Dylan Behler has been recommended to fill a vacant seat in the House of Delegates. (Photo courtesy Dylan Behler)
The Anne Arundel County Democratic Central Committee on Saturday chose one of its own, Dylan Behler, as the recommended fill-in for a vacant seat in the House of Delegates.
At 26, Behler would become the youngest member of the General Assembly if his nomination is approved by Gov. Wes Moore (D), who has the final say on legislative vacancies.
Behler currently works as director of legislative and constituent services at the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, but he has also been chief of staff for former state Sen. Sarah K. Elfreth (who was elected to Congress last year) and worked on the 2018 campaign of Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman (D). He is a former chair of the Anne Arundel Democratic Central Committee, and retains a seat on the committee.
In a statement, Behler said he was “humbled and proud” to earn the central committee’s recommendation.
“From the budget deficit, to the housing crisis, to the lack of affordable childcare, to the ever-increasing cost of goods — there are so many challenges facing Maryland and I am ready to get to work to support Marylanders and our working families,” he said.
According to the Baltimore Banner, Behler received 10 votes during the central committee meeting on Saturday at Annapolis Middle School — including his own. Progressive activist Chrissy Holt received seven votes, while Annapolis Alderman Brooks Schandelmeier picked up one vote. Local businesswoman Abigail Diehl and health care information technology professional Lindsay Donahue also sought the appointment, but did not receive any votes.
Behler is in line to fill the District 30A House seat that had been occupied for 5 1/2 years by Shaneka Henson (D). Henson was elevated to the state Senate last month by the central committee and Moore to fill the seat vacated by Elfreth when she was elected to represent Maryland’s 3rd District in Congress.
Assuming he gets the nod from Moore, Behler would become the 13th appointee to be put into a delegate seat since the 2022 election, with two more vacant House seats waiting to be filled — accounting for more than 10% of the 141-member House.