{{Short description|American politician (born 1985)}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Mark Edelson | image = Mark Edelson March2023.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = Edelson in 2023 | state_delegate = Maryland | district = 46th | term_start = January 11, 2023 | term_end = | alongside = Luke Clippinger and Robbyn Lewis | predecessor = Brooke Lierman | successor = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1984|7|12}} | birth_place = Pretoria, South Africa | party = Democratic | spouse = | children = | education = Georgia State University<br>University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law (JD) | alma_mater = | occupation = Attorney | profession = | website = [https://www.electedelson.com/ Campaign website] }} '''Mark Edelson''' (born September 12, 1985) is a South Africa-born American politician and attorney<ref name="Council16">{{cite news |last1=Broadwater |first1=Luke |title=A big-money, two-party race for City Council heats up in Southeast Baltimore |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/baltimore-city/bs-md-ci-council-first-district-20160216-story.html |access-date=August 17, 2022 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=February 16, 2016}}</ref> who is a member of the Maryland House of Delegates for District 46 in Baltimore.<ref name="mgaleg">{{cite web |title=Members – Delegate Mark Edelson |url=https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Members/Details/edelson01 |website=mgaleg.maryland.gov |publisher=Maryland General Assembly |access-date=January 11, 2023 |date=January 11, 2023}}</ref>
==Background== In 1999, Edelson's family moved from South Africa to Atlanta, Georgia,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ericson |first1=Edward |title=1st District: Nine candidates vie for the job |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/citypaper/bcp-032316-feature-1st-district-20160323-story.html |access-date=August 17, 2022 |work=Baltimore City Paper |agency=The Baltimore Sun |date=March 23, 2016}}</ref> where he attended Georgia State University, where he earned degrees in philosophy and criminal justice.<ref name="CouncilJT" /> He moved to Baltimore in 2007 to attend the University of Maryland School of Law, earning his Juris Doctor degree in 2010. After graduating, Edelson worked for the Goldman & Goldman, P.A. law firm<ref name="CouncilJT" /> and became a board member of The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore and the Baltimore Jewish Council.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jsilberman |first1=Justin |title=Hillary Clinton Calls for Unity at ECYP Fundraiser |url=https://www.jewishtimes.com/at-ecyp-fundraiser-hillary-clinton-calls-for-unity/ |access-date=August 17, 2022 |work=Baltimore Jewish Times |date=June 5, 2017}}</ref>
In June 2015, Edelson announced that he would run for the Baltimore City Council in District 1,<ref name="CouncilJT">{{cite news |last1=Jankovitz |first1=Michael |title=Edelson to Run for Baltimore City Council |url=https://www.jewishtimes.com/edelson-to-run-for-baltimore-city-council/ |access-date=August 17, 2022 |work=Baltimore Jewish Times |date=July 10, 2015}}</ref><ref name="Council15">{{cite news |last1=Babcock |first1=Stephen |title=Southeast Baltimore City Council Candidates Keep Popping Up |url=https://baltimorefishbowl.com/stories/southeast-baltimore-city-council-candidates-keep-popping-up/ |access-date=August 17, 2022 |work=Baltimore Fishbowl |date=June 30, 2015}}</ref> seeking to succeed outgoing city councilmember Jim Kraft.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Broadwater |first1=Luke |title=Fields set for Baltimore council, comptroller and judges' races |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/baltimore-city/bs-md-ci-council-filings-20160203-story.html |access-date=August 17, 2022 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=February 3, 2016}}</ref> He ran on a platform that included creating "transit hubs" within the city and streamlining the city permitting process.<ref name="Council16" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Sweeney |first1=Danielle |title=Campaign Close-Up: 1st District candidates talk traffic, development and crime |url=https://www.baltimorebrew.com/2015/10/10/campaign-close-up-1st-district-candidates-talk-traffic-development-and-crime/ |access-date=August 17, 2022 |work=Baltimore Brew |date=October 10, 2015}}</ref> Edelson came in third place in the Democratic primary with 17.3 percent of the vote.<ref name="2016results" />
