Maryland Senate · District 23

Ron Watson

Democratic

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Votes with the Senate President 92% On 988 contested votes where both voted · 98% on all votes Votes with own party 92% Partisan rank: 36 of 47 in the Senate (tied with 2 others) Didn't vote at roll call 3% 142 of 4,815 roll calls · 65 of them excused

Bills passed 23 77 sponsored · 23 became law · Rank 26 of 47 in the Senate (tied with 4 others) Bills that became law 23 of 23 passed · 0 vetoed

Where they sit

Every current senator, placed from most liberal to most conservative by how they voted on contested bills.

How these numbers work →

← Most liberalThe aisleMost conservative →

Votes with DemocratsCrosses party linesVotes with Republicans

Ron Watson's seat is marked. Seats run from most liberal (left) to most conservative (right), by contested floor votes. Color shows how often each member crosses party lines toward the middle on votes that divide the parties: solid blue or red means almost never, and purple means on at least 1 in 5 of those votes. Gray seats are members too new to score. How these numbers work

Maryland Senate65thpercentile

More conservative than 65% of the Maryland Senate.

Most liberalMost conservative

17th most conservative of 47

On the November 3 ballot

Running for Maryland Senate District 23.

Also on the ballot: James A. T. Amah (Republican)

Who's on your Nov. 3 ballot for the Legislature →

The scores

How these numbers work →

Votes with the Senate President

92%

Each tick is a current senator, by party; the dot is Ron Watson.

On 988 contested votes where both voted98% on all 4,654 votes where both voted

Votes with own party

92%

Each tick is a current senator, by party; the dot is Ron Watson.

On 918 party-line votesPartisan rank: 36 of 47 in the Senate (tied with 2 others)35 senators vote with their party more often

Bills

The bills Ron Watson sponsored this term and how far they got. Co-sponsors aren’t counted.

How these numbers work →

Bills: Ron Watson
	Bills
Sponsored	77
Passed both chambers	23
Became law	23
Vetoed by the Governor	0

Rank by bills passed: Rank 26 of 47 in the Senate (tied with 4 others) · 21 of 34 Democrats (tied with 2 others)

A bill's sponsor is its primary sponsor, the first name on it; co-sponsors aren't counted. Bills a committee, a county delegation, or the Speaker or Senate President on the Governor's behalf introduced aren't credited to anyone.

Bills that passed both chambers

Bills that passed both chambers: Ron Watson
Bill	Result	Final action
SB 376 Digital Asset and Blockchain Technology Task Force - Establishment	Became law	April 1, 2026
SB 760 Real Property - Recordation and Land Records - Revisions	Became law	March 31, 2026
SB 168 Study to Evaluate Blockchain-Based Real Property Lease and Title Recordation and Verification	Became law	March 25, 2026
SB 621 Public Safety - State Fire Prevention Code - Trash and Recyclable Materials	Became law	March 24, 2026
SB 758 Common Ownership Communities - Candidate or Proposition Signs - Display Period	Became law	March 22, 2026
SB 82 Criminal Law - Counterfeiting and Possession of Counterfeit Lease of Real Property - Penalty	Became law	March 18, 2026
SB 820 Municipalities - Enforcement of Ordinances and Resolutions	Became law	March 24, 2025
SB 15 Child Support - Driver's License Suspension for Arrearages and Court Orders	Became law passed as HB 681	March 23, 2025
SB 814 Local Government - Development Impact Fees, Surcharges, and Excise Taxes - Reporting	Became law	March 22, 2025
SB 369 Public Libraries - Automated External Defibrillator Program (Raymono A. Russell Act)	Became law	March 20, 2025
SB 46 Real Property - Wrongful Detainer - Time of Hearing and Service of Process	Became law	March 16, 2025
SB 11 Organized Retail Theft Act of 2025	Became law	March 16, 2025
SB 150 Real Property - Recordation and Land Records - Requirements	Became law	March 14, 2025
SB 9 (2024) Prince George's County - Alcoholic Beverages Licenses - Nonprofit Organizations	Became law	March 28, 2024
SB 1091 (2024) Education – Blind and Visually Impaired Students – Textbook Equity	Became law	March 22, 2024
SB 564 (2024) Real Estate Brokers - Licensing - License Renewals and Continuing Education	Became law	March 18, 2024
SB 462 (2024) Licensed Real Estate Brokers - Branch Offices - Designation of Managers	Became law	March 18, 2024
SB 461 (2024) State Real Estate Commission - Complaints - Advertising Violations	Became law	March 18, 2024
SB 418 (2024) Seed Community Development Anchor Institution Fund - Alterations	Became law	March 16, 2024
SB 886 (2023) Higher Education - Edward T. Conroy Memorial Scholarship Program - Surviving Spouses of Service Members	Became law	April 3, 2023
SB 939 (2023) Transit - Grant Funding for Local Service - Alterations	Became law passed as HB 1125	March 27, 2023
SB 411 (2023) Prince George's County - Judges of the Orphans' Court - Compensation	Became law	March 26, 2023
SB 265 (2023) 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion Day	Became law passed as HB 370	March 26, 2023

