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State Roundup, June 15, 2018

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Del. Curt Anderson being investigated by General Assembly ethics panel over sexual misconduct claims; gloves finally come off in last televised democratic gubernatorial debate, with Jim Shea throwing first punches at front-runners Rushern Baker and Ben Jealous; campaign coffers of late gubernatorial candidate Kevin Kamenetz to go to college scholarships, Baltimore Zoo and others; Krish Vignarajah touts $350 million flood resiliency program; U.S. Rep. John Delaney backs Baker for governor; Gov. Hogan plans to seek new State Center developer; Hogan announces Baltimore City violence prevention program, multi-agency “strike force;” who are the other candidates running for Prince George’s County exec?; former state police trooper to run for District 35 Senate seat as independent; and Maryland congressmen appeal to Trump administration to rescind food stamp rule over crab shacks.

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State Roundup, June 14, 2018

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As Valerie Ervin drops out of governor’s race, she back Rushern Baker and takes several swings at Ben Jealous; with early voting beginning, gubernatorial candidates are releasing policy positions, getting more aggressive with campaigning; Jealous issues plan to boost state’s economy; Richard Madaleno outlines school construction plan; get the thumbnail take on the candidates for Montgomery County executive; Montgomery County Exec Ike Leggett hasn’t endorsed in the race to replace him, but his blessing would carry a lot of weight; Baltimore Sun backs John Olszweski Jr., Al Redmer in Baltimore County exec primaries; in Part 3 of series on plea deals and police corruption, internal affairs documents have been kept secret preventing defense attorneys from accessing valuable information; and Howard County Register of Wills candidate has DUI record.

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State Roundup, June 13, 2018

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Valerie Ervin drops out of Democratic primary for governor, says she’ll back Rushern Baker instead; judge throws out suit attempting to nullify Krish Vignarajah’s gubernatorial eligibility; former state Sen. Nathaniel Oaks re-registers to vote, meaning he could be re-elected to his old job since his name remains on ballot; late Del. Sophocleus technically could win primary; the Baltimore Sun editorial board back Ben Jealous in Democratic gubernatorial primary; 253 State House hopefuls sign on to support Clean Energy Jobs Act; in other news, in Part 2 of series on plea bargains and police corruption: In the long wait in jail, many innocent defendants take a plea deal; despite Supreme Court ruling, state doesn’t necessarily purge dormant voters; Maryland reverses stand on books for prisoners; and group sues state over bump stock ban.

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State Roundup, June 12, 2018

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Ousting President Trump is Issue No. 1 for Maryland Democrats, new poll finds; plea bargaining and pre-trial detention led innocent defendants to plead guilty and enabled police corruption in Baltimore City; new ad for Gov. Hogan highlights bipartisanship; in profile, gubernatorial hopeful Jim Shea called civic-minded, go-to person; Del. Sophocleus’ death throws wrinkle into District 32 election; funeral set for Del. Sophocleus; in Baltimore County executive primaries, new poll finds Jim Brochin, Pat McDonough taking the lead; Baltimore City State’s Attorney candidate Ivan Bates criticized for claims about record; and Comptroller Franchot backs David Blair for Montgomery County exec.

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State Roundup, June 11, 2018

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Long-time Anne Arundel public servant Del. Ted Sophocleus dies at 79; Ben Jealous, Rushern Baker tie as front-runners in pre-Democratic primary poll; Gov. Hogan remains popular, even with Democrats, new poll finds; Gov. Hogan formally kicks off campaign for re-election; progressives, labor activists spending big to turn out the vote for Ben Jealous; money from Republican developers helps fuel Montgomery County’s Democratic primary for county executive; David Blair sinks bucks into Facebook ad buy in race for Montgomery County exec; Al Redmer commercial in Republican primary for Baltimore County executive attacks rival Pat McDonough’s voting record; and Sinclair Broadcasting waiting for FCC approval of Tribune purchase.

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State Roundup, June 8, 2018

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Baltimore Countian sues gubernatorial candidate Krish Vignarajah, challenges her residency claim; former Gov. O’Malley backs Rushern Baker in Democratic primary for governor; in race for governor, Sen. Madaleno challenges the norms, but his long distinguished resume also makes him an insider; union that almost always backs Democrats endorses Republican Gov. Hogan; do elections keep politics out of administrative offices such as register of wills?; Montgomery exec candidate Berliner gets heat over negative Blair-Trump ad, decides to change it; in state Senate race, Dana Beyer blasts Del. Waldstreicher for touting substance abuse committee he rarely held; city State’s Attorney candidates go after incumbent Mosby; and oyster restoration unifies watermen, environmentalists.

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State Roundup, June 7, 2018

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Valerie Ervin won’t appeal ruling that keeps her name on ballot as a running mate instead of gubernatorial candidate; in debate, gubernatorial candidates tout Trump impeachment, disbanding Baltimore City cops; banning legalized sports betting; Madaleno ad seals his anti-Trump creds with a kiss; U.S. Rep. hopeful David Trone apologizes for memo contents after it was leaked; police drew guns in wellness check on Chelsea Manning; in District 41 Senate race, two political legacy families battling it out; in Baltimore County exec debate, Dems see a different county than one painted by Republican on the dais; and in Arundel County, big wigs influencing smaller races.

State Roundup, June 6, 2018

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Despite differences over education, minimum wage and other issues, Marylanders broadly approve of Gov. Hogan’s performance, new Washington Post-UM poll finds; in latest Democratic gubernatorial candidate debate, hopefuls stress differences, but still agree on most issues; Ben Jealous to deploy celebrity supporters to help drum up votes; at nonpartisan Maryland Business for Responsive Government event, Gov. Hogan stars; four Baltimore County exec hopefuls to face off, but Al Redmer to sit out; and review says Joe Tydings’ autobiography is a must read.

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State Roundup, June 5, 2018

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Judge apologizes to Valerie Ervin, but rules that primary ballots to stand with her as running mate of late gubernatorial candidate Kevin Kamenetz; new Washington Post-UM poll finds Democrats largely undecided in gubernatorial primary; Democratic governor candidates back on TV for another debate; five arrested in Poor People’s Campaign protest at State House; Sen. Jennings endorses former district director to replace Del. McDonough; and judge questions Del. Impallaria on stalled Muslim community development.

State Roundup, June 4, 2018

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After the floods, Ellicott City residents, businesses wonder whether rebuilding is worth it and whether government could have done more to prevent floods; Gov. Hogan officially launches his campaign in a hangar in Hagerstown; before launch, Hogan rallies Montgomery County Asian-American community; Vignarajah siblings, both candidates, resolve campaign finance reporting issues by loaning their campaigns declared funds; Maryland Matters profiles the 33 running for four Montgomery County Council at-large seats; and Arundel considers ban of plastic foam containers.