Steve Hershey

Stephen S. Hershey Jr. is an American politician currently serving as a member of the Maryland State Senate, representing District 36. A member of the Republican Party, he has held this position since 2013 and was appointed as the minority leader of the Maryland Senate in January 2023. Before his tenure in the Senate, Hershey served in the Maryland House of Delegates from 2011 to 2013, where he focused on issues related to economic matters and fiscal conservatism.

Early life and career

Steve Hershey was born on May 2, 1964, in Washington, D.C. He grew up in Prince George's County, Maryland, where he completed his secondary education at Bowie High School. Following high school, Hershey pursued higher education at James Madison University before transferring to Catholic University of America, where he earned a Bachelor of Civil Engineering degree in 1987. He later attended George Washington University, obtaining a Master of Business Administration degree in 2002. In 1996, Hershey relocated to Queen Anne's County, Maryland.

Before entering politics, Hershey built a career in project management and commercial real estate. He was a principal at Hershey Management Group, an independent real estate consulting firm, and held various positions at notable companies such as Planet Hollywood and Prime Retail. From 1999 to 2003, he served as a vice president for project management at the Trammell Crow Company. His involvement in local economic development began when he joined the Queen Anne's County Economic Development Commission, serving until 2006.

Hershey's political career began in earnest in 2002 when he became the president of the Queen Anne's County Republican Club. He made his first electoral bid that same year, running for the Queen Anne's County Board of Commissioners in District 2. However, he was unsuccessful in the Republican primary, losing to Rodney Niedomanski.

Legislative service

In 2010, Hershey entered the race for the Maryland House of Delegates, representing District 36. He challenged the incumbent, Richard A. Sossi, in the Republican primary, campaigning on a platform focused on tax reduction and government spending cuts. Hershey won the primary by a narrow margin and subsequently ran unopposed in the general election. He was sworn into the Maryland House of Delegates on January 12, 2011, and served on the Economic Matters Committee throughout his tenure. In 2013, he was appointed as the Deputy Minority Whip.

In August 2013, following the resignation of Senate minority leader E. J. Pipkin, Hershey sought to fill the vacancy in the Maryland Senate. The Republican Central Committees of Caroline and Kent counties nominated him, while his opponent received nominations from the Queen Anne's and Cecil County Republican Central Committees. Ultimately, Governor Martin O'Malley appointed Hershey to the Senate seat, and he was sworn in on October 1, 2013.

During his time in the Senate, Hershey served on the Judicial Proceedings Committee from 2013 to 2015 and subsequently joined the Finance Committee. He has also been a member of the Executive Nominations Committee and the Rules Committee since 2023. In January 2015, he was elected Senate minority whip, a role in which he worked on various initiatives, including the Maryland Republican Party's "Drive for Five" campaign during the 2018 Senate election. Although the campaign did not achieve its goal, the party gained one seat in that election cycle.

Hershey did not seek re-election as minority whip in October 2020 and was succeeded by Michael Hough. Following the 2022 Maryland Senate election, in which the Republican Party lost two seats, Hershey was elected as the Senate minority leader in November 2022, succeeding Bryan Simonaire.

In 2014, Hershey ran for a full four-year term in the Senate, facing a primary challenge from former state delegate Richard Sossi, whom he defeated with a majority of the votes. During this campaign, he faced legal challenges from the Hershey Company, which alleged trademark infringement regarding his campaign materials. The company had previously issued cease and desist orders related to his use of its trademarked logo in past campaigns. A court ruled in favor of the Hershey Company, leading to restrictions on the use of the logo in his campaign.

In September 2025, Hershey formed an exploratory committee for a potential gubernatorial campaign in 2026, although he ultimately decided against running and opted to file for re-election in February 2026.

Policy focus and district

Throughout his political career, Hershey has positioned himself as a fiscal and social conservative. His platform emphasizes the importance of preserving constitutional principles, promoting a free enterprise economy, advocating for limited government, and encouraging individual responsibility. His legislative work has primarily focused on economic issues, reflecting his background in project management and real estate.

As a representative of District 36, which encompasses parts of Maryland, Hershey's policy initiatives have been shaped by the needs and concerns of his constituents. His experience in local economic development has informed his approach to legislation, particularly in areas related to business growth and fiscal responsibility. Hershey's leadership roles within the Maryland Senate, including his recent appointment as minority leader, have positioned him to influence the direction of Republican policy in the state.

Hershey's ongoing service in the Maryland General Assembly reflects his commitment to his constituents and the Republican Party's objectives in the state. His legislative career has been marked by a focus on economic matters, and he continues to engage with the challenges facing Maryland's residents and businesses.