A legislative audit of the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange that enrolls uninsured people in Medicaid and qualified health insurance plans found “significant deficiencies” in the program. This is a term in auditing standards meant to bring serious problems to the attention of the governing board and not just the executives in charge.
Maryland officials will have to undertake redistricting before the next Census, and David Trone will be the last congressman to represent the district as it stands now; U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings disagrees with President Trump over assertion that Dems can’t both investigate him and work across aisles on policy; record rainfall has damaged the state’s oyster harvest; view Gov. Hogan’s victory charted and mapped; the Sun editorial board sees a dilemma for Dems when it comes to pushing a gubernatorial candidate; Maryland’s Latino voters by and large don’t vote; HoCo Register of Wills Bryon Macfarlane charged with misdemeanor over use of government ID; Republican Mary Beth Carozza’s win over incumbent Dem District 38 state Sen. Jim Mathias was decisive; District 42 voters split their winners between Dems and Republicans; Arundel County did indeed experience the Year of the Woman; and following a clear victory, Mo Co County Exec-elect Marc Elrich must repair relationship with the business community.
Gov. Larry Hogan picked up a greater proportion of the vote in every county than he did in 2014. Voter turnout increased in every county. The Republican governor got a greater proportion of those new votes and also pulled in non-Republican voters. He got a greater proportion of early votes, too.
Three judge federal panel rules that Maryland’s 6th Congressional District was unconstitutionally drawn, meaning state must submit new redistricting plan by March 2019. David Trone’s election to the seat will stand; by all accounts Maryland is out of the running for Amazon’s HQ2 as word continues to bubble that Crystal City in Virginia and Long Island City in New York will be its dual-home; UM Regents tap new chief, who immediately apologizes for bungled personnel decision; Gov. Hogan lays out agenda for 2nd term, pledging to lead from the center; Hogan also blames President Trump for local GOP losses; Washington County remains strongly Republican; with Hogan’s decisive win in blue Maryland, will he take to the national stage?; political pundits weigh in on Hogan victory and see a candidate who appealed to everyone; in Howard County exec race, losing incumbent Allan Kittleman, family congratulate winner Calvin Ball personally; Howard, Baltimore County and Arundel County executives-elect jump into their transitions; and U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings, soon to head the House Oversight Committee, says panel will focus on whether President Trump improperly profiting from his office.
Gov. Larry Hogan makes history as only second Republican governor of Maryland to win re-election since the 1950s; but Hogan’s coattails aren’t long, with incumbent Republican county executives falling to Democratic challengers and his ‘Drive for Five’ effort falling flat, with only two Senate seats turning over; Attorney General Brian Frosh easily wins re-election; both constitutional amendments pass; some voters experienced problems voting; in the State House races, by and large, incumbents win and Dems gain in the House. History is made with political newcomer Sarah Elfreth becoming the youngest state senator; the real surprises were in the county executive race where incumbent Republicans Steve Schuh of Anne Arundel and Allan Kittleman of Howard lost to challengers Steuart Pittman and Calvin Ball, respectively, and progressive Democrat Marc Elrich handily beat back a challenge from well-financed and temporary Independent Nancy Floreen; and in the congressional races, Democratic David Trone trounces Republican Amie Hoeber for the 6th District.
An exuberant, exultant, emotional Gov. Larry Hogan, with bear hugs for everyone in sight, effused one of the stellar quotes of the campaign in a 5-minute victory speech Tuesday night. “Tonight in this deep blue state, in this blue year, with a blue wave, it turns out I can surf and we had a purple surfboard.”
Democrat Ben Jealous, Republican incumbent Gov. Larry Hogan push toward the finish line in last push of the campaign; whoever wins the governor’s mansion, history will be made: either a two-term Republican or the state’s first black governor; one thing to watch for: Does Gov. Hogan have coattails? Drive for Five campaign concentrates on Baltimore County and the Eastern Shore; where are the vulnerable state Senate seats?; Lobbyist Bruce Bereano helped fund anti-Jealous flyer; congressional hopeful David Trone hits Republican opponent Amie Hoeber hard in new commercial. Hoeber says she is “truly furious” over characterization; Baltimore County exec race turns to Dundalk in pre-election day push; what to watch for in Frederick, Washington, Carroll, Montgomery and Anne Arundel counties; and federal judge refuses Justice Department request to pause Maryland case on Trump Organization and emoluments.
What convinced the UM Board of Regents to reject President Loh to save Coach Durkin might have been Durkin’s own words; UM students seek a voice in choice of next president, ask that Board of Regents be elected; UM Senate criticizes regents for “exceeding authority;” Court of Special Appeals says judge exceeded her authority in holding five state Health Department officials in civil contempt; Supreme Court agrees to hear case over Bladensburg Cross; Amazon reportedly in advanced talks with Virginia over HQ2; Facebook postings by two Republican State House candidates from Anne Arundel being used by opposition; candidates for governor make their final weekend push; while Democrats see momentum building in down-ballot races, it might not be enough to push Ben Jealous into governor’s mansion; civility goes out the window in the flyers in 6th Congressional District race; and in the Anne Arundel exec race, incumbent Steve Schuh is criticized over county land purchase while Steuart Pittman asks developers for donations.
Maryland and neighboring states in the Mid-Atlantic region are in the grips of a transportation crisis. Roads and highways that used to be clogged by heavy “rush hour” traffic are now impassable in three- to four-hour cycles, in never-ending congestion.
MarylandReporter.com is 9 years old today; in wake of UM football controversy, Board of Regents chair James T. Brady resigns. Brady has been a close advisor to Gov. Larry Hogan and had chaired his last election campaign; Hogan hints at more changes at UM, says he was shocked at Regents’ decision to retain Coach Durkin; now, accreditation board looking at UM, a huge donor is on hold and a fight breaks out between UM football players; two opioid addicts ask state board to include cannabis use as acceptable method of breaking addiction; organizations offer help in getting to the polls on Tuesday; early voting ends with record number turning out; despite growing Latino population, getting them to vote is a difficult task; Independent U.S. Senate candidate Neal Simon gets a boost from Gov. Hogan; Montgomery County exec hopeful Robin Ficker has history of shocking others; and more young people seeking office.
Recent Comments