Charles Anthony Muse (born April 17, 1958) is an American politician and minister who has served in the Maryland Senate representing District 26 since 2023, and previously from 2007 to 2019.

[1] He was one of six children born to Gloria Watson, who had her first child when she was a teenager and married a man prone to violent outbursts, frequently beating him, his siblings, and his mother.

As a teenager, he became mixed up with the wrong crowd and eventually needed to be rescued by Stansbury after running into a drug dealer whom he feared was going to harm him.

[4] In interviews with The Washington Post, Muse offered a series of reasons for leaving the church, including "theological differences" in United Methodist's decision to appoint a transgender pastor,[2] accusations that the church hierarchy did not support his congregation because they "are racist", and did not like his style of worship, which involved speaking in tongues and healing.

In January 2020, TMI Realty Advisors, who owned the site of Ark of Safety, motion to evict the congregation, alleging in court documents that Muse had not paid its $15,000 monthly rent since June.

In 1990, Muse unsuccessfully ran for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 27, challenging incumbent delegates Gary R. Alexander, Joseph F. Vallario Jr., and James E. Proctor Jr., all three of whom were running on a slate backed by Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr.[2] During the campaign, he filed a complaint with the Prince George's County Police Department after discovering campaign signs that had defaced with racist phrases.

[16] In June 2005, Muse told the Washington Post that he was exploring another run for state senator in District 26, again challenging Lawlah.

[17] He entered the race after Lawlah announced that she would not seek re-election in 2006, and defeated state delegate Obie Patterson in the Democratic primary election.

[21] He narrowly won the Democratic primary election on July 19, defeating challenger Tamara Davis Brown by a margin of 345 votes, or 1.2 percent.

During the Democratic primary, he ran on a platform of abolishing standardized testing and requiring uniforms in schools,[25] and received endorsements from county religious leaders.

[42] During the 2017 legislative session, Muse introduced a bill that would repeal a rule adopted by the attorney general of Maryland that prevented courts from setting a high bail on low-income defendants.

[44] In June 2011, Muse launched an effort aimed at blocking the construction of a high-end outlet store near National Harbor, which he claimed would create unmanageable traffic on Maryland Route 210.

[45] In 1996, Muse introduced a bill to create a task force on deciding whether to enforce mandatory uniforms at public schools.

[46] In 1997, he introduced a bill that would require uniforms in public schools, despite the task force's recommendations, which passed the Prince George's County Delegation in a 11-9 vote.

[49] During the 2011 legislative session, Muse voted against Maryland's Dream Act, a bill that extended in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants.

[51] Muse was opposed to legislation proposed by Governor Martin O'Malley to strengthen Maryland's wind energy industry.

"[52] In February 2012, Muse said he opposed plans to build a billion-dollar casino near National Harbor and vowed to "do everything in my power" to stop the deal from passing.

[63] During the 2011 special legislative session, Muse was the only Democratic state senator to vote against the congressional redistricting plan proposed by Governor Martin O'Malley,[64] accusing the legislature of putting party politics before voters and manipulating minority communities.

[68] In August 2017, after Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. defended Roger B. Taney, the former Supreme Court Chief Justice who authored the infamous Dred Scott decision, Muse called for his censure.