Lateshia Beachum

Washington, D.C.

Prince George’s County Government and Politics Reporter

Education: S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Syracuse University, M.A.

Lateshia Beachum is a reporter covering Prince George's County government and politics. She joined The Washington Post as a general assignment reporter in 2019. She previously worked for The Center for Public Integrity, where she covered underrepresented groups involved in electoral spending.
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Latest from Lateshia Beachum

Poll: Alsobrooks edges ahead of Hogan in Maryland Senate race

Angela Alsobrooks pulls ahead of Larry Hogan in the tight Senate race, reflecting new momentum after her Democratic National Convention speech.

September 4, 2024
Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D) and former Maryland governor Larry Hogan (R) are running for U.S. Senate.

Poll: Alsobrooks, Hogan locked in a tight Maryland Senate race

A poll conducted by AARP shows Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D) and former governor Larry Hogan (R) deadlocked in their race.

August 27, 2024
Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D) is running for the Senate to represent Maryland as a Democrat; former Maryland governor Larry Hogan is running as a Republican.

Ex-Pr. George’s council member pleads guilty to theft scheme, perjury

The charges stem from Mel Franklin using campaign funds to make personal payments, according to prosecutors. He faces a sentence of up to one year.

August 26, 2024
Mel Franklin takes part in a Prince George's County Council session in Largo, Md., on Feb. 14, 2023.

Angela Alsobrooks met the moment at the DNC. Now comes the hard part.

Maryland Democrats hope enthusiasm over Kamala Harris will put their Senate candidate over the top in a tight contest with former governor Larry Hogan.

August 24, 2024
Angela D. Alsobrooks, candidate for U.S. Senate in Maryland, takes the stage on the second day of the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday in Chicago.

Ex-Prince George’s council member accused of embezzling headed to court

Mel Franklin (D) is accused of using at least $130,000 in campaign funds for personal expenses, including loans and cosmetic procedures for himself and a friend.

August 19, 2024
Mel Franklin (D) attends a Prince George’s County Council meeting in Largo, Md., in 2023, when he was a council member.

The big issue roiling a small town: Does everyone deserve a second chance?

In Maryland’s Brentwood community, the hiring of a convicted rapist has left residents concerned and leadership divided.

August 16, 2024
The park in Brentwood.

Prince George’s voters choose candidates to fill at-large council seat

Jolene Ivey (D) and Michael Riker (R) emerge as the apparent top choices to fill the seat left vacant by former council member Mel Franklin (D).

August 7, 2024
Campaign signs outside Non-Traditional Program on Tuesday in Suitland, Md.

The race to fill at-large council seat in Pr. George’s County begins

An attorney, a council leader and a mayor are among those vying for the seat left vacant by the abrupt resignation of Mel Franklin.

July 6, 2024
Council member Mel Franklin resigned in June.

They left Maryland for Mecca. They didn’t all make it home.

A cottage industry of Hajj tour companies exists with little oversight. Texts and witness accounts show the horrors a group who trusted those operators endured.

July 2, 2024
Fatmata Koroma, 61, of Maryland, was one of more than 1,300 who died on the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia last month.

Prince George’s County moves to fill seat of former council member

Prince George’s County Council passed a resolution setting the dates for a special primary and special election to replace former council member Mel Franklin.

June 26, 2024
Prince George's County Council member Mel Franklin during a meeting in Largo.