several campaigns as an intern with the Democratic National Committee's Black Caucus and as a summer intern with the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.<ref name="Boots" /> Before being elected to the Baltimore City Council, he was law clerk for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, a volunteer at the 1988 and 1992 Democratic National Conventions, and a White House intern in 1994.<ref>{{cite news |title=Keiffer J. Mitchell, Jr. (D) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-keiffer-j-mitchell-j/191038805/ |access-date=February 10, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=September 10, 1995 |page=136}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=White |first1=Victoria |title=Baltimore's Mitchells: the next generation |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-baltimores-mitchells/191036990/ |access-date=February 10, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=April 27, 1994 |page=35}}</ref> He never passed the bar examination and returned to Baltimore after graduating from UDC, where he taught history at the Boys' Latin School from 1995 to 2002.<ref name="Boots" /><ref name="msa" /> Afterwards, he stayed at home with his first child until April 2005, when he went back to work as a business development officer at The Harbor Bank of Maryland.<ref name="RunMayor" /> He left Harbor Bank after he launched his campaign for mayor in January 2007, when the bank's president asked him to take unpaid leave after people who held campaign accounts in the bank objected to a perceived mix of banking and politics.<ref name="Boots" /> In December 2007, after leaving the Baltimore City Council, he was appointed as a small business banking officer for Wachovia.<ref>{{cite news |title=Moving Up |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-moving-up/191043818/ |access-date=February 10, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=December 19, 2007 |page=D5}}</ref>
==Political involvement== Mitchell was a delegate to the 2000 and 2008 Democratic National Conventions. He was a member of the Baltimore City Democratic Central Committee from 2002 to 2010, serving as the second vice chair of the Maryland Democratic Party from 2002 to 2006.<ref name="msa" />
===Baltimore City Council=== Mitchell was elected to the Baltimore City Council in 1995,<ref>{{cite news |title=Cunningham out in 3rd; Cain losing in 1st, as membership is overhualed |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-cunningham-out-in-3rd/191039059/ |access-date=February 10, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=September 13, 1995 |page=14}}</ref> representing the council's 4th district, which included parts of western and central Baltimore. During his campaign, he pledged to be an ambassador to businesses around the country and was endorsed by incumbent Lawrence A. Bell III, who ran for city council president.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Guy Matthews |first1=Robert |title=Age a factor in the 4th district |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-age-a-factor-in-the-4t/191038350/ |access-date=February 10, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=August 30, 1995 |page=22}}</ref> He was sworn in on December 7, 1995.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Guy Matthews |first1=Robert |title=Harmony on council proves to be short-lived |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-harmony-on-council-pro/191040480/ |access-date=February 10, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=December 8, 1995 |page=41}}</ref> During his tenure, Mitchell was the chair of the Taxation & Finance Committee and the Education & Human Resources Committee, and the vice chair of the Judiciary Committee.<ref name="msa" />
During his tenure, Mitchell was known for doing most of his work through negotiations and amendments, and for having a strong relationship with the city's business community. A fiscal conservative, he opposed the city's decision to publicly finance the Hilton Baltimore and unsuccessfully supported proposals to lower the city's property tax rate and eliminate the city's energy tax. In his second term, he prioritized constituent services, prioritizing his office's resources to various communities known for drug activity and helping city residents who called his office despite not living in his district, and worked with the administration of Governor Bob Ehrlich to prevent Hedwin Corp., a plastics manufacturer in north Baltimore, from being taken over by a foreign business. In his this term, Mitchell negotiated a $42 million city loan to bail out the Baltimore City Public Schools system, which prevented the city from being dependent on a state loan.<ref name="Boots" /> Mitchell also faced criticism for supporting a bill that would allow Mercy Medical Center to demolish several historical rowhouses, which he said would make way for a hospital expansion that would bring in millions of dollars in investment and create hundreds of jobs in the city's growing health care industry.<ref name="RunMayor" />
In April 1996, Baltimore mayor Kurt Schmoke appointed Mitchell to chair a task force to study the expansion of school choice in Baltimore.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bowler |first1=Mike |title='Choice' and the Catholic schools |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-choice-and-the-catho/191042500/ |access-date=February 10, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=April 14, 1996 |page=26}}</ref> The task force released its final report in November 1996, recommending that the city open more magnet schools and college and career readiness programs, and to support state legislation that would allow the city to create publicly funded charter schools that would operate independent of Baltimore City Public Schools. At the same time, the task force recommended against providing tax-funded school vouchers that could be used at private and parochial schools.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Thompson |first1=Jean |title=City task force opposes school vouchers |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-city-task-force-oppose/191043214/ |access-date=February 10, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=November 22, 1996 |page=39}}</ref>
