{{Short description|American politician (born 1983)}} {{Infobox officeholder |name = Lesley Lopez |image = Lesley Lopez (54369580349) (cropped).jpg |state_delegate = Maryland |district = 39th |alongside = Gabriel Acevero, W. Gregory Wims |term_start = January 9, 2019 |term_end = |predecessor = Charles E. Barkley |successor = |birth_name = Lesley Jeanne Lopez |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1983|11|28}} |birth_place = Paget Parish, Bermuda |death_date = |death_place = |party = Democratic |spouse = {{marriage|Richard Kelly|2018}} |children = 2 |education = University of California, San Diego (BA)<br>George Washington University (MPA) |website = {{URL|lopezformaryland.com|Campaign website}} |signature = Lesley Lopez signature.svg }} '''Lesley Jeanne Lopez''' (born November 28, 1983) is an American politician who is a member of the Maryland House of Delegates from District 39. A member of the Democratic Party, she unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in Maryland's 6th congressional district in 2024, losing to April McClain Delaney in the Democratic primary election.
==Early life and education== The oldest of three siblings,<ref name="MeetLesley" /> Lopez was born in Paget Parish, Bermuda,<ref>{{cite web |title=Latino Democratic Club 2024 Candidate Questionnaire |url=https://www.latinomontgomerydems.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/LDC-2024-Candidate-Questionnaire-3.pdf |publisher=Latino Democratic Club of Montgomery County |access-date=October 23, 2024 |date=April 2024}}</ref> while her mother Patricia was serving on active duty in the U.S. Navy. She grew up in Southern California in a blended family. As a child she was adopted by her stepfather, Emsley Lopez, also a naval officer. Her paternal grandparents migrated to the United States from the Philippines.<ref name="MeetLesley">{{cite web |title=Meet Lesley... |url=https://www.lopezformaryland.com/about-lesley-1 |website=lopezformaryland.com |access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref><ref name="Slate2018">{{cite news |last1=Peck |first1=Louis |title=District 39 Incumbent Legislators Tap Lesley Lopez To Join Their Slate in Primary |url=https://moco360.media/2017/06/21/district-39-incumbent-legislators-tap-lesley-lopez-to-join-their-slate-in-primary/ |access-date=May 8, 2023 |work=MoCo360 |date=June 21, 2017}}</ref>
Lopez attended schools in San Bernardino, California. While in elementary school, she survived a school shooting in which a man from a neighboring apartment complex began shooting at her classmates.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Schere |first1=Dan |title=Personal Stories of Gun Violence Shared at Rockville Town Hall |url=https://moco360.media/2019/05/09/personal-stories-of-gun-violence-shared-at-rockville-town-hall/ |access-date=May 8, 2023 |work=MoCo360 |date=May 9, 2019}}</ref> She later attended the University of California, San Diego, where she earned a B.A. in political science, and George Washington University, where she earned an M.P.A. in management.<ref name="msa">{{cite web |title=Lesley J. Lopez, Maryland State Delegate |url=https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa18035.html |website=Maryland Manual On-Line |publisher=Maryland State Archives |access-date=December 18, 2023}}</ref>
==Career== ===Early career=== After graduating, Lopez worked as a journalist for ABC News's ''This Week with George Stephanopoulos'', BBC, CNN, ''America's Most Wanted'', and the Eurovision Song Contest.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lesley Lopez, Adjunct Professor |url=https://gspm.gwu.edu/lesley-lopez |website=gspm.gwu.edu |publisher=George Washington University |access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> She also worked as an adjunct professor of communications at George Washington University, where she became a member of Service Employees International Union Local 500.<ref name="Slate2018" />
Lopez first became involved with politics while working with immigrant families. She served as the press secretary for U.S. Representative Henry Cuellar from 2008 to 2011, afterwards serving as the communications director for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus until 2013.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Garcia-Navarro |first1=Lulu |title=Maryland Democrats Aim To 'Build The Pipeline' For Women In Office |url=https://www.keranews.org/2017-03-19/maryland-democrats-aim-to-build-the-pipeline-for-women-in-office |access-date=May 8, 2023 |work=KERA-TV |date=March 19, 2017}}</ref> In this capacity, she helped pass the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act through the U.S. Senate and reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, which was expanded to include protections for undocumented immigrants.<ref name="Slate2018" />