In June 2017, Edelson was the attorney for Bikemore when the bike advocacy group filed a lawsuit against the city of Baltimore to block the demolition of protected bike lanes on Potomac Street. Circuit Court Judge Althea M. Handy halted the demolition on June 10, 2017.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Reutter |first1=Mark |title=Demolition of Potomac Street cycle track stopped |url=https://baltimorebrew.com/2017/06/10/demolition-of-potomac-street-cycle-track-stopped/ |access-date=August 17, 2022 |work=Baltimore Brew |date=June 10, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Fritze |first1=John |title=Judge halts demolition of Canton's cycletrack |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/baltimore-city/bs-md-bike-lane-tro-20170609-story.html |access-date=August 17, 2022 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=June 12, 2017}}</ref> The lawsuit was dropped on June 28, 2017, after Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh pledged not to demolish the bike lanes.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Broadwater |first1=Luke |last2=Wenger |first2=Yvonne |title=Bikemore drops lawsuit after city pledges not to demolish Canton bike lane |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/baltimore-city/bs-md-ci-bike-lane-settlement-20170628-story.html |access-date=August 17, 2022 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=June 28, 2017}}</ref>
In 2018, Edelson became the president of the Canton Community Association.<ref>{{cite web |title=Meet Mark Edelson |url=https://www.cantoncommunity.org/news-and-notes/2019/1/4/meet-mark-edelson |website=cantoncommunity.org |publisher=Canton Community Association |access-date=August 17, 2022 |date=January 4, 2019}}</ref> While president, the group evaluated how to make the neighborhood more welcoming, including the removal of the statue of John O'Donnell,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wenger |first1=Yvonne |title=Hundreds sign online petition to remove statue of slave owner O'Donnell from Canton square in Baltimore |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/baltimore-city/bs-md-ci-petition-odonnell-statue-canton-20201025-zrfifygsiffv7mnjpccmjms7my-story.html |access-date=August 17, 2022 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=October 26, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Campbell |first1=Colin |title=Inside a Baltimore neighborhood group's successful effort to remove an enslaver's statue |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/john-odonnell-enslaver-statue-removed/2021/04/16/669f59ec-9897-11eb-962b-78c1d8228819_story.html |access-date=August 17, 2022 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=April 16, 2021}}</ref> opposed a proposal to expand Boston Street in southeast Baltimore,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Broadwater |first1=Luke |title=Baltimore council members object to plan to turn Boston Street into 'superhighway' |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/baltimore-city/bs-md-ci-boston-street-study-20170907-story.html |access-date=August 17, 2022 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=September 8, 2017}}</ref> and advocated for the revival of the Red Line.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Campbell |first1=Colin |title=Five years later, many across Baltimore bitterly lament Gov. Hogan's decision to kill the Red Line light rail |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/five-years-later-many-across-baltimore-bitterly-lament-gov-hogans-decision-to-kill-the-red-line-light-rail/2020/09/12/600f9b44-f529-11ea-bc45-e5d48ab44b9f_story.html |access-date=August 17, 2022 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=September 12, 2020}}</ref>
In 2020, Edelson worked on the transition team for Baltimore Mayor-elect Brandon Scott, serving on its transportation and infrastructure subcommittee.<ref>{{cite news |title=Baltimore Mayor-Elect Brandon Scott Announces Transition Team |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/baltimore-mayor-elect-brandon-scott-announces-transition-team/ |access-date=August 17, 2022 |work=CBS News |agency=WJZ-TV |date=December 1, 2020}}</ref>
In 2022, Edelson ran for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 46, seeking to succeed outgoing state delegate Brooke Lierman.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kurtz |first1=Josh |title=Dist. 46 Legislators to Run as a Team, But Leave One Slot Open For Now |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2021/09/29/dist-46-legislators-to-run-as-a-team-but-leave-one-slot-open-for-now/ |access-date=August 17, 2022 |work=Maryland Matters |date=September 29, 2021}}</ref> During the primary, he received endorsements from councilmember Zeke Cohen, former state delegate Carolyn J. Krysiak, and former councilmembers Jim Kraft, Ed Reisinger, and Rikki Spector.<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=August 17, 2022 |work=Maryland Matters |date=June 1, 2022}}</ref> Edelson won the Democratic primary on July 19, 2022, coming in third place behind incumbents Robbyn Lewis and Luke Clippinger with 19.0 percent of the vote.<ref name="2022primary" />
==In the legislature== thumb|Edelson speaks on the House floor, 2025 Edelson was sworn into the Maryland House of Delegates on January 11, 2023.<ref name="mgaleg" /> He is a member of the House Appropriations 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>