In 1999, Mitchell worked on the "Draft Mfume" campaign, which sought to induce NAACP president Kweisi Mfume to run for mayor of Baltimore in 1999.<ref name="RunMayor">{{cite news |last1=Doug |first1=Donovan |last2=Fritze |first2=John |title=Mitchell says he'll run for mayor |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-mitchell-says-hell-ru/191080951/ |access-date=February 11, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=January 6, 2007 |page=A4}}</ref>
===2007 mayoral campaign=== {{main|2007 Baltimore mayoral election}} thumb|Mitchell campaigning for mayor, 2007 On January 5, 2007, Mitchell announced that he would run for mayor of Baltimore in 2007, challenging Sheila Dixon, who became mayor after Martin O'Malley was sworn in as governor of Maryland.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Donovan |first1=Doug |last2=Fritze |first2=John |title=Keiffer Mitchell to run for mayor |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-keiffer-mitchell-to-ru/191080578/ |access-date=February 11, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=January 6, 2007 |page=A1}}</ref> During his campaign, he ran on a platform that included taking full control of Baltimore's school system, increased pay for teachers who work at the city's toughest schools, and instituting efficiency audits in every school to ensure that funds were being spent appropriately.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Reddy |first1=Sumathi |title=Mitchell unveils plan for schools |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-mitchell-unveils-plan/191083117/ |access-date=February 11, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=May 9, 2007 |page=B3}}</ref> He also supported reforms to the city's contracting process<ref>{{cite news |last1=Reddy |first1=Sumathi |title=Mitchell targets contract process |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-mitchell-targets-contr/191083336/ |access-date=February 11, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=May 23, 2007 |page=B1}}</ref> and increasing Baltimore Police Department hiring and funding.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fritze |first1=John |title=Mitchell weighs in on crime |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-mitchell-weighs-in-on/191083463/ |access-date=February 11, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=June 8, 2007 |page=B1}}</ref> During the Democratic primary, Mitchell was seen as being a frontrunner in the Democratic primary alongside Dixon,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fritze |first1=John |title=Mayoral hopefuls in lively debate |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-mayoral-hopefuls-in-li/191084234/ |access-date=February 11, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=August 29, 2007 |page=B3}}</ref> though he trailed Dixon in fundraising and polling throughout the campaign and received virtually no support from Maryland's political establishment, outside of Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler,<ref name="Boots" /> Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 3,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Reddy |first1=Sumathi |title=Police union endorses Mitchell |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-police-union-endorses/191085265/ |access-date=February 11, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=July 24, 2007 |page=A1}}</ref> and the Baltimore Firefighters Union.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Reddy |first1=Sumathi |title=Baltimore Firefighters Union endorses Mitchell for mayor |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-baltimore-firefighters/191086665/ |access-date=February 11, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=August 10, 2007 |page=B3}}</ref>
In August 2007, ''The Baltimore Sun'' reported that Mitchell's father resigned as the treasurer of his son's mayoral campaign after campaign aides discovered that he had spent more than $40,000 of his son's campaign funds for personal expenses over several months in violation of state law.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fritze |first1=John |title=Mitchell's father quits campaign under cloud |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-mitchells-father-quit/191084514/ |access-date=February 11, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=August 3, 2007 |page=A1}}</ref> In a statement following his resignation, Mitchell said that he would not be pressing charges, that his father had reimbursed the campaign money he had spent, and that his campaign would hire a second accountant to perform a thorough review of all of its finances.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fritze |first1=John |title=Mitchell campaign says father has repaid funds in question |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-mitchell-campaign-says/191084784/ |access-date=February 11, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=August 3, 2007 |page=A11}}</ref> Mitchell's father defended his spending, saying through his attorneys, Billy Murphy Jr. and Larry S. Gibson, that the $14,000 he spent on a hotel was appropriate because the room was used for fundraising and that it was appropriate for him to write $7,220 in campaign checks out to cash.