Budget projects

Maryland's budget bill doesn't say which legislator asked for an item, so there's no budget figure for Maryland legislators.

Contested votes where they split

83 against the Senate President; 81 against most of their party.

Contested votes where they split: Ron Watson
Date	Bill and motion	Their vote	Senate President	Most of their party
April 13, 2026	HB 1222: Prince George's County - State's Attorney Salary - Alteration PG 426-26 Amendment	Nay	Yea (split)	Nay
April 13, 2026	HB 1530: Higher Education - Undocumented Students - Out-of-State Tuition Exemption Eligibility Motion to Make a Special Order	Yea	Nay (split)	Nay (split)
April 10, 2026	HB 1430: Maryland Public Charter School Program - School Facilities - Funding Third Reading	Nay	Yea (split)	Yea (split)
April 10, 2026	HB 1430: Maryland Public Charter School Program - School Facilities - Funding (Amend) Third Reading	Nay	Yea (split)	Yea (split)
April 10, 2026	HB 1017: Correctional Services - Private Immigration Detention Facilities - Zoning Requirement Amendment	Yea	Nay (split)	Nay (split)
April 10, 2026	SB 791: Correctional Services and Public Safety - Immigration Enforcement - Prohibitions (Community Trust Act) Amendment	Yea	Nay (split)	Nay (split)
April 10, 2026	SB 791: Correctional Services and Public Safety - Immigration Enforcement - Prohibitions (Community Trust Act) Amendment	Yea	Nay (split)	Nay (split)
April 10, 2026	SB 791: Correctional Services and Public Safety - Immigration Enforcement - Prohibitions (Community Trust Act) Amendment	Yea	Nay (split)	Nay (split)
April 10, 2026	SB 791: Correctional Services and Public Safety - Immigration Enforcement - Prohibitions (Community Trust Act) Amendment	Yea	Nay (split)	Nay (split)
April 10, 2026	SB 791: Correctional Services and Public Safety - Immigration Enforcement - Prohibitions (Community Trust Act) Amendment	Yea	Nay (split)	Nay (split)
April 9, 2026	HB 351: Constitutional Rights - Violations and Digital Unmasking Amendment	Yea	Nay (split)	Nay (split)
April 9, 2026	HB 994: Business Regulation - Travel Services - Special Fund, Fees, and Surety Requirement (Don't You Worry (Wurie) Act) Third Reading	Nay	Yea (split)	Yea (split)
April 8, 2026	HB 240: Local Comprehensive Plans - Guidance Materials and Notification to the Department of Planning Amendment	Yea	Nay (split)	Nay (split)
April 8, 2026	HB 154: Open Meetings Act - County Boards of Education - Enhanced Requirements (Local Boards of Education Transparency Act) Amendment	Yea	Nay (split)	Nay (split)
April 2, 2026	SB 841: Maryland Energy Administration - Renewable Energy Generation Projects - Alternative Compliance Fee Auctions Amendment	Yea	Nay (split)	Nay (split)
April 2, 2026	SB 841: Maryland Energy Administration - Renewable Energy Generation Projects - Alternative Compliance Fee Auctions Amendment	Yea	Nay (split)	Nay (split)
April 2, 2026	SB 841: Maryland Energy Administration - Renewable Energy Generation Projects - Alternative Compliance Fee Auctions Amendment	Yea	Nay (split)	Nay (split)
March 24, 2026	SB 4: Charitable Organizations - Charitable Donation and Tax-Exempt Status - Revocation (Keeping Charities Nonpartisan Act of 2026) Third Reading (Emergency Bill)	Nay	Yea (split)	Yea (split)
March 23, 2026	SB 202: Police Discipline - Order to Show Cause Third Reading	Nay	Yea (split)	Yea (split)
