MARYLAND’s GROWING MULTIRACIAL VOTERS CHANGE IDENTITY POLITICS: Maryland’s multiracial population has seen a big boost since 2020, to the tune of nearly 52,000 new multiracial residents. There are now around 534,000 people who identify as multiracial in the state. Of those, almost two-thirds are at least 18 years old and multiracial adults now make up about 7% of Maryland’s electorate. John-John Williams/The Baltimore Banner.
MILLIONS CONTINUE TO POUR INTO ALSOBROOKS-HOGAN RACE: Millions of dollars continue to pour into Maryland’s Senate election between former Gov. Larry Hogan (R) and Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D), new campaign finance reports show. The candidates themselves reported big hauls over the past three months in the tight race to replace departing U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (D). And those efforts have been supplemented by secondary fundraising committees and robust outside spending — including a pro-Hogan political action committee that has raised an eye-popping $27 million so far and has spent almost $11 million. Josh Kurtz/Maryland Matters.
- In this most recent quarter, Maryland’s Future, the pro-Hogan super PAC responsible for the lion’s share of advertising, took in significant contributions from: James S. Davis, chairman of New Balance ($1 million), Stephen A. Wynn of Wynn Resorts ($1 million), Manzanita Action Fund in California ($1 million), Stephen A. Schwarzman, chairman of the Blackstone Group investment management company ($1.5 million), Thomas P. Peterffy, chairman of Interactive Brokers brokerage firm ($1.5 million) and the Senate Leadership Fund ($2 million). Pamela Wood/The Baltimore Banner.
SELF-DONATION AIDS DELANEY’s FUNDING LEAD OVER PARROTT: Former U.S. Commerce Department official April McClain Delaney (D) has opened a wide fundraising lead over former state Del. Neil C. Parrott (R) in the state’s most competitive U.S. House election, fueled in part by the more than $2 million she has loaned her campaign. Josh Kurtz/Maryland Matters.
UTILITY REGULATORS SEEK OVERHAUL OF GRID AUCTIONS: Maryland utility regulators want to overhaul the way the region’s electric grid operator ensures reliable service, saying the current process saddles customers with unfair and excessive rates. The Maryland Public Service Commission, a state agency that regulates public utilities, has asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to reform an auction process used by PJM Interconnection, the grid operator for the mid-Atlantic region. PJM conducts periodic auctions to ensure that sufficient electric generation capacity is available to meet peak demands in the future. Lorraine Mirabella/The Baltimore Sun.
$80M FEDERAL GRANT FOR EV CHARGING STATIONS ALONG I-95: An $80 million federal grant will help Maryland build electric vehicle charging infrastructure for trucks and other commercial vehicles along the Interstate 95 corridor. State and federal officials gathered at the Biden Welcome Center near Newark last Thursday to celebrate the investment. “It’s a really exciting time in transportation as you prepare for clean cars and clean trucks on all Maryland roads along the Northeast corridor,” said Samantha Biddle, deputy secretary of the Maryland Department of Transportation. Lilly Howard/The Cecil Whig.
STATE LABOR SECRETARY WARNS OF CUTS TO WORKFORCE PROGRAMS: The state needs to be “smarter” about how it funds workforce development programs after a $4.7 million cut in federal funds this year with more cuts expected next year, Maryland Labor Secretary Portia Wu told lawmakers Tuesday. “We’re very dependent on the federal funds,” Wu told a virtual meeting of the legislature’s Joint Audit and Evaluation Committee. “So we are in a situation where state investments in workforce are going to be critical in the coming years.” Danielle Brown/Maryland Matters.
ARUNDEL VOTERS TO FACE FOUR LOCAL BALLOT QUESTIONS: In addition to the statewide Question 1 on whether to enshrine the right to reproductive health care in the Maryland Constitution, Anne Arundel County voters will see four ballot questions Nov. 5, one that would require all meetings and legislative sessions of the County Council to comply with the Maryland Open Meetings Act. Natalie Jones/The Baltimore Sun.
COLUMN: VAN HOLLEN NAVIGATES DEMOCRATS’ DILEMMA – ISRAEL: To the left, two women repeatedly pushed U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen to stop dodging and say whether he would support a resolution to block $20 billion in arms shipments to Israel. To the right, a major Democratic Party donor — who counts friends and loved ones among the roughly 250 hostages taken by Hamas on Oct. 7 — warned of the threat to Israel if that happens. Rick Hutzell/The Baltimore Banner.
HARFORD SCHOOLS SEEKS SECURITY ENHANCEMENTS AFTER FATAL SHOOTING: Harford County public school officials visited the global security technology manufacturer Smiths Detection in Edgewood on Tuesday to evaluate potential security enhancements for school buildings, after a fatal shooting inside Joppatowne High School last month. Matt Hubbard/The Aegis.
KROP REJECTS PLEA DEALS, HEADS TO TRIAL IN MACHINE GUN CASE: Robert Krop, the local business owner accused of conspiring with Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins to illegally acquire machine guns, decided to proceed to trial on Tuesday, rejecting two plea offers from federal prosecutors. Ceoli Jacoby/The Frederick News Post.
JUDGE REJECTS MOSBY REQUEST FOR NIGHTLY CURFEW TO ACCOMMODATE JOB: Federal District Court Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby has rejected former Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby’s request to alter her home detention sentence to a nightly curfew so she can travel for a new job as a mental health and substance abuse supervisor. Mark Reutter/Baltimore Brew.
9 B’MORE NONPROFITS TO TACKLE VACANT HOUSING WITH $4M COMMITMENT: Nine Baltimore nonprofits will receive a cut of a $4 million commitment from JPMorgan Chase to tackle the city’s vacant housing crisis and form a working group that meets regularly to share ideas. Hallie Miller/The Baltimore Banner.
