{{Short description|American politician (born 1984)}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Kris Fair | image = File:A headshot of Kris Fair.jpg | image_size = | alt = A headshot of Kris Fair. | caption = | state_delegate = Maryland | district = 3rd | term_start = January 11, 2023 | term_end = | alongside = Ken Kerr and Karen Simpson | predecessor = Karen Lewis Young | successor = | birth_name = Kristopher G. Fair | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|8|19}} | birth_place = Mount Airy, Maryland, U.S. | party = Democratic | spouse = Dominick Francis Barretta | children = | education = | alma_mater = Frederick Community College (AA)<br>Hood College (BA) | occupation = | profession = | website = [https://krisfair.com/ Campaign website] }} '''Kristopher Goddard Fair'''<ref name="Marriage">{{cite news |title=Marriage licenses for July 2013 |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2013/08/25/marriage-licenses-for-july-2013/ |access-date=October 14, 2024 |work=Carroll County Times |date=August 25, 2013}}</ref> (born August 19, 1984) is an American politician who is a member for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 3 in Frederick County, Maryland.<ref name="legbio">{{cite web |title=Members – Delegate Kris Fair |url=https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Members/Details/fair01 |website=mgaleg.maryland.gov |publisher=Maryland General Assembly |access-date=January 11, 2023 |date=January 11, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Panuska |first1=Mallory |title=Meet the candidate: Kris Fair for alderman |url=https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/politics_and_government/elections/meet-the-candidate-kris-fair-for-alderman/article_48c58d97-98df-53ad-99da-c00631046ba0.html |access-date=October 10, 2022 |work=The Frederick News-Post |date=August 7, 2017}}</ref>
==Background== Fair grew up in Mount Airy, Maryland,<ref name="Alderman" /> and graduated from Linganore High School in 2002. He later attended Frederick Community College, where he received an associate's degree in general studies in 2008, and Hood College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and history in 2013.<ref name="legbio" /> Fair was the manager of New York, New York Salon in Frederick for 17 years until he left in 2021.<ref name="Alderman" /> Fair was also the chair of the Student Homelessness Initiative Partnership in 2021.<ref>{{cite news |title=SHIP announces 2021 board of directors |url=https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/community_page_news/ship-announces-2021-board-of-directors/article_2ce93c17-270f-5d25-9f96-b470b7f9b0e0.html |access-date=September 28, 2022 |work=The Frederick News-Post |date=January 30, 2021}}</ref>
Fair first got involved with politics in 2012, serving as a Frederick County campaign coordinator for Question 6. He later served as the vice-chair of the Frederick County Democratic Central Committee, and as the Frederick County Democratic Party campaign manager in 2014.<ref name="legbio" /> In January 2017, Fair announced that he would run for the Frederick City Board of Aldermen. His candidacy was backed by county executive Jan Gardner, state senator Ron Young, and various county council members and city aldermen. His platform included improving the city's infrastructure, providing equitable services, and supporting a responsive government.<ref name="Alderman">{{cite news |last1=Etzler |first1=Allen |title=Kris Fair announces candidacy for Frederick city alderman |url=https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/politics_and_government/elections/kris-fair-announces-candidacy-for-frederick-city-alderman/article_bf062f4d-0de7-5fac-8b35-6b0ac11d6e8b.html |access-date=September 28, 2022 |work=The Frederick News-Post |date=January 8, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201102200031/https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/politics_and_government/elections/kris-fair-announces-candidacy-for-frederick-city-alderman/article_bf062f4d-0de7-5fac-8b35-6b0ac11d6e8b.html |archive-date=November 2, 2020}}</ref> He came in sixth place in the nonpartisan primary, receiving 10.2 percent of the vote.<ref name="2017results">{{cite web |title=Primary Election Official Results |url=https://www.cityoffrederickmd.gov/DocumentCenter/View/8930/2017-Official-Primary-Election-Results?bidId= |website=cityoffrederickmd.gov |publisher=Frederick, Maryland |access-date=September 28, 2022 |date=September 12, 2017}}</ref>
thumb|Fair (center bottom) at a Maryland LGBT PAC campaign event, 2018 In May 2018, Fair launched the Maryland LGBT PAC, a political action committee that seeks to support openly-LGBT candidates.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kurtz |first1=Josh |title=Political Notes: Baker's Standing at Home, New PAC, New Annapolis PR Firm |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2018/05/30/political-notes-baker-39-s-standing-at-home-new-pac-new-annapolis-pr-firm/ |access-date=September 28, 2022 |work=Maryland Matters |date=May 30, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Lavers |first1=Michael |title=New PAC seeks to elect openly LGBT candidates in Md. |url=https://www.washingtonblade.com/2018/05/29/new-pac-seeks-to-elect-openly-lgbt-candidates-in-md/ |access-date=September 28, 2022 |work=The Washington Blade |date=May 29, 2018}}</ref> He currently serves as the executive director of The Frederick Center, a local advocacy group for LGBTQ individuals.<ref name="Alderman" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Atelsek |first1=Jillian |title=Frederick LGBTQ advocacy group hires first executive director |url=https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/social_issues/frederick-lgbtq-advocacy-group-hires-first-executive-director/article_865ec71d-a9cb-55b9-8a4f-a48b28d39553.html |access-date=September 28, 2022 |work=The Frederick News-Post |date=July 21, 2021}}</ref>