Lopez later worked as the communications director for various other organizations, including the National Immigration Forum, the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, and the US-China Business Council, from 2014 to 2017.<ref name="msa" /> Since 2017, she has worked as the chief communications director for Run for Something.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kurtz |first1=Josh |title=Grassroots Group's Lone Md. Endorsement Goes to Candidate Who Works There |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2018/10/29/grassroots-groups-lone-md-endorsement-goes-to-candidate-who-works-there/ |access-date=May 8, 2023 |work=Maryland Matters |date=October 29, 2018}}</ref>
===Maryland House of Delegates=== In 2017, after state delegate Charles E. Barkley announced that he would run for the Montgomery County Council at-large district in 2018, Lopez filed to run for state delegate in District 39. She ran on a slate with state senator Nancy J. King and state delegates Kirill Reznik and Shane Robinson.<ref name="Slate2018" /> Lopez won the Democratic primary election on June 27, 2018, placing first with 21.3 percent of the vote.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Peck |first1=Louis |title=Updated: Waldstreicher Bests Beyer To Win Madaleno's Senate Seat in Heated District 18 Race |url=https://moco360.media/2018/06/27/waldstreicher-bests-beyer-to-win-madalenos-senate-seat-in-heated-district-18-race/ |access-date=May 8, 2023 |work=MoCo360 |date=June 27, 2018}}</ref>
Lopez was sworn into the Maryland House of Delegates on January 9, 2019. She was a member of the Judiciary Committee from 2019 to 2022, afterwards serving on the Health and Government Operations Committee.<ref name="msa" /> Lopez ran for re-election in 2022, during which she formed a slate with union activist Clint Sobratti, who sought to unseat incumbent delegate Gabriel Acevero.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Peck |first1=Louis |title=Political Notes: Among 2022 candidates, votes are in – figuratively speaking – on the most coveted endorsements |url=https://moco360.media/2022/07/18/political-notes-among-2022-candidates-votes-are-in-figuratively-speaking-on-the-most-coveted-endorsements/ |access-date=May 8, 2023 |work=MoCo360 |date=July 18, 2022}}</ref> All three incumbents, including Acevero, won the Democratic primary on July 19, 2022.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Peck |first1=Louis |title=Waldstreicher appears to have beaten back high-profile primary challenge from his left |url=https://moco360.media/2022/07/20/waldstreicher-appears-to-have-beaten-back-high-profile-primary-challenge-from-his-left/ |access-date=May 8, 2023 |work=MoCo360 |date=July 20, 2022}}</ref>
During the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries, Lopez endorsed U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Masters |first1=Kate |title=Political Notes: Friedson Honored for Work with Local Nonprofits |url=https://moco360.media/2019/11/08/political-notes-friedson-honored-for-work-with-local-nonprofits/ |access-date=May 8, 2023 |work=MoCo360 |date=November 8, 2019}}</ref>
thumb|alt=Members of the Women's Legislative Caucus of Maryland stand on the steps outside of the Governor's House|Lopez was president of the Women's Legislative Caucus of Maryland (pictured) from 2022 to 2023 In March 2022, Lopez was voted in as the president of the Women's Caucus of Maryland by a 50–12 vote, one year ahead of when she was due to become its president under the caucus's traditional order. In response, the 11 Republican members of the caucus resigned from the caucus in protest, later demanding it be renamed to the "Democrat Women's Caucus of Maryland". Lopez defended her election, saying in an interview with ''Maryland Matters'' that she "had some plans of what I wanted to do [as caucus president] when I moved up so I accelerated the timeline" and had approached state senator Adelaide Eckardt, a Republican, about joining her leadership team, but she declined.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kurtz |first1=Josh |title=Partisan Divide Rips Through Legislative Women's Caucus |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2022/03/16/partisan-divide-rips-through-legislative-womens-caucus/ |access-date=May 8, 2023 |work=Maryland Matters |date=March 16, 2022}}</ref> She had also sent handwritten notes to each of the members who had left the caucus. Republicans have since declined to rejoin the caucus, and have discussed forming their own.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kurtz |first1=Josh |title=Legislative women's caucus still divided — only Democrats installed on executive board |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2023/04/07/legislative-womens-caucus-still-divided-only-democrats-installed-on-executive-board/ |access-date=May 8, 2023 |work=Maryland Matters |date=April 7, 2023}}</ref>
