About Keith

Keith earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science with a Concentration in Law and Political Philosophy from the North Carolina State University; graduated cum laude from the North Carolina Central University with a Master’s Degree in Public Administration (focus in public budgeting and finance); and was conferred his Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Baltimore School of Law. Keith entered the political arena early in his career first by working as Assistant Ombudsmen in the Office of a former Governor in N.C.  He began his legal career in Maryland as a legal intern to former Baltimore County Circuit Court Judge and Former Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith.  After completing his judicial clerkship, Keith was hired by Baltimore Orioles owner, Peter G. Angelos, as a trial  attorney with the national law firm - Law Offices of Peter G. Angelos, P.C. where he continues to practice today.    Keith is licensed to practice law in Maryland, District of Columbia, The United Stated District Court, The United States Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit  and the United States Supreme Court. He is a member of the American Bar Association, National Bar Association, Maryland Bar Association, District of Columbia Bar Association, Bar Association of Baltimore, Monumental Bar Association and the Maryland association for Justice and was recently named as one of the Nations top 100 Lawyer's in  2019. 

As a trial attorney in the firms’  DC jurisdiction, Keith  successfully argued before the District of Columbia Court of Appeals and the United States Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit successfully winning and establishing precedent setting decisions (reported) in the areas of worker’s compensation and asbestos litigation, respectively.   

Keith continues  to use the same  level of advocacy representing his  Legislative District in the Maryland General Assembly.     He was first elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 2002 and is currently serving in his fifth (5th) term. He serves on the House Appropriations Committee  and is one of the legislature’s fiscal leaders  as Chair of the Appropriations Public Safety and Administration Subcommittee  which has purview over most of  state's agencies and department's budget, Also, he currently serves on the Capital Budget Subcommittee which oversees  all of the state’s capital and funding projects and capital initiatives.  In addition to serving as one of the Fiscal Leaders in the House, Delegate Haynes also serves in the overall Leadership of the House of Delegates as Deputy Majority Leader and  in the additional capacity as Deputy Majority Whip.

A tireless advocate for his District, to date, Delegate Haynes has brought back over $750 million in capital resources for his district and awarded over $700 thousand in academic scholarships to his constituents to assist in furthering their education.  Delegate Haynes has sponsored hundreds of bills, however, the key legislation of more significant note include the successful passage of the (1) Automatic Expungement of Arrest Records Act of 2005 which immediately expunged the records of nearly 700,000 people  caught in the mass incarceration practices;  (2) The Hunger Free Schools Act of 2015 which provides now provides “free” meals to all Maryland students enrolled in a public school; (3) Introducing the legislation which secured over $1.1 Billion in state funding to build and rebuild new schools in Baltimore City; (4)  Creating ten (10) fully paid  four (4) year scholarships, including room and board for Maryland residents  and one (1) full  scholarship in the School of Social Work for Maryland residents; (5) Establishment of a new program to provide dental care to Medicaid eligible students under the age of 21 and; (5) Allowing felons to receive food assistance benefits in order to help combat recidivism.

As a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Keith  has never forgotten his cherished fraternity and has worked to appropriately to commerate certain national figures who were members of his fraternity.  Keith sheperded  through the legislation which provided Maryland to give $500 thousand to the establishment of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C. (the only state in the union to do so);  He successfully sponsored the legislation establishing Thurgood Marshall Day in Maryland in recognition of Baltimore native, Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall who grew up in the legislative district he currently represents. 

Keith serves on numerous boards and foundations and is committed to mentoring and providing opportunities others especially our young people. He is especially proud to have served two terms on the board  Elijah Cummings Youth Program. He has received several  awards in recognition of his commitment to public service  and in helping those who may not be in a position to help themselves. However, perhaps the  award which has touched him  most occurred recently when he received the Key to City  of Kingstown – an all African-American town which he was instrumental in establishing   in rural North Carolina named after The  Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

As Baltimore's Delegate, Keith has worked to find real solutions to the issues confronting constituents of District 44A. He sponsored legislation and led the fight to strengthen and build new schools in Baltimore City, lower health care costs and protect our seniors while focusing on creating jobs and better educational opportunities.   Keith is currently the longest serving member  on the House Appropriations  Committee where he serves as Chair of the Public Safety and Administration  Sub-Committee and the Capital Budget Sub-Committee.  Keith also currently serves as the Deputy Majority Leader of the House, Deputy Majority  Whip and Vice Chair of the Baltimore City Delegation.