Adrienne A. Jones

Delegate Jones took over as Acting Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates on April 7, 2019, following the death of then-Speaker Michael Busch. On May 1, the House of Delegates unanimously elected Delegate Jones as Speaker of the House by a vote of 139-0, after Delegates Maggie McIntosh (D-Baltimore City) and Dereck Davis (D-Prince George's County) bowed out of the Speaker's race in favor of Jones. Jones is both the first female and first African-American speaker in Maryland state history.

Delegate Jones has been a member of House of Delegates since October 21, 1997, representing District 10. In addition to being Speaker Pro Tem, she is a member of the House Appropriations Committee and its public safety & administration subcommittee. She also provides leadership through the Legislative Policy, Spending Affordability, Rules and Executive Nominations and Legislative Ethics Committees. She is also a member of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland.

Born in Cowdensville, Maryland, an historic African-American community located near Arbutus, in Southwest Baltimore County, Delegate Jones attended Baltimore County public schools. She graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County with a B.A. in psychology in 1976. She has served as the Director of the Office of Minority Affairs in Baltimore County (1989–95) and is the Executive Director of the Office of Fair Practices and Community Affairs in Baltimore County.

Adrienne A. Jones (born November 20, 1954) is the current Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates, the first African-American and the first woman to serve in that position in Maryland. Initially appointed by Governor Parris Glendening to fill the vacancy created by the death of Delegate Joan Neverdonn Parker in 1997, she won multiple subsequent elections to the House. In a special session on May 1, 2019, Del. Jones emerged as the compromise candidate to become the Speaker after an earlier vote had resulted in a split decision between Delegates Maggie McIntosh and Dereck Davis.