Chris Tomlinson (politician)

Chris Tomlinson (born August 29, 1986)[1] is an American politician who is a member of the Maryland House of Delegates for District 5 in Carroll County, Maryland. He previously served as the third vice chairman of the Maryland Republican Party from 2020 to 2022.[2][3]

Chris Tomlinson
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
from the 5th district
Assumed office
January 11, 2023
Preceded byHaven Shoemaker
Personal details
Born (1986-08-29) August 29, 1986 (age 38)
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
ResidenceMelrose, Maryland
OccupationTowson University (BSS)
WebsiteCampaign website

Background

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Tomlinson graduated from North Carroll High School in 2004, and later attended Towson University, where he earned a Bachelor of Social Science degree in electronic media and film in 2009.[1]

Tomlinson first got involved in politics in 2015 when he unsuccessfully ran for the mayor of Manchester, Maryland. His candidacy was challenged by the town's Board of Supervisors of Elections, who denied his certification after arguing that he did not live in the town when he filed to run for mayor. Tomlinson challenged the board's decision, claiming that he had lived in the town since April 2014.[4] The board reversed its decision a few days later, allowing Tomlinson to run for mayor.[5] Tomlinson was defeated in the mayoral election by incumbent mayor Ryan Warner, receiving 27.3 percent of the vote.[6]

In 2017, Tomlinson began working in the Maryland Transit Administration, eventually becoming a manager in the agency's Office of State Procurement.[7] In November 2017, Tomlinson was appointed to the Carroll County Republican Central Committee.[8]

In 2022, Tomlinson filed to run for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 5.[9] During the primary, he ran on a ticket with state Senator Justin Ready and state Delegate April Rose.[10] Tomlinson won the Republican primary election on July 19, 2022, coming in second place behind Rose.[11] He ran unopposed in the general election.[7]

In the legislature

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Tomlinson was sworn in on January 11, 2023.[12] He is a member of the House Judiciary Committee.[13] Had Trump won Maryland in the 2024 presidential election, Tomlinson would have been an elector pledged to Trump.[14]

Political positions

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Tomlinson supported President Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election, attending a Trump rally in Hershey, Pennsylvania in December 2019.[15]

During his 2022 House of Delegates campaign, Tomlinson said he planned to introduce legislation in the 2023 legislative session that would improve human resources practices in state government by requiring the fiscal notes of bills to include the number of new employees needed to accomplish the legislation's goals. He also said he supported legislation to limit the powers of the Maryland State Board of Education.[7]

In August 2024, Tomlinson endorsed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, a federal bill that would require voters to show proof of citizenship when registering to vote.[16]

Electoral history

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2015 Manchester mayoral election[6]
Candidate Votes %
Ryan Warner (incumbent) 249 50.7
Chris Tomlinson 134 27.3
Tammy Black 108 22.0
Carroll County Republican Central Committee Election, 2018[17]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Karen Leatherwood 6,306 8.2
Republican Seth Shipley 5,985 7.7
Republican David L. Brauning, Jr. 5,970 7.7
Republican Justin Mudgett 5,051 6.5
Republican Richard Rothschild 4,940 6.4
Republican Christopher Tomlinson 4,642 6.0
Republican Lawrence W. Helminiak 4,540 5.9
Republican Katherine Adelaide 4,450 5.8
Republican Cathey Allison 4,146 5.4
Republican E. Scott Hollenbeck 3,907 5.1
Republican Fallon E. Patton 3,783 4.9
Republican Christopher R. Weaver 3,715 4.8
Republican Brandon Matthew Holland 3,691 4.8
Republican Ryan Finch 3,688 4.8
Republican William Harrison 3,424 4.4
Republican Thom Meads 3,357 4.3
Republican Frank Elgersma 2,342 3.0
Republican Robert A. Kurland 1,844 2.4
Republican Douglas L. Johnston 1,494 1.9
Maryland House of Delegates District 5 Republican Primary Election, 2022[18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican April Rose (incumbent) 8,636 22.6
Republican Chris Tomlinson 6,847 17.9
Republican Christopher Eric Bouchat 4,620 12.1
Republican Sallie B. Taylor 4,470 11.7
Republican Stephen A. Wantz 4,373 11.4
Republican Dennis E. Frazier 3,563 9.3
Republican Scott Willens 3,765 9.8
Republican Scott Jendrek 1,993 5.2
Maryland House of Delegates District 5 election, 2022[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican April Rose (incumbent) 33,971 33.11
Republican Christopher Bouchat 33,286 32.44
Republican Chris Tomlinson 32,485 31.66
Write-in 2,872 2.80

References

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  1. ^ a b "Members – Delegate Chris Tomlinson". mgaleg.maryland.gov. Maryland General Assembly. January 11, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  2. ^ "Maryland Republican Party - State Central Committee". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. Archived from the original on July 1, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  3. ^ Kurtz, Josh (December 13, 2020). "Md. GOP Chairman Is Reelected at Weekend State Convention". Maryland Matters. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  4. ^ Hayes, Wiley (April 13, 2015). "Manchester candidate challenges denial of nomination". Carroll County Times. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  5. ^ Hayes, Wiley (April 17, 2015). "Manchester elections board reverses Tomlinson decision". Carroll County Times. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  6. ^ a b Kelvey, Jon (May 19, 2015). "Manchester Mayor Warner wins re-election amid strong voter turnout". Carroll County Times. Archived from the original on April 5, 2024. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  7. ^ a b c Roberts, Angela (September 13, 2022). "Tomlinson promises to be pragmatic lawmaker in House of Delegates". The Frederick News-Post. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  8. ^ Chappell, Emily (November 19, 2017). "Tomlinson appointment to Republican Central Committee creates internal conflict". Carroll County Times. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  9. ^ Bateman, Madison (February 2, 2022). "Carroll County Del. Susan Krebs decides not to seek reelection in 2022". Carroll County Times. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  10. ^ Kurtz, Josh (June 1, 2022). "Top 20 House Primaries to Watch". Maryland Matters. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  11. ^ Greenfield, Sherry (August 24, 2022). "Carroll County will have several new representatives in the State House next session". Carroll County Times. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  12. ^ "Christopher L. Tomlinson, Maryland State Delegate". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. January 19, 2023. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  13. ^ Gaines, Danielle E. (January 5, 2023). "Jones announces new Democratic caucus, committee leaders for 2023 General Assembly session". Maryland Matters. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  14. ^ "Presidential Electors for the 2024 General Election" (PDF). elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  15. ^ Blubaugh, Bob (December 11, 2019). "At Trump rally in Pennsylvania, Carroll County Republicans get seat upgrades, camera time". Carroll County Times. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  16. ^ Greenfield, Sherry (August 28, 2024). "Carroll lawmakers push to pass law requiring proof of citizenship when registering to vote". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  17. ^ "Official 2018 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for Carroll County". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. July 31, 2018.
  18. ^ "Official 2022 Gubernatorial Primary Election Results for House of Delegates". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. August 24, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  19. ^ "Official 2022 Gubernatorial General Election Results for House of Delegates". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. December 7, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
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