Darryl C. Odom Sr. sworn into Maryland House of Delegates at State House ceremony

Darryl C. Odom Sr. was sworn in as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates during a ceremonial proceeding at the State House in which the presiding Speaker administered the oath of office and presented a certificate sent by the governor and Secretary of State Susan Lee.

The new delegate repeated the oath, pledging, “That I will support the constitution of The United States” and later vowed to “execute the office of delegate ... diligently and faithfully,” language the presiding Speaker led and the new member echoed at the lectern.

Why it matters: A sworn-in delegate formally joins the 141-member Maryland General Assembly and gains the authority to introduce and vote on legislation that affects statewide policy. In brief remarks after the oath, Odom framed his priorities around education and public safety and invoked his personal background as a veteran and as someone raised by his grandparents.

Details and context: The presiding Speaker opened the event by welcoming members and guests and recognized the chair of the Prince George’s County delegation, Doug Williams, and Delegate Ayesha Brayboy among attendees. The Speaker also acknowledged staff from the Speaker’s Office, the clerk’s office, and the Department of Legislative Services, including an individual introduced as Rafael.

After the oath, the Speaker noted that a certificate from the governor and Secretary of State Susan Lee had been sent for Odom and placed a “Member of the Maryland General Assembly” pin on him. The Speaker described the pin as an identifying mark for members and congratulated Odom before inviting photographs with family and colleagues.

Odom used his short address to thank supporters and family, recounted childhood experiences that shaped him—saying he “never went to kindergarten” and that his grandparents raised him—and said he will bring his background as “a veteran and former public safety official” to his work in the legislature. “I wish to share my expertise and make our state one that all the others would relish as a model,” he said.

What happened next: The ceremony concluded with the Speaker inviting Odom, his wife and other attendees to take pictures on the floor; no votes or legislative actions were taken during the event.

Sources: Proceedings as recorded in the ceremony transcript; remarks and the oath were spoken on the chamber floor and attributed to the presiding Speaker and Darryl C. Odom Sr.