TRONE-PARROTT RACE LIKELY VERY COMPETITIVE: The November rematch between Rep. David Trone (D) and Del. Neil Parrott (R) in the race for Maryland’s Sixth Congressional District is likely to be very competitive, according to recent polls. The Cook Report rates the district D+2. FiveThirtyEight rates the district R+1. Two years ago, Trone, 66, who has served in Congress since 2019, defeated Parrott, 52, by about 20 percentage points. Bryan Renbaum/MarylandReporter.com.
MIZEUR THUMPS HARRIS OVER TRUMP: Heather Mizeur, a former state delegate and 2014 gubernatorial candidate, is seeking to oust U.S. Rep. Andy Harris, a sixth-term conservative loyal to former Republican President Donald Trump. Mizeur is working hard to remind voters that Harris was among nearly a dozen Republican members of Congress who gathered with Trump in December 2020 and discussed having Vice President Mike Pence reject the results of the presidential election. Jeff Barker/The Baltimore Sun.
STATE LAUNCHES OFFSHORE WIND JOBS TRAINING PROGRAM: A group of employers, unions and other partners are coming together with the Maryland Department of Labor to create a multimillion-dollar statewide workforce training initiative centered on supporting the state’s growing offshore wind industry. Johanna Alonso/The Daily Record.
ELRICH CONTINUES TO LEAD IN MO CO EX RACE: Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich’s lead in his re-election bid in the Democratic primary against challenger David Blair shrank by 19 votes Wednesday night, as county election workers and canvassers concluded 10 days of counting and examining mail-in ballots. That means Elrich leads by 154 votes, heading into the final days of counting and canvassing. Staff/Bethesda Beat.
MO CO SEEKS DELAY IN TOLL LANE DECISION: With the U.S. Department of Transportation poised to issue its decision on an ambitious Capital Beltway and I-270 toll lanes plan, Montgomery County’s top planner accused state highway officials of running roughshod over Maryland law. Bruce DePuyt/Maryland Matters.
SITTING JUDGES FAIR WELL BUT DEBATE OVER PARTISAN ELECTIONS CONTINUE: 2022 is turning out to be a pretty good year for the so-called “sitting judges.” But the perennial debate over the wisdom of choosing circuit court judges in Maryland in partisan elections — when appellate and district court judges are not subject to such a process — will again emerge in coming weeks; Maryland’s judicial branch is preparing to hold public hearings on the best way to select judges, with an eye toward the 2023 session of the General Assembly. Louis Peck/Maryland Matters.
CHALLENGES POSSIBLE TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY RACES: Del. Nick Charles welcomed four candidates who received Democratic nominations in state legislative races in Prince George’s County. However, while the county’s Board of Elections had counted all the ballots by Friday, July 29, there could be recounts coming in Districts 23 and 24. The Maryland General Assembly approved legislation this year for candidates who petition for a recount must be down by at least .25%. The previous figure stood at 1%. Candidates running for statewide offices must decide by Thursday, Aug. 4 to request a recount. William Ford/The Washington Informer.
IMPALLARIA SEEKS DISMISSAL OF CHARGES: The attorney representing Del. Rick Impallaria against criminal allegations that include theft of state funds and misconduct in office is hoping to have those charges dismissed. The filing on Impallaria’s behalf in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court is a series of standard motions filed in similar criminal cases. Bryan Sears/The Daily Record.
TOP OLSZEWSKI ADVISER RESIGNS: Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr.’s closest adviser has resigned from his post and will be replaced for now by the administration’s communications director, the county announced Wednesday. Taylor DeVille/The Baltimore Banner.
MISSING FLASH DRIVES: B’MORE ELECTIONS BOARD CERTIFIES ELECTION: The Baltimore City Board of Elections assembled for a quick online meeting to certify the July 19 primary election – a formality at this point to most people in the city, but not to all. Because of the report of 12 missing flash drives containing vote totals on election night, candidate Kimberly Parks-Banks has asked for the certification to be delayed. Fern Shen/Baltimore Brew.
B’MORE OK’s $200,000 IN POLICE SETTLEMENTS: Baltimore’s spending board approved three settlements Wednesday involving Baltimore Police, including $60,000 to be paid to a man who was arrested by the city’s rogue Gun Trace Task Force. The Board of Estimates unanimously approved the three settlements, which total $220,000. Emily Opilo/The Baltimore Sun.
