| State Senate: | Maryland |
| Term Start: | November 16, 1988 |
| Term End: | January 11, 1995 |
| Predecessor: | Joseph S. Bovegna |
| Successor: | Perry Sfikas |
| Term Start1: | January 8, 1975 |
| Term End1: | November 16, 1988 |
| Alongside1: | Cornell N. Dypski, Anthony M. DiPietro Jr. |
| Predecessor1: | District established |
| Successor1: | Donald G. Hammen |
| Constituency1: | 47th district (1975–1983) 46th district (1983–1989) |
| Birth Name: | Joseph Francis Miedusiewski |
| Birth Date: | 17 October 1949 |
| Birth Place: | Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Spouse: | Patricia |
| Education: | University of Baltimore (BA) |
| Serviceyears: | 1969-1975[1] |
| Rank: | Sergeant |
| Unit: | 175th Tactical Fighter Group |
American Joe Miedusiewski (; born Joseph Francis Miedusiewski; October 17, 1949) is an American politician who served as a member of the Maryland Senate from 1989 to 1991, and the Maryland House of Delegates from 1975 to 1989. A member of the Democratic Party, he unsuccessfully ran for Governor of Maryland in 1994, placing second behind Prince George's County Executive Parris Glendening in the Democratic primary.
Miedusiewski was born in Baltimore on October 17, 1949, to father Francis Joseph Miedusiewski, who unsuccessfully ran for the Maryland House of Delegates in 1970. His grandfather, Josef Mioduszewski[2] (anglicized to Joseph Francis Miedusiewski), migrated to the United States from Poland in 1909, and operated several small businesses, including American Joe's Tavern, in Baltimore. He graduated from parochial schools in Baltimore, including Calvert Hall College High School, and later received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Baltimore.[3]
Miedusiewski changed his name to American Joe before running for the Maryland House of Delegates in 1974, so that voters would associate him with his grandfather's tavern.[4]
In the Maryland General Assembly, Miedusiewski gained a reputation for keeping a low profile and having a pro-labor and pro-business voting record. His district spanned from the Dundalk peninsula to east Baltimore, down to the Chesapeake Bay, and was regarded as having a largely blue-collar constituency. Miedusiewski rose to national prominence after then-presidential candidate Bill Clinton played pool at American Joe's Tavern while campaigning in Baltimore in 1992.[5]
Miedusiewski was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 1974, and was sworn in on January 8, 1975.[6] He served as a member of the Constitutional and Administrative Law Committee during his entire tenure. Miedusiewski was sworn in to the Maryland Senate following the death of state Senator Joseph Bonvegna on November 16, 1988,[7] [8] where he served on the Economic and Environmental Affairs Committee during his entire tenure.
See main article: 1994 Maryland gubernatorial election. On November 17, 1993, Miedusiewski announced that he would run for Governor of Maryland in 1994, seeking to succeed term-limited Governor William Donald Schaefer, whom had encouraged him to run.[9] He sought support from moderate-to-conservative Democrats and ran on a platform including economic issues, reducing government, and increased policing and sentencing.[10] In June 1994, Miedusiewski named state Senator Bernie Fowler as his running mate.[11]
Miedusiewski trailed in polling behind Prince George's County Executive Parris Glendening, placing third behind "Undecided" and Glendening in a Mason-Dixon poll ahead of the Democratic primary election.[12] [13] He was defeated in the Democratic primary election by Glendening, placing second with 18 percent of the vote. Miedusiewski later endorsed Glendening in the general election.[14]
Following his defeat, Miedusiewski worked as a lobbyist for Semmes, Bowen & Semmes[15] and Old Line Government Affairs.[16]
Miedusiewski is married to his wife, Patricia, who worked as a nurse. Together, they live in the Canton neighborhood of Baltimore.[17]