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fritze |first1=John |title=Mitchell's father defends spending |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-mitchells-father-defe/191085589/ |access-date=February 11, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=August 7, 2007 |page=A1}}</ref> Jared DeMarinis, the director of the Maryland State Board of Elections' candidacy and campaign finance division, disputed this assertion, saying that campaign finance entities "may not directly or indirectly make any expenditure except by a check".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fritze |first1=John |title=Mitchell's father defends use of campaign's money |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-mitchells-father-defe/191086543/ |access-date=February 11, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=August 7, 2007 |page=A6}}</ref> Later that month, Mitchell's campaign reported an additional $16,000 in campaign funds that were inappropriately spent by his father.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fritze |first1=John |title=Mitchells' spending rift widens |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-mitchells-spending-ri/191086898/ |access-date=February 11, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=August 16, 2007 |page=B1}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Fritze |first1=John |title=Mitchell questions other spending |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-mitchell-questions-oth/191087047/ |access-date=February 11, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=August 16, 2007 |page=B2}}</ref>
Mitchell was defeated by Dixon in the Democratic primary election on September 11, 2007, placing second with 23.7 percent of the vote.<ref name="2007p" /> He conceded the election to Dixon on the night of the election.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Reddy |first1=Sumathi |last2=Fritze |first2=John |title=Rawlings-Blake beats Sarbanes |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-rawlings-blake-beats-s/191087522/ |access-date=February 11, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=September 12, 2007 |page=A10}}</ref>
===Maryland House of Delegates=== Mitchell was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 2010, defeating incumbent state delegate Ruth M. Kirk in the Democratic primary election.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Linskey |first1=Annie |title=Incumbent losses deepen divide |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-incumbent-losses-deepe/191088451/ |access-date=February 11, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=September 16, 2010 |page=A7}}</ref> He was sworn in on January 12, 2011, and served on the Judiciary Committee from 2011 to 2013, afterwards serving on the Economic Matters Committee until 2015. Mitchell was also a member of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland.<ref name="msa" /> During his tenure, Mitchell supported the Civil Marriage Protection Act<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bykowicz |first1=Julie |last2=Linskey |first2=Annie |title=Assembly likely to act on same-sex marriage |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-assembly-likely-to-act/191088949/ |access-date=February 11, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=January 26, 2011 |page=A12}}</ref> and introduced bills that would transfer control of Baltimore City Public Schools to the mayor of Baltimore.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Green |first1=Erica L. |title=City delegate proposes mayoral control of schools |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-city-delegate-proposes/191089988/ |access-date=February 11, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=October 8, 2011 |page=A6}}</ref>
In October 2013, Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler said that he considered choosing Mitchell as his running mate in the 2014 Maryland gubernatorial election, in which he ran with state delegate Jolene Ivey.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wagner |first1=John |date=October 11, 2013 |title=Gansler to announce Jolene Ivey as running mate in Maryland's race for governor |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/gansler-to-announce-jolene-ivey-as-running-mate-in-marylands-race-for-governor/2013/10/11/76bb1f98-328b-11e3-8627-c5d7de0a046b_story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404145105/http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/gansler-to-announce-jolene-ivey-as-running-mate-in-marylands-race-for-governor/2013/10/11/76bb1f98-328b-11e3-8627-c5d7de0a046b_story.html |archive-date=April 4, 2015 |access-date=June 2, 2022 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> Mitchell declined to run, saying that he didn't want to put his children through a grueling statewide campaign.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dresser |first1=Michael |last2=Cox |first2=Erin |title=Ticket choices point to waning city clout |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-ticket-choices-point-t/191090366/ |access-date=February 11, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=October 15, 2013 |page=A7}}</ref>