March 23, 2026	SB 626: Sex Designation on Certificates of Birth, Lcnss, and ID Cards and Birth Info Histories (Birth Certificate Modernization Act) Third Reading	Nay	Yea (split)	Yea (split)
March 23, 2026	SB 626: Certificates of Birth, Licenses, and Identification Cards - Sex Designation (Birth Certificate Modernization Act) Amendment	Nay	Yea (split)	Yea (split)
March 20, 2026	SB 626: Certificates of Birth, Licenses, and Identification Cards - Sex Designation (Birth Certificate Modernization Act) Motion to Postpone	Yea	Nay (split)	Nay (split)
March 20, 2026	SB 165: Environment - On-Site Wastewater Systems - Requirements for Inspection and Pumping Services and Implementation Dates Amendment	Yea	Nay (split)	Nay (split)
March 20, 2026	SB 823: Correctional Services - Maryland Parole Commission - Members Amendment	Yea	Nay (split)	Nay (split)
March 19, 2026	SB 334: Criminal Law - Firearm Crimes - Machine Gun Convertible Pistols Third Reading	Nay	Yea (split)	Yea (split)
March 19, 2026	SB 346: Civil Actions - Violation of Constitutional Rights (No Kings Act) Amendment	Yea	Nay (split)	Nay (split)
March 17, 2026	SB 284: Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act of 2026 Amendment	Yea	Nay (split)	Nay (split)
March 17, 2026	SB 284: Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act of 2026 Amendment	Yea	Nay (split)	Nay (split)
March 5, 2026	SB 100: Election Law - Early Voting Centers - Bus Stops Amendment	Yea	Nay (split)	Nay (split)
March 4, 2026	SB 323: Juvenile Court - Jurisdiction (Youth Charging Reform Act) Amendment	Yea	Nay (split)	Nay (split)
March 4, 2026	SB 323: Juvenile Court - Jurisdiction (Youth Charging Reform Act) Motion to Make a Special Order	Yea	Nay (split)	Nay (split)
March 4, 2026	SB 323: Juvenile Court - Jurisdiction (Youth Charging Reform Act) Amendment	Yea	Nay (split)	Nay (split)
March 4, 2026	SB 323: Juvenile Court - Jurisdiction (Youth Charging Reform Act) Amendment	Yea	Nay (split)	Nay (split)
April 7, 2025	SB 338: Baltimore County - Speed Monitoring Systems - Interstate 695 and Interstate 83 Conference Committee Report	Nay	Yea (split)	Yea (split)
April 3, 2025	HB 853: Postconviction Review - Procedure to Reduce Duration of Sentence (Maryland Second Look Act) Third Reading	Nay	Yea (split)	Yea (split)
April 2, 2025	HB 853: Postconviction Review - Procedure to Reduce Duration of Sentence (Maryland Second Look Act) Amendment	Yea	Nay (split)	Nay (split)
April 2, 2025	HB 853: Postconviction Review - Procedure to Reduce Duration of Sentence (Maryland Second Look Act) Amendment	Yea	Nay (split)	Nay (split)
April 2, 2025	HB 853: Postconviction Review - Procedure to Reduce Duration of Sentence (Maryland Second Look Act) Amendment	Yea	Nay (split)	Nay (split)
April 2, 2025	HB 939: Maryland Commission for Women - Maryland Collaborative to Advance Implementation of Coverage of Over-the-Counter Birth Control Third Reading	Nay	Yea (split)	Yea (split)
April 2, 2025	HB 930: Public Health Abortion Grant Program - Establishment Third Reading	Nay	Yea (split)	Yea (split)
April 2, 2025	HB 930: Public Health Abortion Grant Program - Establishment Amendment	Yea	Nay (split)	Nay (split)
April 1, 2025	SB 931: Public Utilities - Generating Stations - Generation and Siting (Renewable Energy Certainty Act) Amendment	Yea	Nay (split)	Nay (split)
March 31, 2025	HB 352: Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act of 2025 Amendment	Yea	Nay (split)	Nay (split)
