Joanne Claybon Benson (born March 11, 1941) is an American politician who represents District 24 in the Maryland State Senate.

She attended South Hagerstown High School and then graduated from Bowie State College with a Bachelor of Science in education in 1961.

She later attended The Catholic University of America where she earned her Master of Arts in curriculum instruction in 1972.

[3] In 2010 she defeated incumbent state senator Nathaniel Exum[4] and was sworn into office in January 2011.

[16] During the 2021 legislative session, Benson introduced legislation to hold the Maryland Department of Transportation to promises it made for the widening of Capital Beltway and Interstate 270 and modernizing the American Legion Memorial Bridge.