During the 2010 redistricting cycle, the 44th district was split into two sub-districts; Mitchell was drawn into the single-member District 44A with incumbents Keith E. Haynes and Melvin L. Stukes.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Linskey |first1=Annie |last2=Dresser |first2=Michael |title=O'Malley floats rise of 1 cent in sales tax |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-omalley-floats-rise-o/191089613/ |access-date=February 11, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=January 12, 2012 |page=A13}}</ref> The three incumbents ran for re-election in this district in 2014. Haynes defeated Mitchell and Stukes in the Democratic primary election in June 2014, with Mitchell placing second with 39.4 percent of the vote.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Broadwater |first1=Luke |title=The new faces of city politics |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-the-new-faces-of-city/191090929/ |access-date=February 11, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=July 6, 2014 |page=A6}}</ref> Following his defeat, Mitchell declined to apply to serve the remainder of William H. Cole IV's term on the Baltimore City Council.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Broadwater |first1=Luke |title=Mitchell won't seek Cole's seat |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-mitchell-wont-seek-co/191091407/ |access-date=February 11, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=August 26, 2014 |page=A2}}</ref>
===Hogan administration=== [[File:GOP Caucus Reception - 49617059823.jpg|thumb|Mitchell and Governor Larry Hogan at a Republican caucus event, 2020]] In January 2015, Governor-elect Larry Hogan named Mitchell as a special adviser to the governor. In this position, he oversaw some of Hogan's legislative initiatives, including proposals to expand access to charter and vocational schools,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cox |first1=Erin |last2=Wheeler |first2=Timothy B. |title=Hogan names Democrat Keiffer Mitchell as special adviser |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2015/01/13/hogan-names-democrat-keiffer-mitchell-as-special-adviser/ |access-date=February 11, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=January 13, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Broadwater |first1=Luke |title=Maryland Gov. Hogan to introduce legislation to add more schools to tech education program |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2018/12/20/maryland-gov-hogan-to-introduce-legislation-to-add-more-schools-to-tech-education-program/ |access-date=February 11, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=December 20, 2018}}</ref> offer tax breaks to manufacturers who move to areas of the state with high unemployment, require large companies to provide paid sick leave,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cox |first1=Erin |title=General Assembly leaders predict 'tough' budget cuts |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2016/12/09/general-assembly-leaders-predict-tough-budget-cuts/ |access-date=February 11, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=December 9, 2016}}</ref> and increase criminal penalties for repeat violent offenders.<ref>{{cite news |title=While Baltimore prays for a cop shot in a robbery, Hogan blames Democrats |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2019/08/09/while-baltimore-prays-for-a-cop-shot-in-a-robbery-hogan-blames-democrats/ |access-date=February 11, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=August 9, 2019}}</ref> He also served as Hogan's liaison to Baltimore<ref>{{cite news |last1=Broadwater |first1=Luke |last2=Dresser |first2=Michael |last3=Prudente |first3=Tim |title=Pugh seeks help from Maryland as Baltimore principals rally against deep school budget cuts |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2017/02/27/pugh-seeks-help-from-maryland-as-baltimore-principals-rally-against-deep-school-budget-cuts/ |access-date=February 11, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=February 27, 2017}}</ref> and coordinated the state's response to the 2015 Baltimore protests.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cox |first1=Erin |last2=Anderson |first2=Jessica |title=Civil rights groups call on Hogan to convene special session |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2015/04/24/civil-rights-groups-call-on-hogan-to-convene-special-session/ |access-date=February 11, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=April 24, 2015}}</ref>
In November 2019, Hogan appointed Mitchell to serve as his chief legislative officer, replacing Christopher B. Shank.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wood |first1=Pamela |title=Maryland Gov. Hogan will tap Baltimore Democrat Keiffer Mitchell to pitch his agenda to lawmakers |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2019/11/13/maryland-gov-hogan-will-tap-baltimore-democrat-keiffer-mitchell-to-pitch-his-agenda-to-lawmakers/ |access-date=February 11, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=November 13, 2019}}</ref> During his tenure, he testified in support of Hogan's bills requiring Maryland public schools to start after Labor Day<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gaines |first1=Danielle E. |title=Lawmakers Likely to Dismiss Hogan's School Start Bill Despite Breezy Hearing |url=https://marylandmatters.org/2020/02/21/lawmakers-likely-to-dismiss-hogans-school-start-bill-despite-breezy-hearing/ |access-date=February 11, 2026 |work=Maryland Matters |date=February 22, 2020}}</ref> and to increase penalties for repeat violent offenders.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gaskill |first1=Hannah |title=Hogan Pushes Again for Judicial Transparency Act, Harsher Sentences on Repeat Gun Crimes |url=https://marylandmatters.org/2022/02/08/hogan-pushes-again-for-judicial-transparency-act-harsher-sentences-on-repeat-gun-crimes/ |access-date=February 11, 2026 |work=Maryland Matters |date=February 9, 2022}}</ref> In August 2020, following the resignation of Roy McGrath, Hogan named Mitchell as his acting chief of staff<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kurtz |first1=Josh |title=Hogan's Embattled Chief of Staff Resigns; Keiffer Mitchell Takes Over on Interim Basis |url=https://marylandmatters.org/2020/08/17/hogans-embattled-chief-of-staff-resigns-keiffer-mitchell-takes-over-on-interim-basis/ |access-date=February 11, 2026 |work=Maryland Matters |date=August 17, 2020}}</ref> and appointed Mitchell to the University of Maryland Medical System's board of directors.