AFTER FILING DEADLINE, WHO’s RUNNING FOR WHAT AGAINST WHO? After Tuesday’s filing deadline, more than a third of the incumbents in the Maryland Senate are running for reelection unopposed. Seventeen of the 47 senators — 15 Democrats and two Republicans — currently have no opponent in either the primary or general election. Len Lazarick/Maryland Reporter.
- The deadline determined who will be on the ballot for state and federal offices in the June primary. In the race for governor, it’s a crowded field, particularly for Republicans. Ben Mause/The Baltimore Sun.
- Among roughly 70 candidates filing for legislative or congressional seats was former Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker III, also a former gubernatorial candidate, who filed for the crowded Democratic primary to succeed retiring Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-5th). A total of 30 candidates have signed up for Hoyer’s seat, 24 of them Democrats. Bryan Sears/Maryland Matters.
SURVEY OF STATE SENATORS FINDS REDISTRICTING BILL WOULD FAIL: In a survey of Maryland’s 47 state senators on redistricting, The Banner found that the bill to change the maps would fail if brought to a vote today. The bill, which includes a constitutional amendment, would need 29 votes to pass. Ten Democrats and 12 Republicans said they opposed the bill. Of the remaining 24 Democrats, five said yes — they want the state to redistrict — and 19 did not choose a clear position. Brenda Wintrode and Madeleine O’Neill/The Baltimore Banner.
‘ELOPEMENT’ BILLS BOOST RESOURCES FOR THOSE WITH AUTISM WHO WANDER: The LEAD Act – Laila’s Elopement Awareness and Dissemination Act – is the package of bills affecting how schools, health insurance and state agencies respond to the “elopement” of children with autism – when they walk away and go missing — as well as a specific bill that would require police training for situations involving elopement. Danielle Brown/Maryland Matters.
CONFIRMATION OF MOORE’s TRANSPORTATION SECTY PICK DELAYED: State lawmakers held off on confirming Gov. Wes Moore’s nominee for transportation secretary Monday evening over funding for Baltimore’s public transit system. Moore named Kathryn “Katie” Thomson, a former federal transportation official, to the role in December, pending permanent approval by the state Senate. Daniel Zawodny/The Baltimore Banner.
FBI QUESTIONS GOP CAMPAIGN TREASURER ON $100,000 FUND DISCREPANCY: A longtime Maryland Republican campaign treasurer has been questioned by federal authorities in connection with a six-figure campaign finance discrepancy. Sources not authorized to speak to the media about the situation said that James Appel has been questioned by the FBI regarding more than $100,000 in what they described as an inconsistent bank balance tied to Del. Kathy Szeliga’s campaign finance account. Szeliga, a Baltimore County Republican, did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Gary Collins/The Baltimore Sun.
MDGOP URGES CANDIDATES TO USE SOFTWARE PLATFORM EXCLUSIVE TO DNC: The Maryland Republican Party, in an online guide, encouraged its candidates to use a software platform to help candidates target voters. That wouldn’t be unusual — except that the platform that the GOP suggested is administered by the Democratic National Committee. It is for the exclusive use of Democratic state parties and candidates. Jeff Barker/The Baltimore Sun.
WHAT MARYLAND LAWMAKERS DID DURING THE STATE OF THE UNION: In a sign of extraordinary partisan tensions, many Democratic lawmakers, including both of Maryland’s senators and several members of the congressional delegation, boycotted President Trump’s State of the Union speech in protest of Trump’s policies. Sen. Chris Van Hollen and Rep. April Delaney attended an alternative rally on the National Mall, the “People’s State of the Union.” Rep. Jamie Raskin invited the brother and sister-in-law of Virginia Giuffre, a prominent accuser of Epstein who died by suicide last year. Rep. Johnny Olszewski appeared glued to his phone in the chamber as he fired off social media posts in response to the president. Liam Bowman of Capital News Service/Maryland Reporter.
BA CO COUNCIL BEGINS CONSIDERING PAY, PENSION HIKE REPEAL: As the Baltimore County Council begins mulling whether to repeal legislation that could double their pensions if higher salaries are adopted later this year, several council members are making clear that they do not approve of the proposed pay hikes. Natalie Jones/The Baltimore Sun.
BALTIMORE IG SUES CITY OVER ACCESS TO GOV’T RECORDS: Baltimore Inspector General Isabel Mercedes Cumming filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the city, alleging its government launched an “unprecedented attack” on her office’s independence in a dispute over access to records. Justin Fenton and Emily Opilo/The Baltimore Banner.