March 25, 2025	Nominations: Special Orders Executive Nominations Report No.6 "Will the Senate advise and consent to the Nomination of the Executive of Nominee No.14"? Confirmation	Nay	Yea (split)	Yea (split)
March 17, 2025	SB 977: State and Local Agencies - Enforcement of Federal Immigration Law - Restrictions on Access to Information (Maryland Data Privacy Act) Amendment	Yea	Nay (split)	Nay (split)
March 17, 2025	SB 848: Public Health Abortion Grant Program - Establishment Third Reading	Nay	Yea (split)	Yea (split)
March 14, 2025	SB 848: Public Health Abortion Grant Program - Establishment Amendment	Yea	Nay (split)	Nay (split)
March 14, 2025	Nominations: Executive Nominations Report No.5 "Will the Senate advise and consent to the Nomination of the Executive of Nominee No.19"? Confirmation	Nay	Yea (split)	Yea (split)
March 13, 2025	SB 107: Evidence - Interception of Oral Communications - Fair Housing Testing Third Reading	Nay	Yea (split)	Yea (split)
March 12, 2025	SB 529: Business Occupations and Professions - Professional Engineers - Examination Third Reading	Nay	Yea (split)	Yea (split)
Feb. 26, 2025	SB 258: Natural Resources - Fishing Licenses and Stamps - Alterations Amendment	Yea	Nay (split)	Nay (split)
April 8, 2024	HB 689: Electric Vehicles - Repeal of Excise Tax Credit and Establishment of Rebate Program (Amend) Amendment	Yea	Nay (split)	Nay (split)
April 8, 2024	HB 947: Civil Actions - Public Nuisances - Firearm Industry Members (Gun Industry Accountability Act of 2024) Third Reading	Nay	Yea (split)	Yea (split)
April 5, 2024	HB 4: Institutions of Higher Education - Admissions Standards - Prohibition on Consideration of Legacy Preference or Donor Preference Third Reading	Nay	Yea (split)	Yea (split)
April 4, 2024	HB 814: Juvenile Law - Reform Amendment	Yea	Nay (split)	Nay (split)
April 3, 2024	HB 864: Energy Efficiency and Conservation Plans Third Reading	Nay	Yea (split)	Yea (split)
March 29, 2024	HB 497: Hunting - Nonresident Sika Deer Stamp - Fee Alteration Amendment	Yea	Nay (split)	Nay (split)
March 28, 2024	HB 367: Community Colleges - Contraception - Access Requirements Third Reading	Nay	Yea (split)	Yea (split)
March 18, 2024	SB 123: Criminal Procedure - Petition to Reduce Sentence Amendment	Yea	Nay (split)	Nay (split)
March 18, 2024	SB 123: Criminal Procedure - Petition to Reduce Sentence Amendment	Yea	Nay (split)	Nay (split)
March 18, 2024	SB 1056: Cigarettes, Other Tobacco Products, and Electronic Smoking Devices - Revisions (Tobacco Retail Modernization Act of 2024) Amendment	Yea	Nay (split)	Nay (split)
March 18, 2024	SB 1056: Cigarettes, Other Tobacco Products, and Electronic Smoking Devices - Revisions (Tobacco Retail Modernization Act of 2024) Amendment	Yea	Nay (split)	Nay (split)
March 18, 2024	SB 1056: Cigarettes, Other Tobacco Products, and Electronic Smoking Devices - Revisions (Tobacco Retail Modernization Act of 2024) Amendment	Yea	Nay (split)	Nay (split)
March 18, 2024	SB 784: Comprehensive Community Safety Funding Act Third Reading	Nay	Yea (split)	Yea (split)
March 18, 2024	SB 651: Business Regulation - Sale of Motor Fuel - Pricing Signage (Gas Price Clarity Act) Third Reading	Nay	Yea (split)	Yea (split)
March 18, 2024	SB 57: Evidence - Wiretapping and Electronic Surveillance - Fair Housing Testing Third Reading	Nay	Yea (split)	Yea (split)
