Ralph M. Hughes (born April 17, 1948) is an American politician who represented district 40 in the Maryland State Senate from 1991 to 2007 and a member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the same district from 1983 to 1991.

Three years later he completed the Howard University School of Law earning a J.D.

He is a member of the Mount Hope Baptist Church in Baltimore and is married.

Hughes won his first election in 1982, running for one of three seats in Baltimore's 40th legislative district to the Maryland House of Delegates.

In 1990 he won a seat in the Maryland Senate and served on its Judicial Proceedings Committee from 1991 to 2007.