Braxton Street announces candidacy for District 40 delegate 

Former elementary teacher is the first to throw hat in the ring for 2026 elections

By Catherine Pugh
Special to the AFRO

Braxton Street entered a room packed with guests on Union Avenue on June 26, and with his mother, Minnye L. King, by his side, announced his candidacy for a House of Delegates seat in the 40th District.

The 36-year-old native of Baltimore is the first resident to announce his intent to be elected to one of three seats that come up for election in June 2026. The seats are currently held by Marlon Amprey, Frank Conaway Jr. and Melissa Wells. 

“I’m running because we need a leader who will show up and fight. Show up and fight for our young people. Show up and fight for our elders…. Show up and fight for our neighborhoods. Show up and fight to make life more affordable for all of us,” Braxton told the crowd.

Professor Larry Gibson, a law professor at the University of Maryland who has been involved in international, national and state elections since the 1960s, addressed the crowd, expressing his support for the candidate.

“I don’t usually get involved in state local elections–you all know that. I most recently helped elect Maryland’s first Black governor, Wes Moore and our first Black U.S. senator, Angela Alsobrooks,” Gibson said. “ However, because I know this young man, who is my brother in three ways – my soul brother, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity brother and the youngest 33-degree Mason I know – I am going to be sure that we are all engaged in this campaign.”  

Street is a doctoral candidate in the Urban Educational Leadership Program at Morgan State University. A former elementary school teacher, he currently manages over $10 million in Blueprint and other grant funds across 15 secondary schools in Baltimore City. He serves in several leadership roles, including as a representative on the Baltimore City Democratic State Central Committee, as first vice president of the Ashburton Area Community Association, an executive board member of Trash Free Maryland and as a member of the NAACP and the Greater Baltimore Urban League.