March 6, 2024	SB 1: Electricity and Gas - Retail Supply - Regulation and Consumer Protection Amendment	Yea	Nay (split)	Nay (split)
March 5, 2024	SB 119: Legally Protected Health Care - Gender-Affirming Treatment Third Reading	Nay	Yea (split)	Yea (split)
Feb. 28, 2024	SB 119: Legally Protected Health Care - Gender-Affirming Treatment Amendment	Yea	Nay (split)	Nay (split)
April 7, 2023	HB 824: Public Safety - Regulated Firearms - Possession and Permits to Carry, Wear, and Transport a Handgun (Amend) Amendment	Yea	Nay (split)	Nay (split)
April 7, 2023	HB 824: Public Safety - Regulated Firearms - Possession and Permits to Carry, Wear, and Transport a Handgun (Amend) Amendment	Yea	Nay (split)	Nay (split)
April 4, 2023	HB 14: Family Law - Grounds for Divorce Third Reading	Nay	Yea (split)	Yea (split)
March 31, 2023	HB 283: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Gender-Affirming Treatment (Trans Health Equity Act) Third Reading	Nay	Yea (split)	Yea (split)
March 31, 2023	HB 705: Declaration of Rights - Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment	Yea	Nay (split)	Nay (split)
March 20, 2023	SB 221: Government Officials - Public Disclosure of Personal Information Third Reading	Nay	Yea (split)	Yea (split)
March 20, 2023	SB 460: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Gender-Affirming Treatment (Trans Health Equity Act) Third Reading	Nay	Yea (split)	Yea (split)
March 20, 2023	SB 36: Family Law - Grounds for Divorce Third Reading	Nay	Yea (split)	Yea (split)
March 20, 2023	SB 460: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Gender-Affirming Treatment (Trans Health Equity Act) Amendment	Yea	Nay (split)	Nay (split)
March 17, 2023	SB 611: Office of the Attorney General - Environmental and Natural Resources Crimes Unit - Establishment Third Reading	Nay	Yea (split)	Yea (split)
March 16, 2023	SB 748: Vehicle Laws - Military Vehicles - Registration and Operation Amendment	Yea	Nay (split)	—
March 10, 2023	SB 798: Declaration of Rights - Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment	Yea	Nay (split)	Nay (split)
March 9, 2023	SB 1: Criminal Law - Wearing, Carrying, or Transporting Firearms - Restrictions (Gun Safety Act of 2023) Amendment	Yea	Nay (split)	Nay (split)
March 9, 2023	SB 290: Office of the Attorney General - Independent Investigations Division - Authority to Prosecute Third Reading	Nay	Yea (split)	Yea (split)

Every roll call

How Ron Watson voted on each of the 4,815 floor roll calls while in office, newest first.

Every roll call: Ron Watson
Date	Vote	Their vote	Most of their party	Senate President	Yeas–nays
Loading…

Contested and party-line votes link to their own pages; the rest link to the official record.

Contact, committees and caucuses

Contact

Official page: mgaleg.maryland.gov
Email: ron.watson@senate.maryland.gov
Capitol office: Room 121, James Senate Office Building 11 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
410-841-3631

Committees

Committee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology and Biotechnology
Committee on Ending Homelessness
Education, Energy and the Environment
Spending Affordability

Contact details and committee assignments from Open States' data on the Maryland General Assembly, which it collects from the chambers' websites, as of Oct. 15, 2026.

Source: the Maryland General Assembly's floor vote records, Jan. 11, 2023 to Aug. 4, 2026. How these numbers work · Corrections