Joe Vogel (politician)

Joseph Vogel (born January 4, 1997)[1] is an American politician who is a member of the Maryland House of Delegates in District 17.[2] He is the first Uruguayan-American elected to a state legislature in the United States.

Joe Vogel
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
from the 17th district
Assumed office
January 11, 2023
Preceded byJames W. Gilchrist
Personal details
Born
Joseph Vogel

(1997-01-04) January 4, 1997
Montevideo, Uruguay
CitizenshipUruguay
United States (2016–present)
Political partyDemocratic
EducationGeorge Washington University (BA)
Harvard University (MPP)
WebsiteCampaign website

Vogel is currently a candidate for the United States House of Representatives in Maryland's 6th congressional district in the 2024 election to succeed David Trone.

Early life

Vogel's family immigrated from Uruguay when he was three years old.[3][4] Vogel's father's job as a diplomat for the International Monetary Fund brought his family to the United States. David Vogel, his father, has worked for the IMF since the early 2000s.[5] He became a citizen in November 2016.[6] He graduated from Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School and attended George Washington University, where he earned his bachelor's degree.[4]

Vogel developed an interest in politics while in school, where he had been active in student government.[6] He volunteered on Barack Obama's 2012 campaign when he was 15 years old, and later worked on the 2014 campaign of then-state senate candidate Cheryl Kagan.[7] Vogel worked as an intern for then-House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi from 2015 to 2016,[2] and subsequently took a year off college at George Washington University to work for the presidential campaign of Hillary Clinton.[6] In 2017, he worked as an outreach intern for then-Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.[2] In 2018, Vogel began working for New Jersey Senator Cory Booker and later worked on his 2020 presidential campaign.[3] After Booker suspended his campaign, he worked on the presidential campaign of former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg.[8]

During his time at GWU, Vogel was a member of the student senate, but was impeached and removed from the senate in January 2018 for missing four consecutive meetings due to his involvement with then-Virginia lieutenant governor Ralph Northam's gubernatorial campaign.[9] From 2020 to 2022, Vogel attended Harvard University, where he received a master's in public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School.[4]

Vogel previously worked as a policy fellow at Montgomery County's Interfaith Works and started his own non-profit during the COVID-19 pandemic to help students of essential workers as they transitioned to remote learning.[7]

Political career

In September 2021, Vogel announced his candidacy for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 17,[10] challenging state delegate James W. Gilchrist, who later announced his retirement.[3] During the primary, Vogel strategized with Connecticut state senator Will Haskell and hosted campaign events featuring Cory Booker.[6] He also received endorsements from state senator Cheryl Kagan,[6] the Maryland Sierra Club,[11] CASA in Action,[12] and various local labor unions including SEIU and AFSCME.[13] Vogel's campaign also did not accept contributions from corporate PACs or corporate lobbyists.[14] He won the Democratic primary on July 19, 2022, with 27.9 percent of the vote,[15] and defeated Republicans Helen Meister and Donald Patti in the general election with 27.5 percent of the vote.[16][14] After winning the Democratic primary, Vogel dedicated his time to engaging volunteers and canvassing for other Democratic candidates including U.S. Representative David Trone.[17]

Maryland House of Delegates

Vogel was sworn into the Maryland House of Delegates on January 11, 2023.[2] He is the youngest member of the legislature[6] and, alongside Jeffrie Long Jr., the first Gen-Z member of the Maryland General Assembly.[4] He is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.[18]

2024 congressional campaign
Main article: 2024 United States House of Representatives elections in Maryland § District 6

In May 2023, after U.S. Representative David Trone announced that he would run for U.S. Senate in 2024, Vogel filed to run for Congress in Maryland's 6th congressional district.[19] He announced his candidacy on May 8, 2023.[20]

Political positions

During his House of Delegates campaign, Vogel ran on a platform that included climate, mental health, and economic issues.[4][6] He has described himself as a "pragmatic progressive" and cited Cory Booker as his political role model.[20]

Education

Vogel supports making public colleges tuition-free, as well as codifying President Joe Biden's cancellation of up to $20,000 in student loan debt into law.[20] During the 2023 legislative session, Vogel introduced a bill to forgive up to $30,000 in student debt for mental health professionals employed at Maryland public schools.[21]