===2024 congressional campaign=== {{main|2024 Maryland's 6th congressional district election}} On June 1, 2023, she announced her candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives in Maryland's 6th congressional district to succeed outgoing U.S. Representative David Trone.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2023/06/01/political-notes-lopez-enters-congressional-fray-hoyer-backs-alsobrooks-district-17-developments-a-senior-lobbyist-departs-and-more/ |title=Political notes: Lopez enters congressional fray, Hoyer backs Alsobrooks, District 17 developments, a senior lobbyist departs, and more|access-date=June 1, 2023 |date=June 1, 2023 |work=Maryland Matters |first1=William J. |last1=Ford |first2=Josh |last2=Kurtz}}</ref> During the Democratic primary, she received endorsements from several members of the legislature<ref>{{cite news |last1=Peck |first1=Ginny Bixby, Louis |title=Political Notes: New faces join race for 6th Congressional District |url=https://moco360.media/2023/07/25/political-notes-new-faces-join-race-for-6th-congressional-district/ |access-date=December 18, 2023 |work=MoCo360 |date=July 25, 2023}}</ref> and ran on a platform of gun safety, addressing the opioid crisis, and protecting reproductive rights.<ref name="Personal">{{cite news |last1=Bixby |first1=Ginny |title=Speed dating in District 6: Voters get personal with Democratic congressional candidates |url=https://moco360.media/2023/12/18/speed-dating-in-district-6-voters-get-personal-with-democratic-congressional-candidates/ |access-date=December 18, 2023 |work=MoCo360 |date=December 18, 2023}}</ref> Lopez was unable to put together a robust campaign<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kurtz |first1=Josh |title=Political notes: Reunion on the airwaves, Johnny 'O,' Parrott snags CPAC nod, Martinez's theory of the case |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2024/04/25/political-notes-reunion-on-the-airwaves-johnny-o-parrott-snags-cpac-nod-martinezs-theory-of-the-case/ |access-date=May 14, 2024 |work=Maryland Matters |date=April 25, 2024}}</ref> and was defeated by former National Telecommunications and Information Administration deputy administrator April McClain Delaney in the Democratic primary election on May 14, 2024, placing fifth with 4.6 percent of the vote.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gans |first1=Jared |title=April McClain Delaney wins Democratic primary for David Trone's seat in Maryland |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4664119-april-mcclain-delaney-wins-primary-for-david-trones-maryland-house-seat/ |access-date=May 14, 2024 |work=The Hill |date=May 14, 2024}}</ref>
==Political positions== ===Education=== In September 2019, Lopez joined Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh and 43 other members of the Maryland General Assembly in co-signing a letter to U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos asking for information about her implementation of the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Davis |first1=Elliott |title=Md. lawmakers, AG question DeVos on loan forgiveness program |url=https://cnsmaryland.org/2019/09/12/md-lawmakers-ag-question-devos-on-loan-forgiveness-program/ |access-date=May 8, 2023 |work=Capital News Service |date=September 12, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Gaines |first1=Danielle E. |title=Md. Officials Press DeVos to Fix Flawed Loan Forgiveness Program |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2019/09/10/md-officials-press-devos-to-fix-flawed-loan-forgiveness-program/ |access-date=May 8, 2023 |work=Maryland Matters |date=September 10, 2019}}</ref>
During the 2021 legislative session, Lopez endorsed a bill to expand collective bargaining rights to employees at Maryland's 16 community colleges.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shwe |first1=Elizabeth |title=Unions, Education Advocates Renew Push for Collective Bargaining Rights at Community Colleges |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2021/02/03/unions-education-advocates-renew-push-for-collective-bargaining-rights-at-community-colleges/ |access-date=May 8, 2023 |work=Maryland Matters |date=February 3, 2021}}</ref>
In April 2024, Lopez expressed concerns with efforts to ban books in public schools and libraries and called for federal protections against book bans. She also supported increasing funding for local school districts and teachers, and hiring more support personnel in schools.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jacoby |first1=Ceoli |title=Three candidates participate in first League of Women Voters congressional forum |url=https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/politics_and_government/elections/three-candidates-participate-in-first-league-of-women-voters-congressional-forum/article_b247a4e6-e67f-5221-996d-3fe58c3df4ed.html |access-date=April 14, 2024 |work=Frederick News-Post |date=April 12, 2024 |language=en}}</ref>
