Barnes was appointed to the legislature on July 18, 2010 to fill the vacancy created when Ann Marie Doory retired.
Barnes also attended Morgan State University and is the Salesman and Community Coordinator for P. Flanigan & Sons, Inc., in Baltimore.
He is the Chair, Baltimore City Democratic Central Committee and a charter member of 100 Black Men of Maryland.
He is a member of the Baltimore Urban League, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Phi Beta Sigma fraternity and the Prince Hall Masons, A.F.
Delegate Barnes, a member of the 43rd District Democratic state central committee, was recommended to Governor Martin O'Malley by his district's state central committee to fill the vacancy created when Delegate Ann Marie Doory retired from the legislature.