Gun policy

During his House of Delegates campaign, Vogel said he supported legislation to hold gunmakers liable for school shootings. He also supports banning ghost guns, increasing funding for violence prevention programs, and requiring gun owners to have liability insurance.[22]

Health care

Vogel supports Medicare for All.[20]

During the 2023 legislative session, Vogel introduced the Josh Siems Act, which would require emergency rooms to include fentanyl testing in toxicology screens. The bill was named for Baltimore native Josh Siems, who had died from a fentanyl overdose on his 31st birthday in 2022.[23] The bill unanimously passed the Maryland General Assembly[24][25] and was signed into law by Governor Wes Moore on May 3, 2023.[26]

Israel

Vogel describes himself as an "outspoken supporter of Israel".[9] He supports a two-state solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict,[27] and does not support conditioning U.S. foreign aid on Israeli actions.[20]

While a member of the GWU Student Association Senate, Vogel opposed a student government resolution encouraging the university to divest from companies accused of violating Palestinian human rights.[28] The senate voted to reject the resolution by a vote of 14–15, with one abstention, in May 2017.[29] After Vogel was impeached from the student senate in January 2018, he accused three of its members of being "closely aligned with the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement" and of launching an effort to kick him out of the senate following his efforts against the pro-Palestinian divestment resolution.[30] In March 2018, after one of the three senators, Brady Forrest, was accused of antisemitism after old Facebook posts resurfaced showing Forrest calling for a boycott of a campus event sponsored by Jewish student groups that he claimed supported the 2014 Gaza War, Vogel drafted a letter signed by nearly 70 student leaders calling for Forrest's resignation.[31] He spoke out against members of the Student Association Senate for failing to censure Forrest in April 2018.[32]

In May 2023, Vogel said he supported the protests against proposed judicial reforms in Israel.[27]

Social issues

During the 2023 legislative session, Vogel introduced a bill to establish a commission on hate crime response and prevention following an uptick in hateful acts in Montgomery County,[21] which was signed into law by Governor Moore in May 2023.[33] He also introduced the Event-Goer Rights and Accountable Sales (ERAS) Act, requiring ticket issuers to enforce a ticket refund policy and ban restrictions on ticket resales and transfers.[21]

Taxes

During the 2023 legislative session, Vogel introduced a bill to provide tax credits to Maryland-based news media outlets with fewer than 50 employees for advertising costs.[21]

Electoral history
Maryland House of Delegates District 17 Democratic primary election, 2022[34]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Julie Palakovich Carr 11,058 31.7
Democratic Kumar P. Barve 10,324 29.6
Democratic Joe Vogel 9,745 27.9
Democratic Joe De Maria 3,770 10.8
Maryland House of Delegates District 17 election, 2022[35]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Julie Palakovich Carr 28,463 28.6
Democratic Kumar P. Barve 27,995 28.1
Democratic Joe Vogel 27,414 27.5
Republican Helene F. Meister 7,835 7.9
Republican Donald "DP" Patti 7,560 7.6
Write-in 324 0.3

Personal life

Vogel is openly gay. He is Jewish, and lives in Gaithersburg, Maryland.[6][36] He is trilingual, speaking English, Spanish, and Hebrew.[37]