===Gun policy=== In August 2019, Lopez said she opposed the Maryland State Police's decision to repeal limits for concealed carry permits for business owners, pointing out that the decision followed mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wood |first1=Pamela |title=Maryland State Police ease concealed carry gun restrictions for business owners |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-pol-handgun-restrictions-20190806-jfovzlcm3bbyfgolc5fwn6mkr4-story.html |access-date=May 8, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=August 6, 2019}}</ref>
In 2020, Lopez introduced a bill requiring firearms to be stored in an area where a minor could not gain access to it.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Paryavi |first1=Fatemeh |title=Maryland bill strives to limit minors' access to firearms |url=https://cnsmaryland.org/2020/02/28/maryland-bill-strives-to-limit-minors-access-to-firearms/ |access-date=May 8, 2023 |work=Capital News Service |date=February 28, 2020}}</ref>
During the 2021 legislative session, Lopez introduced legislation to ban privately made firearms.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Adhikusuma |first1=Briana |title=County might try to ban undetectable 'ghost' guns |url=https://moco360.media/2021/01/15/county-might-try-to-ban-undetectable-ghost-guns/ |access-date=May 8, 2023 |work=MoCo360 |date=January 15, 2021}}</ref> The bill failed to pass out of committee.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Adhikusuma |first1=Briana |title=Montgomery County bans undetectable 'ghost' guns |url=https://moco360.media/2021/04/08/montgomery-county-bans-undetectable-ghost-guns/ |access-date=May 8, 2023 |work=MoCo360 |date=April 8, 2021}}</ref> She reintroduced the bill in 2022,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gaskill |first1=Hannah |title=Advocates Call for Ghost Gun Ban as Senators Debate Right Approach to Rising Crime Rates |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2022/01/25/advocates-call-for-ghost-gun-ban-as-senators-debate-right-approach-to-rising-crime-rates/ |access-date=May 8, 2023 |work=Maryland Matters |date=January 25, 2022}}</ref> during which it passed<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gaskill |first1=Hannah |title=Ghost Gun Bans Advance in the General Assembly, While House of Delegates Passes Abortion Referendum Bill |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2022/03/11/ghost-gun-bans-advance-in-the-general-assembly-while-house-of-delegates-passes-abortion-referendum-bill/ |access-date=May 8, 2023 |work=Maryland Matters |date=March 11, 2022}}</ref> and became law without Governor Hogan's signature.<ref name="GhostGun">{{cite news |last1=Gaskill |first1=Hannah |title=Hogan Allows Ghost Gun Ban to Become Law Without His Signature, Urges Movement on Other Bills |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2022/04/08/hogan-allows-ghost-gun-ban-to-become-law-without-his-signature-urges-movement-on-other-bills/ |access-date=May 8, 2023 |work=Maryland Matters |date=April 8, 2022}}</ref> Following the bill's passage, Lopez was invited to the White House by President Joe Biden, where he announced a new United States Department of Justice rule regulating privately made firearms.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Figueroa |first1=Ariana |title=DOJ Rule Cracks Down on Untraceable Firearms Known as 'Ghost Guns' |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2022/04/11/doj-rule-cracks-down-on-untraceable-firearms-known-as-ghost-guns/ |access-date=May 8, 2023 |work=Maryland Matters |date=April 11, 2022}}</ref>
===Health care=== During the 2026 legislative session, Lopez introduced a bill that would require Medicaid and other state programs to cover the cost of monitoring devices for individuals with a higher chance of elopement.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Danielle J. |title='Elopement' bills boost resources for times when people with autism, dementia wander or run off |url=https://marylandmatters.org/2026/02/24/elopement-bills-boost-resources-for-times-when-people-with-autism-dementia-wander-or-run-off/ |access-date=February 28, 2026 |work=Maryland Matters |date=February 25, 2026}}</ref>
===Immigration=== During the 2026 legislative session, Lopez introduced a bill that would prohibit state employees from knowingly aiding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement unless presented with an official judicial warrant.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Evans |first1=Rhiannon |title=Trio of immigration bills face little opposition, cruise through Judiciary hearing |url=https://marylandmatters.org/2026/03/12/trio-of-immigration-bills-face-little-opposition-cruise-through-judiciary-hearing/ |access-date=March 20, 2026 |work=Maryland Matters |date=March 12, 2026}}</ref>
