Shaneka Johnson

Long before I was a Maryland State Senator, professor, or attorney, I spent my career sitting across from people navigating systems that had real consequences for their homes, finances, and families. Those conversations shaped how I approach the law, public service, and decision-making. Today, I represent Maryland’s capital city and surrounding communities in the State Senate. My legislative work has included strengthening tenant protections, reforming child support obligations for incarcerated parents, expanding student loan assistance for educators, and securing funding for housing redevelopment and critical infrastructure improvements—work rooted in issues I first encountered one-on-one, long before holding office. Alongside my legislative work, I run a law practice focused on housing, landlord-tenant, consumer, and civil matters, informed by my prior service as Special Counsel in the Maryland Attorney General’s Office and my ongoing work with courts, agencies, and regulators. Teaching brings these worlds together. As an adjunct professor at Coppin State University, I teach advocacy and public policy, helping students understand how decisions are made—and how to engage those systems responsibly. I am also a sought-after keynote speaker, panelist, and moderator, speaking candidly about leadership, public service, housing policy, and governance. Across law, legislation, education, and the stage, my work is focused on doing the work carefully, directly, and in a way that produces results.