COX DISMISSES NEW POLL, TARGETS MOORE’s BOOK: Seemingly undaunted by a new public opinion poll, Republican state Del. Dan Cox said his gubernatorial bid is “within striking distance” of his main rival, Democrat Wes Moore. Speaking to reporters on Monday, the Frederick County lawmaker appeared to shrug off suggestions that — 50 days before the election — he is in danger of being routed at the polls. Bruce DePuyt/Maryland Matters.
- A new poll shows Moore with a 22-point advantage over Cox. “I think the Goucher (poll) is an opportunity for all of Maryland to dig in and say, ‘it’s time to go, we’re rolling,’” said Cox. “This is a very within-striking-distance race. We’re excited. Mr. Moore spent more than $8 million, and I’m running this close to him.” Bryan Sears/The Daily Record.
- Cox also called on school officials Monday to remove his opponent Wes Moore’s book from the Baltimore City public school curriculum, parroting a claim over where Moore was born and raised that was addressed by the Democratic nominee’s campaign earlier this year. Hannah Gaskill and Sam Janesch/The Baltimore Sun.
- “I think Mr. Moore needs to come clean and the book needs to be withdrawn from the curriculum,” Cox said. Moore spokesman Brian Adam Jones went on to say that Cox was “peddling baseless conspiracy theories.” Erin Cox/The Washington Post.
WORKGROUP BEGINS STUDYING BEST WAYS TO PICK JUDGES: A workgroup created by Maryland’s judicial branch to undertake studies and conduct hearings on how best to choose judges kicked off its effort with an initial meeting Monday evening. Formally titled the Legislative Committee Workgroup to Study Judicial Selection, the group — consisting of representatives of interested organizations as well as attorneys and current and retired judges — will issue a report “on the current state of judicial elections” and make recommendations “for change or to retain the status quo,” according to a statement on its website. Louis Peck/Maryland Matters.
POLL FINDS MUCH SUPPORT FOR TEACHING ABOUT RACISM IN SCHOOLS: Maryland residents remains staunchly in favor of public schools playing a role in informing students about the profound effects of racism in American society, according to new statewide polling, even as Republicans across the nation have railed against teaching about structural racism in public schools. The poll found that 64% of respondents believe schools should teach about how racism exists in society and its institutions but 41% disagreed. While a larger percentage of Black respondents, 83%, agreed with the statement, a majority of the white respondents, 60%, also expressed support. Liz Bowie and Kristen Griffith/The Baltimore Banner.
OPINION: MARYLAND IS STUCK USING UNPROVEN ‘SOLUTIONS:’ Maryland eighth-graders can’t read at even a basic level, and more than one-third can’t do basic math — the same as 20 years ago. More than a half-million Marylanders live in poverty, and we haven’t reduced our poverty rate in more than 30 years. Why are we stuck? Maryland, like other states, keeps rolling out well-meaning but unproven programs. Many programs, no matter how plausible-sounding or well-intentioned, simply don’t work. Jon Baron/The Washington Post.
UNIONS UNITE TO DEFEAT SEN. HOUGH FOR FREDERICK COUNTY EXEC: Two Maryland unions have joined forces to form a political action committee whose first order of business has been to run a TV ad attacking state Sen. Michael Hough, the Republican nominee for county executive who is in a close race with County Councilmember Jessica Fitzwater (D). Josh Kurtz/Maryland Matters.
BA CO COUNCIL OKs MEMBERS OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD: The Baltimore County Council on Monday confirmed eight initial members of the county’s first-ever police accountability board, including a former police officer, a social worker, a registered nurse and community and faith leaders. Christine Condon/The Baltimore Sun.
- The police accountability board will receive public complaints about police conduct and recommend policy changes. County Executive Johnny Olszewski nominated the board members to the county council. John Lee/WYPR-FM.
VAN HOLLEN CALLS FOR REPAIR TO FIRE STATION AT BETHESDA NAVAL CAMPUS: U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen is calling for the Navy to pay for improvements at the fire station on the campus of Naval Support Activity Bethesda, which has fallen into such disrepair that a firefighter was seriously injured when he partially fell through the floor this summer. Dan Schere/Bethesda Beat.