During the 2021 legislative session, Fair worked as a legislative director for state delegate Karen Lewis Young. He stepped down from the position in January 2022 to run for the Maryland House of Delegates, seeking to succeed Young.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hogan |first1=Jack |title=House of Delegates hopeful steps down as legislative director for Del. Lewis Young |url=https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/politics_and_government/levels_of_government/state/delegates/house-of-delegates-hopeful-steps-down-as-legislative-director-for-del-lewis-young/article_d64aa25d-dab2-5ecf-89cf-12295c4f65a9.html |access-date=September 28, 2022 |work=The Frederick News-Post |date=January 27, 2022}}</ref> During the primary, he was endorsed by Young and her husband, Ron Young, the Maryland State Teachers Association, and half a dozen local elected officials.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kurtz |first1=Josh |title=Top 20 House Primaries to Watch |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2022/06/01/top-20-house-primaries-to-watch/ |access-date=September 28, 2022 |work=Maryland Matters |date=June 1, 2022}}</ref> Kris won the Democratic primary, coming in second place behind incumbent state Delegate Ken Kerr with 19.7 percent of the vote.<ref name="2022primary" />
==In the legislature== thumb|Fair as a member of the electoral college, 2024 Fair was sworn into the Maryland House of Delegates on January 11, 2023.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kris Fair, Maryland State Delegate |url=https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa18379.html |website=Maryland Manual On-Line |publisher=Maryland State Archives |access-date=July 30, 2023 |date=June 26, 2023}}</ref> He is the first openly gay lawmaker from western Maryland,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Scala |first1=Margaret A. |title=Two new gay Md. delegates outline agenda |url=https://www.washingtonblade.com/2022/11/16/two-new-gay-md-delegates-outline-agenda/ |access-date=April 12, 2023 |work=The Washington Blade |date=November 16, 2022}}</ref> and is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gaines |first1=Danielle E. |title=Jones announces new Democratic caucus, committee leaders for 2023 General Assembly session |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2023/01/05/jones-announces-new-democratic-caucus-committee-leaders-for-2023-general-assembly-session/ |access-date=January 5, 2023 |work=Maryland Matters |date=January 5, 2023}}</ref> Fair was appointed the chair of Maryland's LGBTQ+ Caucus during the 2023 session.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hernández |first1=Amanda |title=More blue states declare themselves sanctuaries for transgender health care |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2023/06/24/more-blue-states-declare-themselves-sanctuaries-for-transgender-health-care/ |access-date=July 22, 2023 |work=Maryland Matters |date=June 24, 2023}}</ref> In the 2024 presidential election, Fair voted as an elector pledged to Kamala Harris.<ref>{{cite web |title=Presidential Electors for the 2024 General Election |url=https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2024/Electors_PG24.pdf |website=elections.maryland.gov |publisher=Maryland State Board of Elections |access-date=November 23, 2024}}</ref>
==Political positions== ===Climate change=== During his House of Delegates campaign, Fair called climate change the "[number one] threat to our humanity". He ran on a platform that included advancing the Climate Solutions Now Act, an omnibus bill passed by the Maryland General Assembly during the 2022 legislative session that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60 percent by 2030, while also advocating for the state to provide agricultural workers with resources to implement regenerative farming techniques and increase biodiversity in their fields.<ref name="Climate">{{cite news |last1=Roberts |first1=Angela |title=Fair wants to address climate crisis, make mental health care more affordable |url=https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/continuing_coverage/election_coverage/fair-wants-to-address-climate-crisis-make-mental-health-care-more-affordable/article_f54490e6-6801-56e5-9d4c-04e6d2c78c28.html |access-date=September 28, 2022 |work=The Frederick News-Post |date=September 3, 2022}}</ref>
===Education=== Fair supports the Blueprint for Maryland's Future, a sweeping education reform bill passed in 2021, and says he would work to ensure that the funding provided through the Blueprint is spent as legislators intended.<ref name="Climate" />
