Jefferson L. Ghrist

Ghrist was born on March 14, 1975. He graduated from North Caroline High School and later attended Chesapeake College and Salisbury University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics in 1997. After graduating, Ghrist worked as an assistant store manager at Home Depot and as a real estate agent. and again in 2014. Ghrist briefly ran for Congress in Maryland's 1st congressional district in 2010, challenging incumbent Democratic U.S. Representative Frank Kratovil, but dropped out in December 2009 and endorsed state senator Andy Harris. ==In the legislature==

On October 29, 2013, Ghrist filed paperwork to run for election to one of the three District 36 seats in the House of Delegates. In the primary, he edged out incumbent delegate Michael D. Smigiel Sr. with 17 percent of the vote and by a margin of 144 votes, and went on to win the general election with 24.1 percent of the vote. Ghrist has served as a member of the Appropriations Committee during his entire tenure. He also served as a deputy minority whip from 2019 to 2021, and as the minority parliamentarian since 2022. ==Political positions==

Ghrist is a fiscal conservative who supports limited government and increasing state funding to local jurisdictions saying that its costs will be a "disaster" for school systems and students and predicting that counties would have to raise taxes to pay for it. During the 2023 legislative session, he introduced the Right to Learn Act, which would allow students attending failing schools to change schools and expand the state's private school voucher program. Environment Ghrist supports "pragmatic, scientifically-supported" environmental laws, but opposes environmental legislation passed by the Maryland General Assembly. During the 2022 legislative session, Ghrist opposed a bill that would move pesticide regulation from the Maryland Department of Agriculture to the Maryland Department of the Environment. Gun policy During the 2021 legislative session, Ghrist opposed a bill that would require background checks on all gun sales, which he said would "destroy the rural way of life". Marijuana In 2018, Ghrist said that he opposed the legalization of recreational marijuana, calling marijuana a "gateway drug". In 2023, Ghrist said he voted for Question 4 to legalize recreational marijuana. Social issues During the 2023 legislative session, Ghrist introduced legislation that would prohibit foreign governments from buying agricultural land in Maryland. Transportation Ghrist supports reducing state funding for rural public transportation. ==Personal life==

Ghrist is married to his wife, Michele, whom he met in high school and married soon after graduating college. Together, they have two children and live in Ridgely, Maryland. ==Electoral history==