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State Senator · Legislative District 39 · Maryland · 2026 Primary
Maryland State Senators represent their local districts in the General Assembly, where they propose and vote on laws covering issues like education, transportation, and public safety. They are responsible for approving the state’s annual budget and have the unique power to confirm or reject the Governor’s appointments for judges and agency leaders. This office is critical because its decisions determine how state tax dollars are spent and which policies govern your local community.
View all candidates in this raceDestiny Drake West is a working mom, veteran's wife, and criminologist running for Maryland State Senate to represent District 39. She was raised by a young mother and supportive stepfather who relied on public supports like SNAP, WIC, Medicaid, public housing, and free school meals, which shaped her view of government as deeply personal with real consequences for families. Her career includes working in Annapolis during the Maryland General Assembly for then-County Executive Angela Alsobrooks and later as Legislative Director in the Senate, where she learned how state laws are written and implemented. She also served as National Committeewoman for the Maryland Young Democrats, on the Board of Directors for the Women's Democratic Club of Montgomery County, and held senior roles in federal government overseeing more than $1 billion in public investments focused on healthcare workforce, essential services access, and housing stability. West is founder of the Drake Institute of Women's Policy, a nonpartisan organization focused on economic security for women and families. She believes District 39 deserves leadership that understands what it means to rely on public supports, values families and caregivers, and is ready to deliver results that help people thrive.
Sources: Campaign website
"I wasn't born into power or privilege," West said. "I was born into a system where the odds are set early, and too often stacked against working families. I know what it means when public systems work, and I know the harm when they don't. That's why I'm running."
"After nearly two decades of the same representation, we owe it to ourselves to ask hard questions," West said. "Are our neighborhoods stronger? Are small businesses thriving? Are families actually getting ahead? Because what I see is the cost of living rising while working households struggle just to keep up."
"I'm running because this district deserves representation that reflects who we are and fights for who we can become." Together, we can build a District 39 that works for our families and for future generations.
Care is economic infrastructure. Expanding access to affordable, high-quality childcare, disability care, and elder care strengthens workforce participation, stabilizes households, supports caregivers, and reduces downstream strain on schools, health systems, and youth-serving systems.
Source: destinyforthepeople.com
Economic Systems
Focus on economic systems that allow families to thrive, not just survive, addressing rising cost of living stretching family budgets
“Maryland's next phase of leadership must focus on economic systems that allow families to thrive, not just survive.”
Care Economy
Expanding access to affordable childcare, disability care, and elder care strengthens workforce participation and stabilizes households
“Care is economic infrastructure. Expanding access to affordable, high-quality childcare, disability care, and elder care strengthens workforce participation, stabilizes households, supports caregivers, and reduces downstream strain on schools, health systems, and youth-serving systems.”
Healthcare Access
Protecting affordable healthcare access, expanding mental health services, addressing workforce shortages to reduce wait times and lower costs
“At a time of increasing coverage disruptions and shifting federal responsibility, Maryland must protect affordable health care access, expand mental health services, and ensure continuity of care for children, youth, seniors, and people with disabilities.”
Housing Stability
Preventing displacement, preserving and increasing affordable housing, using public resources strategically to support families and seniors
“We must prioritize preventing displacement, preserving and increasing affordable housing, and using public resources strategically to support families and seniors, promoting long-term stability and affordability rather than crisis response.”
Workforce Development & Education
Strengthening education-to-workforce pipelines through community colleges, minority-serving institutions, apprenticeships, and employer partnerships for in-demand careers
“Education and workforce systems must keep Maryland's economy resilient in a changing national landscape. Strengthening education-to-workforce pipelines through community colleges, minority-serving institutions, apprenticeships, and employer partnerships will help prepare workers for in-demand careers.”
Environmental Protection
Investing in clean energy that strengthens power grid, lowering household utility costs, protecting water resources, ensuring new development is responsibly planned
“That means investing in clean energy that strengthens our power grid, lowering household utility costs, protecting our water resources, and ensuring that new development —such as data centers—is responsibly planned so that economic growth does not place environmental burdens on already overburdened communities.”
Transportation & Mobility
Prioritizing modern transit-forward solutions to move more people, reduce congestion, and strengthen connections across the region with public transit and safer streets
“Maryland should prioritize modern, transit-forward solutions that move more people, reduce congestion, and strengthen connections across our region. That means investing in public transit, improving bus and rail service, and building safer streets for pedestrians and cyclists so families have more affordable and reliable ways to get around.”
If elected, Destiny Drake West would become the first Black State Senator to represent Maryland's District 39, marking a historic milestone reflecting the district's evolving diversity. She successfully hosted a Black History & Community Leadership Reception on February 27, bringing together community leaders, business leaders, advocates, and members of the diplomatic community in Germantown, MD. The event generated significant momentum for her campaign and was attended by Ambassador Dr. Margaret Dureke and former Maryland Department of Labor Assistant Secretary Rachel Torres.
“Strengthening education-to-workforce pipelines through community colleges, minority-serving institutions, apprenticeships, and employer partnerships will help prepare workers for in-demand careers.”
Source“We must prioritize preventing displacement, preserving and increasing affordable housing, and using public resources strategically to support families and seniors, promoting long-term stability and affordability rather than crisis response.”
Source“At a time of increasing coverage disruptions and shifting federal responsibility, Maryland must protect affordable health care access, expand mental health services, and ensure continuity of care for children, youth, seniors, and people with disabilities.”
Source“Maryland must continue leading on climate action while ensuring that solutions work for everyday families. That means investing in clean energy that strengthens our power grid, lowering household utility costs, protecting our water resources.”
Source“Maryland's next phase of leadership must focus on economic systems that allow families to thrive, not just survive.”
Source“Care is economic infrastructure. Expanding access to affordable, high-quality childcare, disability care, and elder care strengthens workforce participation.”
Source“I'm running because this district deserves representation that reflects who we are and fights for who we can become. Together, we can build a District 39 that works for our families and for future generations.”
Source