GOP GOV HOPEFULS HAVE LOW-DOLLAR CAMPAIGN FUNDS: This year’s crop of Republican gubernatorial hopefuls are putting together low-dollar campaigns as they vie for a chance to go up against deep-pocketed incumbent Democratic Gov. Wes Moore, according to the latest round of campaign finance reports. Pamela Wood/The Baltimore Banner.
HARRY DUNN SUES TRUMP ADMIN OVER $1.8B FUND FOR CAPITOL RIOTERS: Maryland congressional candidate Harry Dunn and another police officer who defended the Capitol against a pro-Trump mob on Jan. 6, 2021, sued the Trump administration on Wednesday to try to block the creation of a nearly $1.8 billion fund that they say will be used to reward the rioters and right-wing militia groups. Luke Broadwater/The New York Times.
- Dunn, who retired from the Capitol Police, and Daniel Hodges, a D.C. police officer, said in their lawsuit that the Justice Department’s new fund could enrich the far-right extremists who led the attack on the Capitol and embolden those who commit violence in President Donald Trump’s name. Salvador Rizzo/The Washington Post.
ENSURING YOUR REPLACEMENT BALLOT GETS COUNTED: Maryland is scrambling to fix a mail-in ballot printing error that means most mail voters will be receiving a replacement ballot. The state elections agency revealed last week a contractor error meant that some voters were sent the wrong party’s ballot. How can you make sure your ballot counts for the June 23rd primary? Brenda Wintrode/The Baltimore Banner.
STATE HOPES TO NAIL DOWN TIMELINE FOR NEW KEY BRIDGE BUILDERS: It remains unclear when the new Francis Scott Key Bridge will be completed, but one timeline element is now known: Maryland officials want to have new builders on board by summer 2027. Hayes Gardner/The Baltimore Banner.
PENSION BOARD SEEKS PUBLIC TRUSTEES: The Board of Trustees for the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission Employees’ Retirement System (ERS) is seeking two trustees, one each from Montgomery County and Prince George’s County. Public Trustees serve a three-year term, from July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2029. The Board holds fiduciary oversight of the ERS for the sole benefit of members and beneficiaries. County residents interested in serving must submit a statement of qualifications and resume, by 5:00 p.m. on May 27, 2026 to [email protected]. For more information, contact [email protected] or (301) 454-1415 or visit us at ers.mncppc.org.
STATE PARKS EXPANDS VEHICLE RESERVATION SYSTEM: Maryland State Parks are expanding their vehicle entry reservation system to help manage long wait lines this summer. Following the Covid-19 pandemic, visitorship spiked significantly during the summer season, forcing capacity closures at five parks. So in the spring and summer of 2025, the state launched a pilot program that requires visitors to make advance reservations on weekends and holidays for daytime visits between Memorial Day and Labor Day at those five parks. Sarah Petrowich/WYPR-FM.
- Under the agreement between the Department of Natural Resources and Kaizen Laboratories, which developed the reservation system, a 23% fee will be tacked onto state park entry fees, all of which will go to the company. State park fees are usually between $3 and $5 per visitor, meaning fees would increase up to $1.15 per person. Christine Condon and Bryan Sears/Maryland Matters.
BELTWAY BIGSHOTS BOOST A POPULIST IN DEM CONGRESSIONAL PRIMARY: In the hyper-leveraged world of Washington lobbying, you judge a candidate by who throws their cash-drenched welcome parties. Take Harry Jarin, a supposed small-business owner and volunteer firefighter running a insurgent, populist-flavored campaign in the Democratic primary for Maryland’s 5th Congressional District. On the trail, Jarin fashions himself as a grassroots alternative, taking swipes at his primary opponents for being “too cozy” with Democratic PACs. Yet, a leaked invitation to a Feb. 18, 2026, Meet & Greet fundraiser on Capitol Hill tells a different story. Barry O’Connell /The Maryland Wire.
ELEVATOR PITCHES FROM TWO VYING FOR BA CO EXEC: The five candidates vying for the Democratic nomination for Baltimore County executive have been homing in on their message to voters. With the June 23 primary now about a month away, we get the “elevator pitches” the candidates are using to try to get your vote. On Wednesday we heard from Councilman Julian Jones and attorney Nick Stewart. John Lee/WYPR-FM.
WIFE OF WHITE SUPREMACIST RUNS FOR FREDERICK GOP CENTRAL COMMITTEE: Infamous white supremacist Jared Taylor is the one who has been in the news recently. But it’s his wife who’s on the ballot. Jared Taylor’s wife Kate is one of 16 candidates running for the Frederick County Republican Central Committee in the June 23 primary election. Brian Griffiths/The Duckpin.
CAN SCOTT SHELLENBERGER HOLD ON TO HIS JOB? Elected five times, Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger faces the toughest race of his career this year. Two experienced prosecutors, Sarah David and Lauren Lipscomb, are challenging him for the job. Rona Kobell and Céilí Doyle/The Baltimore Banner.
HARFORD COUNCIL OKs CASSILLY DATA CENTER BAN: The Harford County Council on Tuesday night voted unanimously to approve an amendment to consider County Executive Bob Cassilly’s bill banning data centers (Bill No. 26-011) emergency legislation. Aliza Worthington/Baltimore Fishbowl.
CECIL COUNTY TO LOSE ALL HOSPITAL LABOR & DELIVERY SERVICES: ChristianaCare Union Hospital will stop delivering babies on June 30, leaving Cecil County without hospital-based labor and delivery services. Expectant mothers will be directed to ChristianaCare’s Newark campus in Delaware, about 13 miles away, or to UM Upper Chesapeake Medical Center Bel Air in Harford County, roughly 40 miles away. Mallory Sofastaii/WMAR-TV News.