===Israel=== Lopez supports a two-state solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kassel |first1=Matthew |title=Entering House race in Maryland, Lesley Lopez seeks to 'build on' Trone's work |url=https://jewishinsider.com/2023/06/maryland-house-race-lesley-lopez-david-trone-democrat-primary/ |access-date=June 21, 2023 |work=Jewish Insider |date=June 21, 2023}}</ref> In October 2023, amid the Gaza war, Lopez said she supported Israel's right to defend itself and called for humanitarian aid to Palestine.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bixby |first1=Ginny |title=How do Maryland's Sixth Congressional District candidates think the Israel-Hamas crisis should be handled? |url=https://moco360.media/2023/10/31/how-do-marylands-sixth-congressional-district-candidates-think-the-israel-hamas-crisis-should-be-handled/ |access-date=November 1, 2023 |work=MoCo360 |date=October 31, 2023}}</ref>
===Policing reform=== In June 2020, Lopez pledged to stop taking campaign contributions from the Fraternal Order of Police.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gaskill |first1=Hannah |title=Annapolis, Capitol Hill Lawmakers Call for Immediate Police Reform: 'We Have Not Done Enough' |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2020/06/16/annapolis-capitol-hill-lawmakers-call-for-immediate-police-reform-we-have-not-done-enough/ |access-date=May 8, 2023 |work=Maryland Matters |date=June 16, 2020}}</ref> During the 2023 legislative session, Lopez introduced a bill to allow municipalities to establish police accountability boards.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ford |first1=William J. |title=Proposed legislation would allow Maryland municipalities to create police accountability boards |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2023/02/27/proposed-legislation-would-allow-maryland-municipalities-to-create-police-accountability-boards/ |access-date=May 8, 2023 |work=Maryland Matters |date=February 27, 2023}}</ref>
===Social issues=== In 2019, Lopez introduced a bill to expand the state's child pornography laws to include lascivious behavior and computer-generated images. The bill unanimously passed the Maryland General Assembly.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gaines |first1=Danielle E. |title=Lawmakers Pass Bill That Would Expand Prosecution of Child Erotica |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2019/04/14/lawmakers-pass-bill-that-would-expand-prosecution-of-child-erotica/ |access-date=May 8, 2023 |work=Maryland Matters |date=April 14, 2019}}</ref>
In May 2022, following the leak of a draft majority opinion for the U.S. Supreme Court case ''Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization'', Lopez sent a letter on the behalf of the Women's Legislative Caucus of Maryland to Governor Larry Hogan, asking that he release the $3.5 million in funds to train abortion care providers as part of the Abortion Care Access Act.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gaines |first1=Danielle E. |last2=Kurtz |first2=Josh |title=News Roundup: Democrats Press Again for Abortion Care Funding, Hogan Appoints New Utility Commissioner |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2022/05/07/news-roundup-democrats-press-again-for-abortion-care-funding-hogan-appoints-new-utility-commissioner/ |access-date=May 8, 2023 |work=Maryland Matters |date=May 7, 2022}}</ref> Hogan denied her request, effectively delaying the law's implementation until July 2023.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Condon |first1=Christine |title=Despite pleas, Maryland Gov. Hogan won't release funds early to train more abortion providers statewide |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-pol-abortion-care-training-funding-folo-20220505-ngwi5copundulct77z2b54dqau-story.html |access-date=May 8, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=May 5, 2022}}</ref> During her 2024 congressional campaign, Lopez said that she would support codifying the ''Roe v. Wade'' decision on the federal level.<ref name="Personal" /> During the 2025 legislative session, she introduced legislation to create a $25 million grant fund to expand abortion access for uninsured or underinsured individuals.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Danielle J. |title=Marathon of abortion-related bills in House Health committee shows fight is not over in the state |url=https://marylandmatters.org/2025/02/28/marathon-of-abortion-related-bills-in-house-health-committee-shows-fight-is-not-over-in-the-state/ |access-date=February 28, 2025 |work=Maryland Matters |date=February 28, 2025}}</ref> The bill passed and was signed into law by Governor Wes Moore, but was blocked from going into effect by federal health officials, who said the program "exceeds permissible use" of the fees collected by the Affordable Care Act.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wood |first1=Pamela |last2=Cohn |first2=Meredith |title=Maryland redirected an idle pot of money for abortions. The feds said no. |url=https://www.thebanner.com/community/public-health/maryland-abortion-money-redirected-federal-government-ZPMIBEF6ZVGXBMZ3F64N3TZXCQ/ |access-date=February 11, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Banner |date=February 9, 2026 |language=en}}</ref>