==Political positions== During the 2026 legislative session, Edelson supported a bill that would create oversight boards in the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) to oversee the state's public transit systems as well as review and approve the MTA's budget and major capital projects.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Zawodny |first1=Daniel |title=Proposed shake-up at MTA could give Baltimore better say in public transit |url=https://www.thebanner.com/community/transportation/baltimore-transit-decisions-red-line-H5ZP4PFDAFGGPI24VYY4MKOIJY/ |access-date=February 28, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Banner |date=February 26, 2026 |language=en}}</ref>
==Personal life== Edelson lives in the Canton neighborhood of Baltimore.<ref name="Council15" /> He is Jewish.<ref name="CouncilJT" />
==Electoral history== {{Election box begin no change | title = Baltimore City Council District 1 Democratic primary election, 2016<ref name="2016results">{{cite web | title = Official 2016 Presidential Primary Election results for Baltimore City | work = Maryland State Board of Elections | url = https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2016/results/primary/gen_results_2016_3_by_county_030.html }}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Zeke Cohen |votes = 2,196 |percentage = 27.3 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Scott Goldman |votes = 1,661 |percentage = 20.7 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Mark Edelson |votes = 1,387 |percentage = 17.3 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Mark Parker |votes = 1,362 |percentage = 17.0 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Ed Marcinko |votes = 830 |percentage = 10.3 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Sean P. Flanagan |votes = 597 |percentage = 7.4 }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin no change |title=Maryland House of Delegates District 46 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_69.html |website=elections.maryland.gov |publisher=Maryland State Board of Elections |access-date=August 17, 2022}}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Democratic Party |candidate = Robbyn Lewis |votes = 8,449 |percentage = 24.5 }}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Democratic Party |candidate = Luke Clippinger |votes = 7,560 |percentage = 22.0 }}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Democratic Party |candidate = Mark Edelson |votes = 6,550 |percentage = 19.0 }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Democratic Party |candidate = Vince Andrews |votes = 5,692 |percentage = 16.5 }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Democratic Party |candidate = Sean D. Burns |votes = 3,220 |percentage = 9.4 }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Democratic Party |candidate = Augusta Yeager Christensen |votes = 2,954 |percentage = 8.6 }}{{Election box end}} {{Election box begin no change |title=Maryland House of Delegates District 46 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_69.html |website=elections.maryland.gov |publisher=Maryland State Board of Elections |access-date=August 17, 2022}}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Democratic Party |candidate = Robbyn Lewis (incumbent) |votes = 22,274 |percentage = 30.81 }}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Democratic Party |candidate = Luke Clippinger (incumbent) |votes = 22,162 |percentage = 30.65 }}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Democratic Party |candidate = Mark Edelson |votes = 22,103 |percentage = 30.57 }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Republican Party |candidate = Pete Waters |votes = 5,492 |percentage = 7.60 }}{{Election box write-in with party link no change |votes = 265 |percentage = 0.37 }}{{Election box end}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{cite web |title=Members – Delegate Mark Edelson |url=https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Members/Details/edelson01 |website=mgaleg.maryland.gov |publisher=Maryland General Assembly |access-date=January 11, 2023 |date=January 11, 2023}} * {{commons category-inline}} * {{C-SPAN|140562}}
{{Current members of the MD House of Delegates}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Edelson, Mark}} Category:Living people Category:1985 births Category:American people of South African-Jewish descent Category:Georgia State University alumni Category:Politicians from Pretoria Category:University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law alumni Category:South African emigrants to the United States Category:Democratic Party members of the Maryland House of Delegates Category:Lawyers from Baltimore Category:21st-century American lawyers Category:Jewish state legislators in Maryland Category:Politicians from Baltimore Category:Naturalized citizens of the United States Category:21st-century members of the Maryland General Assembly