Aisha Nazapa Braveboy (born July 29, 1974) is an American politician and attorney who has served as the state's attorney of Prince George's County, Maryland since 2018. She was previously a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, representing the 25th district from 2007 to 2015.
Background
Braveboy was born in Washington, D.C., to father Cuthbert and mother Norma Braveboy, who migrated to the United States from Saint Patrick Parish, Grenada. She graduated from Largo High School and later attended the University of Maryland, College Park, where she earned a bachelor of art degree in government and politics in 1997. Afterwards, Braveboy earned her Juris Doctor degree from the Howard University School of Law in 2000.
After graduating, Braveboy became an associate with Bowie, Maryland law firm Gabriel J. Christian & Associates. From 2000 to 2002, she worked as an attorney for the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission.
Political career
Braveboy first got involved in politics in 2002, when she worked on the county executive campaign of Jack B. Johnson. From 2003 to 2005, she worked as an advisor to Prince George's County officials. Afterwards, Braveboy worked in the Office of Central Services, where she managed properties owned or leased by the county.
In 2003, Braveboy started the Community Public Awareness Council nonprofit, which sought to provide mental health services and workshops to first-time juvenile offenders and their families to reduce truancy.
In 2006, Braveboy ran for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 25, seeking to succeed state delegate Anthony Brown, who ran for Lieutenant Governor of Maryland.
In the legislature
Braveboy was sworn into the Maryland House of Delegates on January 10, 2007. During her tenure, she supported legislation to reduce mass incarceration and domestic violence, and to protect homeowners from deceptive lenders.
From 2012 to 2014, Braveboy served as the chair of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland. In this position, she advocated for increased funding for historically black colleges and universities and opposed legislation setting mandatory minimum sentences.
Committee assignments
Member, Economic Matters Committee, 2007–2015 (alcoholic beverages subcommittee, 2007–2010; business regulation subcommittee, 2007–2015; banking, economic development, science & technology subcommittee, 2011–2015; chair, consumer protection & commercial law subcommittee, 2011–2015, member, 2007–2015) Member, Law Enforcement and State-Appointed Boards Committee, Prince George's County Delegation, 2013–2015 (bi-county committee, 2007–2008; chair, Washington suburban sanitary commission committee, 2008–2010; chair, Maryland-national capital park & planning commission committee, 2011, member, 2012)
2014 Attorney General campaign
On September 19, 2013, Braveboy filed to run for Attorney General of Maryland. Her platform included supporting the state's historically black colleges and universities, opposing the death penalty, and fighting against large polluters.
During the Democratic primary, her campaign received endorsements from various labor unions, including the Washington D.C. Building and Construction Trades Council and International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1619.
Braveboy was defeated by state senator Brian Frosh in the Democratic primary on June 24, 2014, placing last with 20.1 percent of the vote. If elected, she would have been Maryland's first African American attorney general. Following her defeat, Braveboy worked as a lobbyist for the Children's National Health System and the Innovations Group LLC until 2018.
Prince George's State's Attorney
Elections
On November 9, 2017, Braveboy announced her candidacy for state's attorney of Prince George's County. She ran on a progressive platform that included prosecuting domestic violence, expanding county diversion programs, and prosecuting repeat violent offenders. Braveboy led the Democratic primary in endorsements, which included the Prince George's County Fraternal Order of Police, correctional officers union, and various labor unions. She won the Democratic primary on June 26, 2018, receiving 62.8 percent of the vote, and ran unopposed in the general election.
Braveboy ran for reelection unopposed in 2022.
Tenure
Braveboy was sworn in as state's attorney on January 7, 2019. Upon being sworn in, she named juvenile justice reform and crackdowns on illegal guns as her top priorities while in office.