Joshua Heard for District 12A

My father was a pastor, and my mother was a teacher, so I grew up knowing that faith, service, and education were not just values, but responsibilities. As one of six children raised in Atlanta, Georgia, I learned early on the importance of community, compassion, and looking out for one another.

Those lessons shaped everything I’ve done since. I carried them with me to Howard University, where I earned my degree in Political Science and deepened my commitment to public service and leadership. Afterward, I went on to earn my law degree from Hofstra University and passed the New York Bar in 2020.

My legal career has taken me across both the public and private sectors — from serving as a Public Defender, standing beside people who had no one else to fight for them, to working in county government to promote fairness, accountability, and equal opportunity. Through it all, I’ve seen how policy decisions affect real people, How policy affects families working hard to make ends meet, students trying to get ahead, and neighbors who just want to be heard.

Now, I’m running for the Maryland House of Delegates to continue that fight for opportunity, fairness, and a government that listens and delivers for everyone. I believe progress starts with people and it begins when we lead with empathy, act with integrity, and never forget who we serve.