Jessica Haire Poised to Challenge Shaneka Henson in District 30 Senate Race, Sources Say
By Maryland Wire Staff | November 5, 2025
🚨 Anne Arundel Shake-Up: Haire Eyes Senate Bid
Multiple Anne Arundel County sources tell Maryland Wire that Jessica Haire, the civil engineer-turned-attorney who ran for County Executive in 2022, is preparing to launch a campaign for State Senate in District 30, setting up a high-profile challenge to Senator Shaneka Henson, the Democratic incumbent appointed earlier this year.
While Haire has not yet made a public announcement, insiders say the decision is imminent and that she’s already assembling a campaign team. Her entry would instantly reshape the district’s political landscape, pitting two sharply contrasting profiles against each other in a swing seat that has seen competitive races in recent cycles.
🛠️ Engineer, Attorney, and Alleged Seven-Figure Litigator
Haire’s credentials are formidable. She graduated first in her class in civil engineering at George Washington University and worked as a project engineer before earning her law degree and master’s from American University. Her legal career has focused on government contracts and construction litigation, with a client portfolio that spans federal agencies, military installations, and public-private partnerships.
She currently serves as a partner at Burr & Forman LLP, where she litigates high-stakes cases involving federal construction claims, debarment proceedings, and contract disputes. While her exact income is not public, some political observers speculate she earns seven figures, citing her national litigation footprint and advisory board roles. If true, her decision to run would represent a significant financial sacrifice, underscoring her long-standing passion for public service and Republican legal advocacy.
🏛️ Henson’s Path: From City Hall to Senate, With Ethics Clouds
Shaneka Henson, a former Annapolis alderwoman and House delegate, was appointed to the State Senate in January 2025 after Senator Sarah Elfreth won a seat in Congress. Henson, a graduate of Coppin State and the University of Baltimore School of Law, has built her career around maternal health, renter protections, and childcare access, often emphasizing her personal journey from public housing to elected office.
But her rise has not been without controversy. In April 2024, the Joint Committee on Legislative Ethics publicly admonished Henson for conflict of interest violations tied to her involvement with Kingdom Kare, a nonprofit seeking state bond money. The panel found she had misused her official title and withheld key relationships from colleagues, recommending she apologize to the Speaker and other legislators.
Henson disputed aspects of the report, but the ethics committee voted unanimously to waive confidentiality, citing an “ongoing practice” of concealment. She was removed from the House Appropriations Committee and reassigned amid the fallout.
🔍 What’s Next?
If Haire enters the race, District 30 voters will face a stark choice: a high-powered litigator with deep Republican ties and engineering roots versus a Democratic incumbent navigating ethics scrutiny and a progressive policy agenda. The matchup promises to be one of the most closely watched legislative contests in Maryland’s 2026 cycle.
📎 Footnotes
1. Jessica Haire profile at Burr & Forman LLP —
2. Jessica Haire biography at Republican National Lawyers Association —
3.c Jessica Haire profile at BITArchitets —
4. Maryland Matters: Ethics panel admonishes Henson for conflict of interest, misuse of official title —
5. Shaneka Henson biography on Wikipedia
