Ariana Kelly


Ariana Brannigan Kelly is an American politician from Maryland and a member of the Democratic Party. She currently serves in the Maryland House of Delegates. She has represented District 16 since 2010, which is located in Montgomery County, and includes Bethesda, Cabin John, Glen Echo and parts of Chevy Chase, Potomac and Rockville. Kelly lives in the Wyngate neighborhood.

Education and Professional Background

Ariana Brannigan Kelly grew up in Bethesda where she attended Walter Johnson High School. Brannigan Kelly also attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she studied History, Women's Studies, and TV/Film Production.
Brannigan Kelly has an extensive background in nonprofit management, media, and social service. In her early career, she worked at Travelers Aid International, Girls Inc, and Legal Momentum. Brannigan Kelly also produced PBS’ To The Contrary, a weekly news program. She covered a wide range of issues including state and federal legislation, business, education, health, and the environment. She specialized in the perspective of underrepresented populations including women and minorities.
Brannigan Kelly also served as Executive Director at NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland where she led a nationally recognized campaign to investigate crisis pregnancy centers, and published . Brannigan Kelly also served as a Campaign Director for MomsRising.org where she worked on Healthcare Reform, Paid Family Leave, Pay Equity, Environmental Health, and Childcare.

Personal

Delegate Kelly has a daughter and a son. She is the granddaughter of Maryland fire safety pioneer Francis Brannigan. Her parents, Anne Brannigan-Kelly and Richard Kelly, reside in Colorado. Her sister, Meghan Kelly resides in North Carolina. Kelly's brother, Jonathan Blum, and sister-in-law Kate Orman are Australian science fiction authors.
On June 27, 2015, Delegate Kelly was charged for indecent exposure and trespassing at the home of her ex-husband in Bethesda, Maryland when she was there to drop off their children, and she saw his fiance. On July 21, 2015, the charges were dropped with the State's Attorney saying in a statement that the alleged incident was "a matter better suited for family court."

Awards and honors

Delegate Brannigan Kelly is a Deputy Majority Whip. She serves on the Health and Government Operations Committee where she Chairs the Health Occupations and Long Term Care Subcommittee. She is also the Chair of the Economic Development Committee for Montgomery County and Democratic Caucus Chair of the Montgomery County House Delegation. In addition, Brannigan Kelly is the President of Women Legislators of Maryland. She is also the House Chair for the Joint Committee on Children, Youth, and Families.
Brannigan Kelly was the lead sponsor of Maryland's Contraceptive Equity Act which made Maryland first in the nation for ensuring access to birth control. This legislation required over-the-counter insurance coverage for Emergency Contraception, no cost-sharing for vasectomies, and six-month dispensing for birth control pills, in addition to expanding the types of contraception available to Medicaid and insured populations in Maryland at no cost.
Brannigan Kelly was also the lead sponsor of legislation that established insurance network adequacy standards in Maryland.
Brannigan Kelly is House Chair of the Task Force to Study Family and Medical Leave Insurance.
Brannigan Kelly is leading the fight to strengthen Maryland’s child care subsidy program. She was the lead sponsor of legislation to analyze the program's low reimbursement rates and her work on the Joint Committee on Children, Youth, and Families led to successful legislation mandating increased funding levels.
Brannigan Kelly has a 100% lifetime rating from the Maryland League of Conservation Voters on their environmental scorecard for legislators.

Legislative notes