By Rhiannon Evans, Ian Ferris, Andrew Mollenauer, Nolan Rogalski
CAPITAL NEWS SERVICE
ANNAPOLIS – Sen. Cory McCray was back in the union office less than 12 hours after the final day of Maryland’s legislative session.
“I think that we’ve hit our goals,” said McCray, D-Baltimore City, noting that the General Assembly passed the state budget. “I can’t wait to get out of this place and get back to some level of normalcy.”
After 90 days of drafting, debating and passing bills, McCray and other Maryland lawmakers have returned to their districts to do constituency work and, for many, go back to their other jobs. From business owners to artists to steelworkers, legislators have a variety of professions outside of their lawmaking duties.
For their session work, they were paid a base salary of $55,526, while the Senate president and House speaker made $72,119 in 2025, according to a report from the General Assembly Compensation Commission.
Some said their jobs help shape their legislative priorities.
McCray said he brings his work experience to Annapolis, and that it gives him credibility on working‑class and construction issues.
He works for Local 24 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, a union for electricians. He said he helps negotiate contracts, handles on-site challenges and spreads awareness for apprenticeships.
“[I’ve] been a 23-year-member of my local union as an electrician,’’ he said. “One of the few legislators, not just in the state, but in the country, that you can say, ‘Blue collar worker.’”
In 2025, McCray released a book, “The Apprenticeship That Saved My Life,” about how his apprenticeship as an electrician changed the trajectory of his life.
“I get the opportunity to learn new disciplines, gain mentorship, but more importantly, I garner a skill that no one can ever take away from you,” he said.
Exchanging dress shoes for work boots
For Sen. Jason Gallion, R-Cecil and Harford, the end of the session means more time to dedicate to farming.
His farm, Hopewell Farm, is a hay and beef cattle farm that he’s owned and operated since 1999.
“It’s nice to be able to get home on the farm, where you’re outside doing stuff,” Gallion said. “I love the fresh air, I love being in a tractor and all that.”
Gallion, however, said he has another calling that he would like to return to once his kids get older: firefighting. The state senator was a volunteer firefighter in Harford County for more than 20 years.
“I’d like to go back and drive the engines again,” Gallion said. “It was really a good experience getting to serve your neighbors there, and you learn about leadership.”
Gallion said serving as president of the fire department was a great segue into his career in the state legislature.
“That was a great experience to have before coming into elected office because you kind of learn how important those relationships are to be able to accomplish things — and teamwork,” he said.
Continuing to fight for rights
Work after the session isn’t much different for Sen. Charles Sydnor III, D-Baltimore County.
Since 2001, Sydnor has worked in the legal department for Enterprise Community, a national nonprofit organization that supports the building and development of affordable housing. It’s a line of work that often aligns with his priorities at the legislature.
“If you look at my history of things that I’ve introduced or worked with, it’s, in some form or fashion, dealing with civil rights,” Sydnor said. “In the case of my job, affordable housing, making sure that people can afford housing, tends to be about rights.”
The senator uses his law degree from Maryland Carey Law year-round on work he said matters to him.
“Being in the General Assembly gives me an opportunity to deal with other things, other kinds of issues I enjoy, but all of these issues tend to come down to civil rights,” Sydnor said.
Returning to rural roots
With the legislative session over, Del. Natalie Ziegler, D-Howard, returned to her Howard County farm.
Ziegler and her husband, John Zirschky, have owned Carroll Mill Farm for 37 years. She said it’s part of the reason she felt it was important to serve as co-chair of the bipartisan Rural Caucus this year.
“It has been so rewarding to get to focus on problems instead of partisan politics,” Ziegler said at a press conference last month. “I really do feel as though this bipartisan caucus has really been able to share ideas.”
While Ziegler said she loves living and working on her farm, she said this has been a hard year for farmers with rising expenses, including diesel fuel.
Despite the recent hardships, Ziegler said she wouldn’t want to do anything else.
“At the same time, in many ways, it’s a tremendous privilege to get to live on a farm,” she said. “It is really so nice, and I do love it.”
