House Shakeup Continues, As Atterbeary Resigns To Focus On Run For Howard County Executive

By Bryan P. Sears, Maryland Matters

December 11, 2025

Del. Vanessa Atterbeary (D-Howard), the chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, announced Thursday that she is leaving the House of Delegates next month to focus on her campaign for Howard County executive.

Her announcement comes one week after Del. Adrienne Jones (D-Baltimore County) said she was stepping down from the House speaker’s job she held for the last six years, and just days before the House is scheduled to meet in special session on Dec. 16 to select a new speaker.

Democrats appear to have quickly coalesced around Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk (D-Prince George’s and Anne Arundel) as the next speaker — a job that Atterbeary was long considered to be a one-day contender for.

But sensing that Jones was keen on continuing as speaker and running for reelection, Atterbeary filed this fall to run for Howard County executive. Jones’ surprise announcement came months after Atterbeary had filed and ramped up her campaign, which led to many House members who would have supported her as speaker to back other candidates.

Atterbeary’s continued role in leadership became murky under a potential Peña-Melnyk speakership. More changes to House leadership could be coming in the next few days and weeks.

The departure of Atterbeary and the potential elevation of Peña-Melnyk would leave leadership of two of the House’s seven standing committees open as delegates prepare for the Jan. 14 start of the 2026 legislative session. Besides Atterbeary on Ways and Means, Peña-Melnyk is chair of the House Health and Government Operations Committee.

In her resignation letter to Speaker Pro Tem Dana Stein (D-Baltimore County) Atterbeary said her resignation would take effect Jan. 14 — the first day of the 2026 General Assembly session.

“As I reflect on my career in the House of Delegates, I am so proud of the accomplishments we’ve achieved in my years of service,” Atterbeary wrote in her letter. “Now, I am ready to turn a new chapter in my life.”

Del. Jheanelle Wilkins (D-Montgomery), the vice chair of Ways and Means, called Atterbeary a “dedicated and driven leader of our committee, and a strong advocate for our students and families. I am grateful for her service and wish her well as she begins this next chapter.”