Marie Pinkney
District 13
Sen. Marie Pinkney represents the 13th District, which stretches from the Christiana River south to Porter Road and encompasses dozens of neighborhoods along U.S. Route 13, Del. Route 7, and U.S. Route 40.
Raised by her great aunt in Wilmington and New Castle, Pinkney graduated from Howard High School of Technology. She earned her bachelor’s degree in social work from Norfolk State University and a master’s degree in social work from Delaware State University
After graduate school, she began working at a treatment center for adolescents with mental health and substance abuse issues. She also became the foster mother to a teen mother and her young son for many years.
Sen. Pinkney worked as a social worker/case manager at ChristinaCare until 2024, when she left to pursue a second master’s degree in Africana Studies from the University of Delaware. She has dedicated her career to advocating alongside families seeking quality healthcare, access to resources, educational support, and government policies that support them.
Sen. Pinkney became the first African American LGBTQ+ person ever elected to the Delaware Senate in 2020. She is dedicated to fighting the negative impacts of racial and socioeconomic inequalities, as well as the stigmas and hurdles faced by formerly justice-involved individuals and those with limited educational backgrounds.
She currently serves as chair of the Health & Social Services committee, vice chair of the Corrections & Public Safety Committee, and a member of the Senate Executive and Judiciary committees. She also holds a seat on the Joint Capital Improvement Committee.
Sen. Pinkney lives in Bear with her German Shepherd Gandhi and cat Penelope, aka Penny Proud.
Education
Howard High School of Technology, Class of 2008; Bachelor’s degree, Social Work, Norfolk State University, 2013; Master’s degree, Social Work, Delaware State University, 2014
Occupation
Social worker/Case manager, ChristianaCare
Legislative Service:
Senate, 2020 to present
Committees:
- Health & Social Services, Chair
- Corrections & Public Safety, Vice Chair
- Joint Capital Improvement, Member
- Judiciary, Member
- Executive, Member
Legislative Highlights
Senate Bill 7
Senate Bill 7 represents a long-overdue modernization of the Delaware probation system. This legislation would modify probation and parole conditions by tailoring them to the individual –decreasing the overly burdensome requirements that lead to rearrest and failed parole. By eliminating […]
Senate Bill 109
Senator Marie Pinkney, a licensed social worker, has been a long-time advocate for strengthening Delaware’s social work professionals. Senate Bill 109, sponsored by Sen. Pinkney will increase social work mobility, work space flexibility, and grant them access to broader opportunities. […]
Senate Bill 139
Senate Bill 139 puts the power back into the bands of survivors by strengthening protections and rights for victims of sexual assault. This legislation expands the rights for victims of sexual assault by codifying sexual assault kits (SAK) testing policies […]
Senate Bill 13
Formerly justice-involved people who are now seeking a second chance at life have greater access to higher education thanks to legislation passed by Sen. Marie Pinkney. Senate Bill 13, also known as the Ban the Box Act, prevents Delaware’s higher […]
