American Joe Miedusiewski

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American Joe Miedusiewski
Miedusiewski in 2018
Member of the Maryland Senate
from the 46th district
In office
November 16, 1988 – January 11, 1995
Appointed byWilliam Donald Schaefer
Preceded byJoseph S. Bovegna
Succeeded byPerry Sfikas
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
In office
January 8, 1975 – November 16, 1988
Serving with Cornell N. Dypski, Anthony M. DiPietro Jr.
Preceded byDistrict established
Succeeded byDonald G. Hammen
Constituency47th district (1975–1983)
46th district (1983–1989)
Personal details
Born
Joseph Francis Miedusiewski

(1949-10-17) October 17, 1949 (age 74)
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpousePatricia
EducationUniversity of Baltimore (BA)
Military service
Branch/serviceMaryland Air National Guard
Years of service1969-1975[1]
RankSergeant[1]
Unit175th Tactical Fighter Group

American Joe Miedusiewski (med-ah-SHEV-skee; born Joseph Francis Miedusiewski;[2] October 17, 1949) is an American politician who served as a member of the Maryland Senate from 1989 to 1991, and the Maryland House of Delegates from 1975 to 1989. A member of the Democratic Party, he unsuccessfully ran for Governor of Maryland in 1994, placing second behind Prince George's County Executive Parris Glendening in the Democratic primary.

Early life and education[edit]

Miedusiewski was born in Baltimore on October 17, 1949,[3] to father Francis Joseph Miedusiewski, who unsuccessfully ran for the Maryland House of Delegates in 1970.[2][4] His grandfather, Josef Mioduszewski[4] (anglicized to Joseph Francis Miedusiewski), migrated to the United States from Poland in 1909, and operated several small businesses, including American Joe's Tavern, in Baltimore.[5] He graduated from parochial schools in Baltimore, including Calvert Hall College High School, and later received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Baltimore.[3]

Miedusiewski changed his name to American Joe before running for the Maryland House of Delegates in 1974, so that voters would associate him with his grandfather's tavern.[6]

Political career[edit]

Maryland General Assembly[edit]

In the Maryland General Assembly, Miedusiewski gained a reputation for keeping a low profile and having a pro-labor and pro-business voting record. His district spanned from the Dundalk peninsula to east Baltimore, down to the Chesapeake Bay, and was regarded as having a largely blue-collar constituency.[7] Miedusiewski rose to national prominence after then-presidential candidate Bill Clinton played pool at American Joe's Tavern while campaigning in Baltimore in 1992.[2][8]

Miedusiewski was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 1974,[2] and was sworn in on January 8, 1975.[9] He served as a member of the Constitutional and Administrative Law Committee during his entire tenure.[3] Miedusiewski was sworn in to the Maryland Senate following the death of state Senator Joseph Bonvegna on November 16, 1988,[10][11] where he served on the Economic and Environmental Affairs Committee during his entire tenure.[3]

1994 Maryland gubernatorial campaign[edit]

Main article: 1994 Maryland gubernatorial election

On November 17, 1993, Miedusiewski announced that he would run for Governor of Maryland in 1994, seeking to succeed term-limited Governor William Donald Schaefer, whom had encouraged him to run.[5] He sought support from moderate-to-conservative Democrats and ran on a platform including economic issues, reducing government, and increased policing and sentencing.[7][12] In June 1994, Miedusiewski named state Senator Bernie Fowler as his running mate.[13]

Miedusiewski trailed in polling behind Prince George's County Executive Parris Glendening, placing third behind "Undecided" and Glendening in a Mason-Dixon poll ahead of the Democratic primary election.[2][14] He was defeated in the Democratic primary election by Glendening, placing second with 18 percent of the vote. Miedusiewski later endorsed Glendening in the general election.[15]

Following his defeat, Miedusiewski worked as a lobbyist for Semmes, Bowen & Semmes[16] and Old Line Government Affairs.[17]

Personal life[edit]

Miedusiewski is married to his wife, Patricia, who worked as a nurse.[2] Together, they live in the Canton neighborhood of Baltimore.[7]

Electoral history[edit]

