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State Senator · Legislative District 16 · 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 raceLou Bartolo is a Democratic candidate seeking election as Maryland State Senator for District 16, residing in Chevy Chase. He holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice from Loyola University New Orleans and earned his Master of Science in Nursing from Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing. His professional background includes work with the National Marrow Donor Program as Senior Regulatory Affairs Associate, alongside leadership roles at Maryland Nurses Association where he served as Past President and Deputy Chair of the Legislative Committee. He has received recognition including The Daily Record Healthcare Heroes 2025 Maryland Nurse of the Year award and Johns Hopkins University Outstanding Recent Graduate Award. Bartolo emphasizes his perspective as a nurse is essential to addressing workforce shortages and public health crisis facing Maryland.
Sources: Campaign website
Currently, there is not a single nurse in the Maryland General Assembly, and having my perspective as a nurse is essential to moving forward with the workforce shortages and public health crisis facing our beloved state of Maryland.
Lou will fight each and every day to ensure that the community is advancing toward meeting these founding principles.
Gun violence is out of control and we must start saving lives through better gun control in the state.
As a state, focusing more on minority health as a whole is needed; however, we must continue to develop models of care to reduce maternal and child health disparities.
Source: loubartolo.com
Healthcare
Bartolo aims to maintain balance within the political system on reproductive rights, mental health, and substance use disorders. He advocates for having a nurse in all schools and geriatric care management for aging in place.
“Lou aims to maintain balance within the political system and will keep pushing until the correct balance is reached on reproductive rights, mental health, and substance use disorders, having a nurse in all schools, and geriatric care management for aging in place.”
Environment
Bartolo supports push for change throughout the state for a healthier and cleaner environment across Maryland. He also wants to keep Maryland's diverse agriculture at the forefront.
“Lou is proud to support and push for change throughout the state for a healthier and cleaner environment across Maryland.”
Education
Bartolo will do everything he can for the children of Maryland to see a brighter future.
“Lou is pushing for change and will do everything he can for the children of Maryland to see a brighter future.”
Public Safety
Bartolo states gun violence is out of control and advocates for better gun control in the state. He also plans to form coalitions to help decrease health disparities and inequities.
“Gun violence is out of control and we must start saving lives through better gun control in the state.”
Minority Health
Bartolo emphasizes focusing more on minority health as a whole and developing models of care to reduce maternal and child health disparities.
“As a state, focusing more on minority health as a whole is needed; however, we must continue to develop models of care to reduce maternal and child health disparities.”
“Lou aims to maintain balance within the political system and will keep pushing until the correct balance is reached on reproductive rights, mental health, and substance use disorders, having a nurse in all schools, and geriatric care management for aging in place.”
Source“Lou is proud to support and push for change throughout the state for a healthier and cleaner environment across Maryland.”
Source“Lou is pushing for change and will do everything he can for the children of Maryland to see a brighter future.”
Source“Gun violence is out of control and we must start saving lives through better gun control in the state.”
Source