Johnny Olszewski Bio
John Anthony Olszewski Jr., widely known by his nickname Johnny O, is an American politician who has represented Maryland’s 2nd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives since 2025. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the 14th Baltimore County Executive from 2018 to 2025, following two terms in the Maryland House of Delegates. Before entering elected office, he worked as a public school teacher and served in local education and county government roles.
Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Olszewski was raised in the Dundalk community and has spent most of his career serving the Baltimore region. He earned degrees from Goucher College, George Washington University, and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. He is married to Marisa Azzone, with whom he has a daughter, and the family resides in Sparrows Point, Maryland.
Early Life and Background
John Anthony Olszewski Jr. was born on September 10, 1982, in Baltimore, Maryland, to John Olszewski and Sherry Olszewski, née Crusse. He grew up in Dundalk, an unincorporated community in southeastern Baltimore County, in a working-class household that shaped his early interest in public service. He attended Sparrows Point High School, where he became involved in student government and local civic life.
As a teenager, Olszewski was selected to serve as the student member of the Baltimore County Board of Education from 1999 to 2000. During that time, he advocated for a bill that would grant the student member full voting rights on the board, an early sign of his interest in education policy. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts from Goucher College, a Master of Arts from George Washington University, and later a PhD from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
Path to US Politics
Olszewski began his professional career as a public school teacher in Baltimore County, an experience that deepened his commitment to public education and labor causes. He continued to engage in local government, working in roles that bridged classroom instruction and county administration. His early exposure to the boardroom and the classroom positioned him to pursue elected office.
In 2006, he won a seat in the Maryland House of Delegates representing the 6th district, which covered most of southeastern Baltimore County, including Dundalk. He served two terms in the House, focusing on education funding, energy policy, and workers’ rights, until 2015. In 2014, he ran unsuccessfully for the Maryland Senate in District 6, narrowly losing to Republican challenger Johnny Ray Salling, an experience that motivated his later return to electoral politics.
Johnny Olszewski Career
Early Career (2006–2015)
During his two terms in the Maryland House of Delegates, Olszewski built a reputation as a blue-collar, pro-labor Democrat with a focus on education and energy issues. He introduced legislation to impose impact fees on liquefied natural gas development in Dundalk and pushed for renewable energy investments, including a bill in 2013 to redirect subsidies from black liquor production to wind and solar projects. The latter bill was rejected by the House Economic Matters Committee by an 11–8 vote.
He also championed workplace protections, introducing the Maryland Paid Sick and Safe Leave Act in 2013. While in Annapolis, he drew attention for his evolving stance on the Civil Marriage Protection Act, ultimately voting in favor of the bill in 2012. After leaving the House in 2015, he spent several years in county government and education roles before setting his sights on a countywide office.
Baltimore County Executive Breakthrough (2018–2022)
In April 2017, Olszewski announced he was considering a run for Baltimore County Executive to succeed the term-limited Kevin Kamenetz, and he formally launched his campaign in June 2017. In the Democratic primary, he faced state senator James Brochin and county councilwoman Vicki Almond, earning endorsements from The Baltimore Sun, former governor Martin O’Malley, and the Baltimore-D.C. Building Trades Unions. He won the primary in June 2018 by just nine votes, a margin that grew to 17 votes after a recount.
In the general election, he defeated former Republican state delegate and state Insurance Commissioner Alfred W. Redmer Jr. with 57.8 percent of the vote, repositioning himself as a bipartisan leader. He was sworn in as the 14th Baltimore County Executive on December 3, 2018, at age 36, becoming the youngest person ever to hold the office. He was re-elected in 2022, defeating Republican Pat McDonough with 63.7 percent of the vote.
Congressional Era (2024–Present)
After considering a 2024 United States Senate run, Olszewski instead launched an exploratory committee in June 2023 for Maryland’s 2nd congressional district, following Representative C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger’s retirement announcement. He announced his candidacy in January 2024 and won the Democratic primary on May 14, 2024, with 78.7 percent of the vote, benefitting from endorsements by Ruppersberger, Maryland House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones, and Baltimore mayor Brandon Scott.
In the general election, he defeated Republican radio host Kimberly Klacik, campaigning on reproductive freedom and protecting Medicare and Social Security. Olszewski was sworn in on January 3, 2025, and was elected freshman class representative to the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, defeating New Jersey freshman Representative Herb Conaway. He resigned as Baltimore County Executive the same day, with state senator Kathy Klausmeier later selected by the Baltimore County Council to succeed him.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Olszewski’s signature achievements as county executive were legislation banning source of income discrimination in housing, expansion of the county council, and creation of the Office of the Inspector General. In April 2021, he set a goal of 100 percent renewable energy for county government operations by 2026, and in 2023 he signed the Bring Your Own Bag Act. His 2024 congressional victory was viewed as a generational shift in Baltimore County politics, capping a rise from the House of Delegates to the United States Congress in under two decades.
Johnny Olszewski Career Wins
Olszewski has compiled a steady record of electoral victories spanning local, county, and federal offices. His career has been defined by competitive primaries and decisive general-election wins, reflecting consistent support from voters in the Baltimore region.
Electoral Highlights
He first won election to the Maryland House of Delegates in 2006 and was re-elected in 2010, serving until 2015. His biggest breakthrough came in 2018, when he won the Democratic primary by a razor-thin margin and the general election with 57.8 percent of the vote. He followed that with a commanding 63.7 percent re-election as county executive in 2022, and capped his rise to federal office by winning the 2nd congressional district in 2024.
Other Wins and Achievements
Beyond electoral victories, Olszewski successfully pushed the Baltimore County Council to expand its size and established the county’s first Office of the Inspector General. He also served as president of the Maryland Association of Counties beginning in December 2023 and led Baltimore County’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including opening a major vaccination clinic at the Maryland State Fairgrounds that Governor Larry Hogan called the best operation in the state.
Johnny Olszewski Family
Family Background and Personal Lineage
Olszewski was raised in Dundalk, Maryland, by his father, John Olszewski, and his mother, Sherry Olszewski, née Crusse. His upbringing in a working-class Baltimore County household informed his lifelong focus on labor rights, education funding, and economic mobility. He has frequently credited his parents and his Dundalk roots for shaping his public-service career.
Personal Life
Olszewski met his future wife, Marisa Azzone, while attending Goucher College, and the couple married in 2005. Marisa Azzone works as the environmental policy manager for the Maryland League of Conservation Voters. Together, they have a daughter and live in Sparrows Point, Maryland. Olszewski is a Methodist and attends Lovely Lane United Methodist Church in Baltimore, and he is a well-known fan of the Baltimore Orioles.