Sen. Ralph Hughes, a West Baltimore Democrat, announced last night he was retiring from the legislature after 16 years as a senator and eight years as a delegate.
“That?s a long time,” Hughes said, “and there are other things I?d like to do,” such as write a book or two.
A graduate of Morgan State University and Howard University law school, Hughes teaches criminal justice and state and local government at Coppin State University.
As a senator, Hughes has been a strong opponent of the death penalty and has sought to stop executions in Maryland, believing they are unfair and racially biased.
Hughes said Tuesday afternoon that he planned to make the announcement that night at a community awards ceremony he was hosting, and that only his wife knew of his decision.
Hughes had won easy re-election for a number of terms, facing either no opponents or defeating anyone who ran against him by wide margins.
He said his health was fine ? he runs five miles on most days ? but that the time is right for him to leave.
His announcement six weeks before the election filing deadline is likely to cause a scramble of candidates for an open Senate seat in his heavily Democratic and black 40th district in West Baltimore. “I think it will,” Hughes agreed.