Maryland House of Delegates District 47 election, 1974[18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Raymond A. Dypski 9,733 34.3
Democratic American Joe Miedusiewski 9,633 34.0
Democratic Elmer Elmo Waters 8,989 31.7
Maryland House of Delegates District 47 election, 1978[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic American Joe Miedusiewski 11,503 32.8
Democratic Raymond A. Dypski 11,369 32.4
Democratic James R. Dietrich 10,805 30.8
Republican Charles H. Howe 1,427 4.1
Maryland House of Delegates District 46 election, 1982[20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Anthony M. DiPietro Jr. 17,948 33.5
Democratic Raymond A. Dypski 17,789 33.2
Democratic American Joe Miedusiewski 17,777 33.2
Maryland House of Delegates District 46 election, 1986[21]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic American Joe Miedusiewski 15,521 33.7
Democratic Anthony M. DiPietro Jr. 15,467 33.5
Democratic Cornell N. Dypski 15,119 32.8
Maryland Senate District 46 election, 1990[22]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic American Joe Miedusiewski 10,037 100.0
Maryland gubernatorial Democratic primary election, 1994[23]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Parris Glendening 293,314 53.6
Democratic American Joe Miedusiewski 100,296 18.3
Democratic Melvin Steinberg 82,308 15.0
Democratic Mary H. Boergers 46,888 8.6
Democratic Don Allensworth 15,680 2.9
Democratic Walter Gilcrist Finch 5,369 1.0
Democratic Lawrence K. Freeman 3,518 0.6

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "American Joe Miedusiewski", Poles in America Foundation website (poles.org), Cooper City, Florida. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Meyer, Eugene L. (July 29, 1994). "American Joe's test: Can he spread that name all over Md.?". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d "Maryland State Senator American Joe Miedusiewski". msa.maryland.gov. March 16, 2000. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Schwartzman, Laura (April 23, 2008). "American Joe Miedusiewski Is Still a Familiar Name". Capital News Service. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Tapscott, Richard (November 17, 1993). "An unforgettable name goes on Md. ballot". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  6. ^ Kelly, Earl (October 14, 2012). "Santa for president? Your write-in vote will count". The Capital. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  7. ^ a b c Meyer, Eugene L. (September 11, 1994). "The world according to American Joe". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  8. ^ Bondurant, Jill (March 30, 2022). "Bill Clinton Visits American Joe's Bar". Old Line Government Affairs. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  9. ^ "Archives of Maryland, Volume 0716". Maryland State Archives. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  10. ^ "Maryland Inside". The Baltimore Sun. November 16, 1988. Retrieved December 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Morring, Frank Jr. (December 4, 1988). "At American Joe's Bar he Twists Are Political". The New York Times. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  12. ^ Montgomery, David (July 28, 1994). "Miedusiewski likens Glendening to Mayberry's Barney life". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  13. ^ Zorzi, William F. Jr. (June 30, 1994). "Miedusiewski names Fowler as running mate". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  14. ^ Montgomery, David; Tapscott, Richard (July 20, 1994). "In Md. poll, Steinberg's loss is Sen. Miedusiewski's gain". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  15. ^ Shen, Fern; Tapscott, Richard (October 12, 1994). "Miedusiewski endorses former rival Glendening". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  16. ^ Torry, Saundra (November 28, 1994). "Understanding celebrity trials -- for fun and profit". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  17. ^ Wilen, Holden (January 8, 2018). "Former Baltimore politician American Joe Miedusiewski joins Nemphos Braue". Baltimore Business Journal. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  18. ^ "Archives of Maryland, Volume 0177" (PDF). Maryland State Archives. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  19. ^ "Archives of Maryland, Volume 0179" (PDF). Maryland State Archives. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  20. ^ "Archives of Maryland, Volume 0181" (PDF). Maryland State Archives. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  21. ^ "1986 Gubernatorial Election - House of Delegates". elections.maryland.gov. August 17, 2001. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  22. ^ "1990 Gubernatorial Election". elections.maryland.gov. June 14, 2001. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  23. ^ "1994 Gubernatorial Election". elections.maryland.gov. August 29, 2001. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
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