During the 2023 legislative session, Lopez introduced a bill prohibiting the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services correctional staff from discriminating against gender nonconforming individuals and would allow these individuals to be housed in a facility that aligns with their gender identity.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Larkin |first1=Michelle |title=Lawmakers consider powerful testimony on transgender rights for inmates |url=https://cnsmaryland.org/2023/02/23/lawmakers-consider-powerful-testimony-on-transgender-rights-for-inmates/ |access-date=May 8, 2023 |work=Capital News Service |date=February 23, 2023}}</ref>
During the 2026 legislative session, Lopez introduced a bill that would expand the state's 311 system statewide through the use of AI chatbots and voicebots.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ford |first1=William J. |title=Bill to create statewide nonemergency system seeks to lessen strain on 911 system |url=https://marylandmatters.org/2026/02/10/bill-to-create-statewide-nonemergency-system-seeks-to-lessen-strain-on-911-system/ |access-date=February 11, 2026 |work=Maryland Matters |date=February 11, 2026}}</ref>
==Personal life== Lopez is married to her husband Richard Kelly, an app developer at Capital One. The couple married on September 23, 2018, in a ceremony at the Woodend Sanctuary.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lippman |first1=Daniel |last2=Okun |first2=Eli |last3=Palmer |first3=Anna |last4=Ross |first4=Garrett |last5=Sherman |first5=Jake |title=POLITICO Playbook PM: Biden rallies the Democratic troops |url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook-pm/2018/10/17/biden-rallies-the-democratic-troops-329518 |access-date=May 8, 2023 |work=Politico |date=October 17, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Schere |first1=Dan |title=Freshman Delegates Study, Craft Agendas for 2019 Legislature |url=https://moco360.media/2019/01/04/freshman-delegates-study-craft-agendas-for-2019-legislature/ |access-date=May 8, 2023 |work=MoCo360 |date=January 4, 2019}}</ref> Together, they have two children.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kurtz |first1=Josh |last2=Sears |first2=Bryan P. |title=Risks and opportunities for both parties as race to replace Trone ramps up |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2023/05/10/risks-and-opportunities-for-both-parties-as-race-to-replace-trone-ramps-up/ |access-date=May 10, 2023 |work=Maryland Matters |date=May 10, 2023}}</ref>
==Electoral history== {{Election box begin no change | title = Maryland House of Delegates District 39 Democratic primary election, 2018<ref>{{cite web | title = Official 2018 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates | work = Maryland State Board of Elections | url = https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2018/results/primary/gen_results_2018_1_01639.html }}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Lesley J. Lopez |votes = 5,422 |percentage = 21.3 }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Gabriel Acevero |votes = 5,116 |percentage = 20.1 }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Kirill Reznik (incumbent) |votes = 5,088 |percentage = 20.0 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Shane Robinson (incumbent) |votes = 4,934 |percentage = 19.4 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Bobby Bartlett |votes = 2,487 |percentage = 9.8 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Andy Hoverman |votes = 1,281 |percentage = 5.0 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Clint Sobratti |votes = 1,139 |percentage = 4.5 }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin no change | title = Maryland House of Delegates District 39 election, 2018<ref>{{cite web | title = Official 2018 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates | work = Maryland State Board of Elections | url = https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2018/results/general/gen_results_2018_2_01639.html }}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Gabriel Acevero |votes = 28,554 |percentage = 31.0 }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Lesley J. Lopez |votes = 27,722 |percentage = 30.1 }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Kirill