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wood |first1=Pamela |title=Former Hogan chief of staff calls MES severance, bonuses ‘customary’; legislators seek answers on ‘problematic’ payouts |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2020/08/21/former-hogan-chief-of-staff-calls-mes-severance-bonuses-customary-legislators-seek-answers-on-problematic-payouts/ |access-date=February 11, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=August 21, 2020}}</ref> He served as Hogan's acting chief of staff until October 2020, when Hogan named Amelia Chassé Alcivar as his new chief of staff.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wood |first1=Pamela |title=Maryland Gov. Hogan names former spokeswoman his new chief of staff |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2020/10/13/maryland-gov-hogan-names-former-spokeswoman-his-new-chief-of-staff/ |access-date=February 11, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=October 13, 2020}}</ref>
Mitchell resigned as Hogan's chief legislative officer on June 14, 2022,<ref name="msa" /> to become a lobbyist with BGR Group.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kurtz |first1=Josh |title=Political Notes: Keiffer Mitchell Headed to K Street, Take a Dem Straw Poll, Green Group Anoints 'Climate Champions,' and More |url=https://marylandmatters.org/2022/06/03/political-notes-keiffer-mitchell-headed-to-k-street-take-a-dem-straw-poll-green-group-anoints-climate-champions-and-more/ |access-date=February 11, 2026 |work=Maryland Matters |date=June 3, 2022}}</ref>
==Personal life== Mitchell is married to Nicole Kramer,<ref>{{cite news |title=Jackson's speech draws independent into the fold |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-jacksons-speech-draws/191082320/ |access-date=February 11, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=August 17, 2000 |page=69}}</ref> who taught Spanish at the Gilman School. Together, they have two children, a son and a daughter.<ref name="RunMayor" /> He is a congregant at the Sharp Street Memorial United Methodist Church in Baltimore.<ref name="msa" />
As a child, Mitchell was diagnosed with dyslexia.<ref name="NextGen" />
==Electoral history== {{Election box begin no change |title=1995 Baltimore City Council 4th district Democratic primary election<ref>{{cite news |title=1995 Baltimore mayoral and city council primary election results |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-1995-baltimore-mayoral/191039235/ |access-date=February 10, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=September 13, 1995 |page=125}}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (US) |candidate = Agnes Welch (incumbent) |votes = 14,128 |percentage = 25.7 }}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (US) |candidate = Sheila Dixon (incumbent) |votes = 13,627 |percentage = 24.8 }}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (US) |candidate = Keiffer Mitchell Jr. |votes = 13,086 |percentage = 23.8 }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (US) |candidate = Julian Thomas Jr. |votes = 3,726 |percentage = 6.8 }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (US) |candidate = A. Robert Kaufman |votes = 2,229 |percentage = 4.0 }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (US) |candidate = Tyrone Johnson |votes = 2,001 |percentage = 3.6 }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (US) |candidate = Darius George Hall |votes = 1,897 |percentage = 3.4 }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (US) |candidate = Charles Bagley Jr. |votes = 1,329 |percentage = 2.4 }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (US) |candidate = Nancy Blackwell-Whyte |votes = 1,306 |percentage = 2.4 }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (US) |candidate = Medgar Reid |votes = 900 |percentage = 1.6 }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (US) |candidate = Gregory Truitt |votes = 812 |percentage = 1.5 }}{{Election box end}} {{Election box begin no change |title=1995 Baltimore City Council 4th district election<ref>{{cite news |title=1995 Baltimore city election results |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-1995-baltimore-city-el/191039958/ |access-date=February 10, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=November 8, 1995 |page=158}}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (US) |candidate = Sheila Dixon (incumbent) |votes = 9,794 |percentage = 34.0 }}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (US) |candidate = Agnes Welch (incumbent) |votes = 9,619 |percentage = 33.4 }}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (US) |candidate = Keiffer Mitchell Jr. |votes = 9,386 |percentage = 32.6 }}{{Election box end}} {{Election box begin no change |title=1999 Baltimore City Council 4th district election<ref>{{cite news |title=1999 Baltimore city elections results |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-1999-baltimore-city-el/191046236/ |access-date=February 10, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=November 4, 1999 |page=128}}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (US) |candidate = Keiffer Mitchell Jr. (incumbent) |votes = 10,887 |percentage = 32.5 }}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (US) |candidate = Agnes Welch (incumbent) |votes = 10,036 |percentage = 30.0 }}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (US) |candidate = Catherine Pugh |votes = 8,937 |percentage = 26.7 }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (US) |candidate = Victor Clark Jr. |votes = 1,380 |percentage = 4.1 }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (US) |candidate = Jeffrey B. Smith Jr. |votes = 1,240 |percentage = 3.7 }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (US) |candidate = Joseph E. Ward |votes = 987 |percentage = 3.0 }}{{Election box end}} {{Election box begin no change |title=2004 Baltimore City Council 11th district election<ref>{{cite web |title=2004 Mayoral General Election Official Results |url=https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2004/general/021.html |website=elections.maryland.gov |publisher=Maryland State Board of Elections |access-date=February 11, 2026}}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (US) |candidate = Keiffer Mitchell Jr. (incumbent) |votes = 12,450 |percentage = 89.8 }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (US) |candidate = Joseph E. Ward |votes = 1,416 |percentage = 10.2 }}{{Election box end}} {{Election box begin no change | title = 2007 Baltimore mayoral Democratic primary election<ref name="2007p">{{cite web | title = 2007 Baltimore City Primary Official Election Results | work = Maryland State Board of Elections | url = https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/baltimore/2007_primary_results.html}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Democratic Party |candidate = Sheila Dixon (incumbent) |votes = 54,381 |percentage = 63.1 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Democratic Party |candidate = Keiffer Mitchell Jr. |votes = 20,376 |percentage = 23.7 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Democratic Party |candidate = Andrey Bundley |votes = 6,543 |percentage = 7.6 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Democratic Party |candidate = Jill P. Carter |votes = 2,372 |percentage = 2.8 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Democratic Party |candidate = A. Robert Kaufman |votes = 885 |percentage = 1.0 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Democratic Party |candidate = Mike Schaefer |votes = 762 |percentage = 0.9 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Democratic Party |candidate = Frank M. Conaway Sr. ''(withdrawn)'' |votes = 533 |percentage = 0.6 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Democratic Party |candidate = Phillip Brown |votes = 273 |percentage = 0.3 }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin no change | title = 2010 Maryland House of Delegates District 44 Democratic primary election<ref>{{cite web | title = Official 2010 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates | work = Maryland State Board of Elections | url = https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2010/results/Primary/gen_results_2010_1_01644.html }}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Keith E. Haynes (incumbent) |votes = 4,859 |percentage = 25.9 }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Keiffer Mitchell Jr. |votes = 4,481 |percentage = 23.9 }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Melvin L. Stukes (incumbent) |votes = 3,321 |percentage = 17.7 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Ruth M. Kirk (incumbent) |votes = 2,860 |percentage = 15.3 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Chris Blake |votes = 973 |percentage = 5.2 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Gary T. English |votes = 907 |percentage = 4.8 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Arlene B. Fisher |votes = 876 |percentage = 4.7 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Billy Taylor |votes = 462 |percentage = 2.5 }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin no change | title = 2010 Maryland House of Delegates District 44 election<ref>{{cite web | title = Official 2010 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates | work = Maryland State Board of Elections | url = https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2010/results/General/gen_results_2010_2_01644.html }}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Keiffer Mitchell Jr. |votes = 15,068 |percentage = 32.0 }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Keith E. Haynes (incumbent) |votes = 14,879 |percentage = 31.6 }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Melvin L. Stukes (incumbent) |votes = 13,994 |percentage = 29.7 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Brian D. Jones |votes = 1,837 |percentage = 3.9 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Trae Lewis |votes = 1,224 |percentage = 2.6 }} {{Election box write-in with party link no change |votes = 100 |percentage = 0.2 }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin no change | title = 2014 Maryland House of Delegates District 44A Democratic primary election<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_01644A.html |website=elections.maryland.gov |publisher=Maryland State Board of Elections |access-date=February 11, 2026}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Keith E. Haynes (incumbent) |votes = 1,734 |percentage = 43.4 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Keiffer Mitchell Jr. (incumbent) |votes = 1,574 |percentage = 39.4 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Melvin L. Stukes (incumbent) |votes = 691 |percentage = 17.3 }} {{Election box end}}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mitchell, Keiffer Jr.}} Category:1967 births Category:Living people Category:20th-century Maryland politicians Category:21st-century members of the Maryland General Assembly Category:21st-century African-American politicians Category:African-American state legislators in Maryland Category:American politicians with disabilities Category:Baltimore City Council members Category:David A. Clarke School of Law alumni Category:Democratic Party members of the Maryland House of Delegates Category:Emory University alumni Category:Methodists from Maryland Keiffer Jr. Category:People associated with the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund Category:Politicians with dyslexia Category:American lobbyists Category:Chiefs of staff to United States state governors