===Electoral reform=== During the 2026 legislative session, Fair introduced a bill that would allow unaffiliated voters to change their party affiliation at the polls to vote in partisan primary elections.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wilson |first1=Katharine |title=Maryland House passes bill to expand primary voting for unaffiliated voters |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2026/03/11/unaffiliated-voters-in-maryland-primaries/ |access-date=March 20, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=March 11, 2026}}</ref>
In March 2026, during debate on a bill that would replace the party central committee appointment process used to fill vacancies in the Maryland General Assembly with special elections held at the same time as regular state primary elections, Fair amended the bill to include language clarifying language around how Maryland's congressional districts could be drawn.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Petrowich |first1=Sarah |title=Maryland House attempts to revive Congressional redistricting, Senate remains opposed |url=https://www.wypr.org/wypr-news/2026-03-25/maryland-house-attempts-to-revive-congressional-redistricting-senate-remains-opposed |access-date=March 25, 2026 |work=WYPR |date=March 25, 2026 |language=en}}</ref>
===Immigration=== In October 2025, Fair said he supported repealing the 287(g) program, which allows U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to train law enforcement officers to ask the immigration status of arrested individuals, calling the program an "unnecessary redundancy" that undermines residents' faith in local law enforcement.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wilkinson |first1=Nolan |title=Senator planning state bill to limit 287(g) program |url=https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/crime_and_justice/cops_and_crime/senator-planning-state-bill-to-limit-287-g-program/article_cf9a619a-abbf-570a-a5fd-3c582c68b278.html |access-date=October 10, 2025 |work=The Frederick News-Post |date=October 10, 2025 |language=en}}</ref>
===Social issues=== Fair supported a bill introduced by Delegate Karen Lewis Young during the 2020 legislative session that would prohibit hospitals and related institutions from discriminating against admitting or providing care to people on the basis of "sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion or creed, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, [or] genetic information".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bohnel |first1=Steve |title=Del. Lewis Young introduces bill adding anti-discrimination language |url=https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/politics_and_government/levels_of_government/state/del-lewis-young-introduces-bill-adding-anti-discrimination-language/article_1980e69d-6726-5acd-b6ae-c1118b718fae.html |access-date=September 28, 2022 |work=The Frederick News-Post |date=February 9, 2020}}</ref> In January 2024, he spoke against proposed bills to ban transgender students from competing on girls' sports teams in schools and another that would ban sexually explicit materials from school libraries.<ref>{{cite news |title=Md. House committee kills bill to ban transgender kids from sports teams |url=https://www.washingtonblade.com/2024/02/01/md-house-committee-kills-bill-to-ban-transgender-kids-from-sports-teams-2/ |access-date=February 2, 2024 |work=The Washington Blade |date=February 1, 2024}}</ref> During the 2025 legislative session, Fair introduced the Carlton R. Smith Act, a bill to remove a criminal penalty for intentionally transferring HIV to another person,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Danielle J. |title=Bills to repeal 'antiquated' law criminalizing transfer of HIV sail through House, Senate |url=https://marylandmatters.org/2025/02/22/bills-to-repeal-antiquated-law-criminalizing-transfer-of-hiv-sail-through-house-senate/ |access-date=February 22, 2025 |work=Maryland Matters |date=February 22, 2025}}</ref> which passed and was signed into law by Governor Wes Moore.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jacoby |first1=Ceoli |title=Moore signs local bills to decriminalize spread of HIV, study in-home care for newborns |url=https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/continuing_coverage/annapolis_coverage/moore-signs-local-bills-to-decriminalize-spread-of-hiv-study-in-home-care-for-newborns/article_7e42e3a4-9591-523b-ad58-dee811b92388.html |access-date=May 21, 2025 |work=The Frederick News-Post |date=May 21, 2025 |language=en}}</ref> During the 2026 legislative session, he introduced a bill that would require insurers to cover a 12-month refill period for hormone replacement therapy and birth control prescriptions.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Grabenstein |first1=Andrea |title=LGBTQ+ Caucus prioritizes inclusive civic curriculum, equity care |url=https://www.myeasternshoremd.com/qa/news/lgbtq-caucus-prioritizes-inclusive-civic-curriculum-equity-care/article_05a07fca-a02b-469f-9a49-2a3d52fd9600.html |access-date=March 10, 2026 |work=MyEasternShoreMD |date=March 9, 2026 |language=en}}</ref>