Reznik (incumbent) |votes = 25,236 |percentage = 27.4 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Verelyn Gibbs Watson |votes = 10,316 |percentage = 11.2 }} {{Election box write-in with party link no change |votes = 324 |percentage = 0.4 }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin no change | title = Maryland House of Delegates District 39 election, 2022<ref>{{cite web | title = Official 2022 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates | work = Maryland State Board of Elections | url = https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2022/general_results/gen_results_2022_7_58.html }}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Lesley J. Lopez (incumbent) |votes = 27,722 |percentage = 33.3 }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Gabriel Acevero (incumbent) |votes = 23,104 |percentage = 33.0 }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Kirill Reznik (incumbent) |votes = 22,292 |percentage = 31.9 }} {{Election box write-in with party link no change |votes = 1,259 |percentage = 1.8 }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin no change|title=Maryland's 6th congressional district Democratic primary results, 2024<ref>{{cite web |title=Official 2024 Presidential Primary Election Results for Representative in Congress |url=https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2024/Primary_Results/gen_results_2024_3_6.html |website=elections.maryland.gov |publisher=Maryland State Board of Elections |access-date=June 1, 2024}}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|candidate=April McClain Delaney|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=22,985|percentage=40.4}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Joe Vogel|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=14,940|percentage=26.3}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Ashwani Jain|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=4,750|percentage=8.3}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Tekesha Martinez|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=3,992|percentage=7.0}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Lesley Lopez|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=2,600|percentage=4.6}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Laurie-Anne Sayles|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=1,845|percentage=3.2}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Destiny Drake West|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=1,086|percentage=1.9}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Mohammad Mozumder|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=1,005|percentage=1.7}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Joel Martin Rubin ''(withdrawn)''|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=820|percentage=1.4}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Peter Choharis ''(withdrawn)''|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=818|percentage=1.4}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Geoffrey Grammer ''(withdrawn)''|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=651|percentage=1.1}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=George Gluck|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=437|percentage=0.8}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Kiambo White|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=401|percentage=0.7}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Stephen McDow ''(withdrawn)''|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=246|percentage=0.4}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Altimont Wilks|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=179|percentage=0.3}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Adrian Petrus|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=166|percentage=0.3}} {{Election box end}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Ballotpedia|Lesley_Lopez|Lesley Lopez}}
{{Maryland House of Delegates}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lopez, Lesley}} Category:1983 births Category:21st-century American women politicians Category:American politicians of Filipino descent Category:American women of Filipino descent in politics Category:Democratic Party members of the Maryland House of Delegates Category:Living people Category:Trachtenberg School of Public Policy & Public Administration alumni Category:University of California, San Diego alumni Category:Women state legislators in Maryland Category:Service Employees International Union people Category:United States congressional aides Category:Place of birth missing (living people) Category:Candidates in the 2024 United States House of Representatives elections Category:People from Paget Parish Category:21st-century members of the Maryland General Assembly