Jakeya Johnson

Jakeya Johnson (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Maryland's 4th Congressional District. She lost in the Democratic primary on June 23, 2026.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I’m a mom, union steward, proud HBCU graduate, reproductive justice advocate, and nonprofit leader from a blue-collar family. I’ve spent my career standing up for people who are usually ignored in politics: Workers, parents, immigrants, people navigating our broken health care system, and families who've been priced out of opportunity. I’m not a career politician. I’m a neighbor who believes Congress should work the way our communities work, by listening first, putting people at the center, and making sure government is accountable to us, not corporations and the wealthy 1%.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

People First. Decisions should serve everyday people, not corporations, and not political favors.Community Driven. My work has always been in our neighborhoods. Elected or not, I will stand shoulder to shoulder with my neighbors, not just in the halls of power.No Corporate Money. I’m refusing all corporate, PAC, and dark money because my accountability belongs to the people, not to special interests. My campaign is fueled by neighbors, not lobbyists.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I’m passionate about policies that put people first, including: affordable healthcare for all, reproductive justice, fully funding public schools, bold climate action, immigrant justice, democracy reforms that strengthen voting rights, tackling the rising cost of living, criminal justice reform, protecting workers’ rights, disability justice, ending gun violence, and uplifting arts and culture in our communities.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Above all, I believe a commitment to justice is the most important. Justice means fairness, dignity, and opportunity for all people, no matter their income, race, gender, immigration status, sexuality, or ability. It’s the principle that ties everything else together and reminds us that politics must serve people first.

I also believe that empathy matters because policymaking without compassion leads to harm. Leaders who take time to listen and understand the struggles of everyday people are better equipped to fight for solutions that truly meet community needs.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I want my legacy to be one of courageous leadership. I want people to remember me as someone who used her voice and vision to make others feel seen, safe, heard and powerful. My legacy will be proof that we are strongest when we show up for each other and choose to believe in something better.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The first big historical event I remember is 9/11. I was six years old and living in Virginia, close enough to D.C. that our parents were on edge. I remember teachers rolling TVs into the classroom, some of them crying, while we were too young to really get what was going on. What stood out to me was that instead of doing math, they let us go to the gym to play, which told us it was serious even if we didn’t understand why. That was the first time I realized the world could feel like a scary place, and honestly that feeling hasn’t gone away much as I’ve grown up.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

Experience in government can be valuable, but it should never be the only path to leadership. What matters most is whether a representative can deliver real results for people. I bring a different kind of experience. I've directed legislative strategy on reproductive rights, worked within the state legislature, and even wrote policies that became law without ever holding elected office. At the same time, my community is heart. As a union steward, nonprofit leader, and mom, I know that lived experience and organizing teaches you just as much as any political title. The most effective representatives are those who combine knowledge of the system with accountability to the people they serve.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Compromise is a part of life we can’t avoid, but compromise should never come at the expense of human dignity or basic needs. Food, clean water, safe housing, and healthcare are not bargaining chips. They're human rights and should never be traded away.

As someone who's organized in neighborhoods, served in nonprofit leadership, and fought alongside workers as a union steward, I understand that change is built through collaboration. But I also know that if we compromise away people’s basic rights, then we've lost sight of why we're there in the first place.

So yes, compromise has its place in policymaking, but only when it brings us forward, and only when it keeps people, not profits, at it's core.

What is an accomplishment that you are proud of?

One of the accomplishments I’m most proud of was making the decision to change career paths as a young mom. When my daughter was two, I was working in healthcare administration, and it was soul-crushing work. I often had to tell parents of children with developmental disabilities that their insurance wouldn’t cover the services their doctor prescribed, not because of medical judgment, but because an insurance rep on the phone said so. That broke me.

I leaned into volunteer work and discovered my passion for community-centered service. I went back to school for my Masters in Public Administration with a concentration in public policy so I could fight for my community at a systems level. As an adult learner balancing motherhood and full-time work in the state legislature and nonprofit sector, I graduated with honors. Along the way, I co-founded a graduate student association for public administration students, served as VP and then president, and built community while excelling academically. By the time I walked across that stage, I had already written, advocated for, and successfully helped pass a state law.