References
  1. "2022 Primary Election Voters Guide: General Assembly District 17". Bethesda Magazine. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  2. "Joseph Vogel, Maryland State Delegate". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. January 30, 2023. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
  3. DePuyt, Bruce (September 3, 2021). "Facing Primary Challenge Orchestrated by Senator, Gilchrist Opts Out of 2022 Race". Maryland Matters. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  4. Blackwell, Penelope (November 12, 2022). "Q&A: Joe Vogel, one of the first members of Gen Z elected to the state legislature". Baltimore Banner. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  5. Nicoletti, Marisol (25 September 2020). "Uruguay y los Organismos Financieros Internacionales en Washington DC". PUNTA DEL ESTE INTERNACIONAL (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  6. Tan, Rebecca (April 21, 2022). "Hungry for change, Gen Z tries something new: Running for local office". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  7. Bohnel, Steve (September 16, 2021). "With four-term delegate not seeking re-election, activist poised to run". Bethesda Magazine. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  8. "Junior Board of Directors". jewishunity.net. Jewish Unity. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
  9. Schere, Daniel (April 4, 2018). "Candidate sparks ire among GW students". Washington Jewish Week. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  10. Herron, Patrick (September 20, 2021). "Joe Vogel Declares Candidacy for Delegate in District 17". MoCo Show. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  11. DePuyt, Bruce; Gaines, Danielle; Kurtz, Josh (April 29, 2022). "Political Notes: Hoyer Endorses Wes Moore for Governor, Plus Legislative Candidates Backed by CASA in Action, Sierra Club". Maryland Matters. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  12. Kurtz, Josh; Leckrone, Bennett (February 5, 2022). "Political Notes: Eckardt Girds for Primary, Krebs Retiring, Peroutka Runs for AG, and More". Maryland Matters. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  13. Peck, Louis (June 21, 2022). "Here are the 2022 candidate endorsements for the Maryland General Assembly". Bethesda Magazine. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  14. Chery, Samantha (November 11, 2022). "Gen Z announces itself in midterms with Democratic boost, historic wins". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
  15. Zhu, Christine (August 8, 2022). "Here's where candidates stand after final tally of primary election results". Bethesda Magazine. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  16. Pollak, Suzanne (August 15, 2022). "Blair Will Ask for Recount Tuesday in Race for County Executive". MyMCMedia. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  17. Zhu, Christine (November 28, 2022). "Vogel, Long first Gen Zers elected to Maryland General Assembly". Maryland Matters. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  18. Gaines, Danielle E. (January 5, 2023). "Jones announces new Democratic caucus, committee leaders for 2023 General Assembly session". Maryland Matters. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  19. Bixby, Ginny (May 4, 2023). "Del. Joe Vogel files to run for Rep. David Trone's seat". MoCo360. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
  20. Marans, Daniel (May 8, 2023). "Joe Vogel Is Running To Be The Second Gen Z Member Of Congress". HuffPost. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  21. Bixby, Ginny; Espey, Em (February 16, 2023). "Gen Z delegate Joe Vogel hits the ground running with 10 new bills". MoCo360. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  22. Brownlee, Chip (November 9, 2022). "Young, History-Making Candidates Ran on Gun Violence Prevention — and Won". The Trace. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  23. Wood, Pamela (February 22, 2023). "From loss to legislation: Overdose death prompts push for more fentanyl testing". Baltimore Banner. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  24. Morgan, Jeff (March 20, 2023). "Maryland General Assembly busy as crossover deadline looms". WMAR-TV. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  25. "Legislation - HB0811". Maryland General Assembly. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  26. Wintrode, Brenda; Wood, Pamela (May 3, 2023). "Gov. Moore signs cannabis, reproductive rights and trans healthcare bills into law". Baltimore Banner. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  27. Kornbluh, Jacob (May 10, 2023). "This Gen Z, gay, Latino Jew leans into his identities and launches a bid for Congress". The Forward. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  28. Roach, Sarah; Roaten, Meredith (April 16, 2018). "Pro-Palestinian divestment resolution lands in SA Senate for second consecutive year". The GW Hatchet. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  29. Harris, Cayla; Mercuri, Monica (May 2, 2017). "SA Senate rejects pro-Palestinian divestment resolution that stirred campus-wide debate". The GW Hatchet. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  30. Harris, Cayla (January 23, 2018). "SA Senate kicks out senator for missing committee meetings". The GW Hatchet. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  31. Harris, Cayla (March 28, 2018). "Nearly 70 student leaders call for SA senator accused of anti-Semitism to resign". The GW Hatchet. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  32. Roach, Sarah (April 24, 2018). "Student leaders denounce SA Senate's failure to censure senator accused of anti-Semitism". The GW Hatchet. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  33. Ford, William J. (May 16, 2023). "Moore signs gun bills, measures that bolster responsibilities of the Attorney General's office". Maryland Matters. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  34. "Official 2022 Gubernatorial Primary Election Results for House of Delegates". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. August 24, 2022. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  35. "Official 2022 Gubernatorial General Election Results for House of Delegates". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. December 7, 2022. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  36. Longo, Adam (May 3, 2023). "FIRST ON WUSA9: Maryland State Delegate teases possible run for Congress". WUSA-TV. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  37. Nash, Ashley (July 8, 2022). "Gen Z is old enough to run for office". Deseret News. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
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