===Transportation=== Fair does not support proposals to widen Interstate 270 and the Capital Beltway, instead supporting efforts to make the state's mass transportation options, such as MARC Trains, more accessible in the state. He also supports expanding the Red Line to Urbana.<ref name="Climate" />
==Personal life== Fair is openly gay<ref name="Alderman" /> and married to his husband Dominick Fair ({{nee}} Barretta) as of August 2013.<ref name="Marriage" />
==Electoral history== {{Election box begin no change |title=Frederick City Board of Aldermen Democratic Primary Election, 2017<ref name="2017results" />}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (US) |candidate = Donna Kuzemchak |votes = 1,795 |percentage = 14.8 }}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (US) |candidate = Kelly Russell |votes = 1,794 |percentage = 14.7 }}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (US) |candidate = Roger Wilson |votes = 1,652 |percentage = 13.6 }}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (US) |candidate = Ben MacShane |votes = 1,412 |percentage = 11.6 }}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (US) |candidate = Derek Shackelford |votes = 1,378 |percentage = 11.3 }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (US) |candidate = Kris Fair |votes = 1,235 |percentage = 10.2 }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (US) |candidate = Todd Anderson |votes = 1,019 |percentage = 8.4 }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (US) |candidate = Kim L Williams |votes = 737 |percentage = 6.1 }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (US) |candidate = Antonio Bowens |votes = 627 |percentage = 5.2 }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (US) |candidate = Jeannette Bartelt |votes = 521 |percentage = 4.3 }}{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change |title=Maryland House of Delegates District 3 Democratic Primary Election, 2022<ref name="2022primary">{{cite web |title=Official 2022 Gubernatorial Primary Election Results for House of Delegates |url=https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2022/primary_results/gen_results_2022_7_6.html |website=elections.maryland.gov |publisher=Maryland State Board of Elections |access-date=September 28, 2022 |date=August 24, 2022}}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Democratic Party |candidate = Kenneth P. Kerr |votes = 5,628 |percentage = 19.8 }}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Democratic Party |candidate = Kris Fair |votes = 5,598 |percentage = 19.7 }}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Democratic Party |candidate = Karen Simpson |votes = 4,450 |percentage = 15.6 }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Democratic Party |candidate = Josh Bokee |votes = 3,618 |percentage = 12.7 }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Democratic Party |candidate = Tarolyn C. Thrasher |votes = 3,489 |percentage = 12.3 }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Democratic Party |candidate = William "Billy" Reid |votes = 3,295 |percentage = 11.6 }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Democratic Party |candidate = Stephen Slater |votes = 2,364 |percentage = 8.3 }}{{Election box end}} {{Election box begin no change |title=Maryland House of Delegates District 3 election, 2022<ref>{{cite web |title=Official 2022 Gubernatorial General Election Results for House of Delegates |url=https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2022/general_results/gen_results_2022_7_6.html |website=elections.maryland.gov |publisher=Maryland State Board of Elections |access-date=November 29, 2022 |date=December 7, 2022}}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Democratic Party |candidate = Kenneth P. Kerr |votes = 26,270 |percentage = 24.91 }}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Democratic Party |candidate = Karen Simpson |votes = 25,945 |percentage = 24.60 }}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Democratic Party |candidate = Kris Fair |votes = 25,602 |percentage = 24.27 }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Republican Party |candidate = Kathy Diener |votes = 13,699 |percentage = 12.99 }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Republican Party |candidate = Justin Wages |votes = 13,535 |percentage = 12.83 }}{{Election box write-in with party link no change |votes = 429 |percentage = 0.41 }}{{Election box end}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category}} * {{cite web |title=Members – Delegate Kris Fair |url=https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Members/Details/fair01 |website=mgaleg.maryland.gov |publisher=Maryland General Assembly |access-date=January 11, 2023 |date=January 11, 2023}}
{{Current members of the MD House of Delegates}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fair, Kris}} Category:1984 births Category:Democratic Party members of the Maryland House of Delegates Category:American gay politicians Category:LGBTQ state legislators in Maryland Category:Living people Category:People from Mount Airy, Maryland Category:21st-century American LGBTQ people Category:2024 United States presidential electors Category:21st-century members of the Maryland General Assembly