On January 24, in Annapolis, Dalya Attar (D) was sworn in as senator for the 41st District in the Maryland State Senate. Previously a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, where she was the first frum person to serve, she is now the first frum state senator in Maryland. Senator Attar may also be the highest-ranking Orthodox Jewish woman in politics in American history.
Senator Jill P.
Carter, of the 41st District, resigned on January 3 to take a
position with the Maryland Board of Contract Appeals, which handles state
contracts. Whenever a Democratic vacancy occurs in Maryland’s legislature, the
Democratic Central Committee is responsible for recommending replacements to
the governor. After interviewing Delegate Attar, Delegate Malcolm P. Ruff, and
six other candidates for almost two hours on Zoom, the eight committee members
voted five-to-three to recommend Attar to Governor Wes Moore.
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Dalya Attar was
born in Baltimore in the district she represents. Her parents, of Iranian and
Moroccan background, raised her as a Sefardic Orthodox Jew. She attended Bais
Yaakov School for Girls, and one of her role models is Sarah Schenirer. Later,
she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice from the University
of Baltimore and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Maryland. She has
worked as a paralegal, trial lawyer, and assistant state attorney in Baltimore.
Senator Attar
became interested in criminal justice and politics while still in high school.
So, in 2017, when community leaders encouraged her to run in the primary
election to represent the 41st District in the Maryland House of
Delegates, she accepted the challenge. At that time, she was uncomfortable
seeing her picture on cars but realized it was necessary for recognition by the
diverse constituents in her district. In June 2018, she won the Democratic primary
with a platform of improving schools and the juvenile justice system. Attar was
elected in November and began serving in the House of Delegates on January 9,
2019.
She was a
member of the Ways and Means Committee and the Environment and Transportation
Committee. With a strong interest in education, she supported improving public
schools as well as tuition help for private schools. Recently, she encouraged
access to “Grade A schools” to curb juvenile crime in the state.
Although working
for all her constituents, Attar is obviously sensitive to Orthodox needs. Among
her work as a delegate, she introduced a bill in the 2020 legislative session
to prevent husbands from obtaining a civil divorce unless they gave their wife
a get. And in the 2023 session, she introduced a bill to move Maryland's
2024 primary date April 23, the first day of Pesach, to March 14, so Orthodox
Jews could vote. The bill became part of another legislation and was passed,
then signed, by Governor Wes Moore.
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When Senator
Attar first ran for office as a delegate in the Maryland Assembly, I
interviewed her for the NWCP newsletter. Here is one question and the answer
she shared in 2018:
How as a Democrat will
you represent the frum community?
“It’s not about political party. It’s about
having the boldness to go to Annapolis and stand up against the political
machine that has been in power in the legislature for so long.... I believe
there are specific things that the frum community needs, but our entire
district has great needs. It is important that we understand that, when things
improve for surrounding neighborhoods, that helps us. When crime and drugs
decline below Northern Parkway, that will make our neighborhoods safer. When we
have a stronger public education system in Baltimore, that will lead to a
stronger workforce, which will bring more job opportunities to the area. We all
want affordable housing. We want lower taxes. We want affordable health care. I
hope to represent the values and needs of the frum community but also to
be a voice for the entire district.”
That’s exactly
what former Delegate Attar was and still is in her new role as state senator
– a voice for all the people. She
never turns anyone away, including me, when I asked her questions for this
article just days after her inauguration.
How many years have you been a delegate? And why
did you want to become a state senator for the 41st District instead
of a delegate to the Maryland State Assembly?
“I have been a delegate for seven years, and
during that time I’ve had the privilege of working closely with my constituents
to address the issues that matter most to them. However, after reflecting on
the needs of our district and the state as a whole, I believe the role of a
state senator offers a unique opportunity to have a greater impact. The
increased responsibility and authority of a state senator allow me to influence
more far-reaching policies, which is crucial for driving meaningful,
long-lasting change. My experience as a delegate has equipped me with the
knowledge and relationships to step into this new role and work even harder for
the people of the 41st District.
What are your goals for the district and
particularly for our community?
“My goals are
to continue helping our community and bringing much-needed resources to both
this community and the entire district. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege
of assisting people on a daily basis, and I am committed to continuing that
work. As a senator, I’ll have even greater opportunities to make a larger
impact.... I’ll be in a better position to secure vital funding and work on
initiatives by advocating for policies that can provide more resources, better
services, and stronger support systems for our residents. Ultimately, my goal
is to ensure that every person in our community has the opportunities and
resources each one needs to thrive....
“It is my
absolute honor and privilege to be chosen as senator for District 41. With the
help of Hashem, I will continue to work my hardest to help all our constituents
and to fight in Annapolis for our district.”
Mazal tov,
Senator Attar! May you go from strength to strength.
