MARYLAND LEADERS SEEK TO UNDO DAMAGE TO STATE UNDER TRUMP: After a dramatic Democratic sweep of the U.S. House and Senate on Tuesday, Maryland leaders are plotting how to take advantage of their party’s new federal power and step into roles that could bolster the state’s influence nationwide. Maryland has been especially hurt by Republican President Donald Trump’s second term, losing 30,000 federal positions, billions of dollars in funding for the NIH in Bethesda and drastic cuts to research institutions like Johns Hopkins University. Ellie Wolfe/The Baltimore Banner.
STATE REPUBLICANS TACKLE TOUGH QUESTION: HOW TO REBUILD? Maryland Republicans emerged from Election Day with fewer seats in the House of Delegates and county governments, another gubernatorial defeat and a difficult question for a party already struggling to compete in one of the nation’s bluest states: How to rebuild? Tinashe Chingarande and Lauren Breunig/The Baltimore Sun.
MOORE, RASKIN & DEMS EYE REDISTRICTING, AND ITS REFORMATION: In a week of big wins for their party, Gov. Wes Moore and other Maryland Democrats were excited to score the added bonus of passing Question 3, the measure that means the party will have more latitude to redraw congressional district boundaries and potentially influence future elections. U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin said, “And we will move forward for real, genuine redistricting reform to get rid of those extreme GOP partisan gerrymanderers.” But as voters cast their ballots, members of both parties told reporters they weren’t sure the ballot measure was a good idea. Claire Huss, Joe Wicke and Cat Murphy/Capital News Service.
- Moore said Wednesday that he wants to see new congressional maps for Maryland after the General Assembly convenes in January and that he is “ready to engage” with lawmakers on the subject of redistricting. Christine Condon/Maryland Matters.
MOORE FOCUSES ON FUTURE: LOWER ENERGY COSTS, SMALL BIZ GROWTH: Democrat Gov. Wes Moore is now focused on the task ahead after he defeated Republican Dan Cox for a second term on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the reelected governor spoke about his victory and his goals for the next four years, including growing small businesses and lowering energy costs. Michelle Richardson/WJZ-TV.
REP. OLSZEWSKI SAYS NEW CONGRESS SHOULD PROBE TRUMP ADMIN: Now that Democrats have control of Congress, Rep. Johnny Olszewski said they should use that power to push legislation and investigate the Trump administration. John Lee/WYPR-FM.
B’MORE VOTERS OK FUND FOR NEWBORNS, CHANGES TO GOV’T STRUCTURE: Baltimore voters approved $280 million in borrowing, created a fund to help families with newborns and cleared the way for sweeping changes to city government Tuesday, giving Mayor Brandon Scott and other city leaders new responsibilities as they prepare to carry out the measures. All nine Baltimore City ballot questions passed, according to unofficial election returns, including proposals to change how the city awards contracts, prepares its budget and oversees its water and wastewater systems. Chevall Pryce/The Baltimore Sun.
PENMAN IS LEAVING HARFORD COUNCIL, BUT CASSILLY CONTINUES LEGAL PURSUIT: Aaron Penman’s days as Harford County councilman are numbered, but that isn’t stopping Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly from trying to reverse the ruling that restored his fellow Republican to the council this year. The county Wednesday asked the Supreme Court of Maryland to overturn an April ruling by an Appellate Court of Maryland panel that reinstated Penman, almost two years after he was removed by a lower court that said he could not serve on the council while employed as a county sheriff’s deputy. Bryan Sears/Maryland Matters.
TWO WHITE HOUSE VETERANS TO JOIN JAWANDO STEERING COMMITTEE: Montgomery County Executive-elect Will Jawando (D) announced a transition steering committee Wednesday, about 17 hours after the polls closed, that will draw on former White House talent and current state and local officials. “Our Moment Montgomery” calls on every resident to be involved in making the county better. Among those on the steering committee are Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary for President Joe Biden (D), and Shalanda Young, who was the first Black woman to lead a Cabinet agency as director of the White House Office of Management and Budget. William Ford/Maryland Matters.
EX-GILMAN CHAPLAIN SENTENCED FOR SEX ABUSE OF STUDENT IN 1970s: A former Gilman School chaplain and teacher will spend up to five years on supervised probation after admitting Wednesday to sexually abusing a student during the 1970s. The Rev. Laurence LaPointe, 81, of Putnam, Conn., pleaded guilty in Baltimore Circuit Court to fourth-degree sex offense and assault. Between 1976 and 1977, prosecutors reported, he victimized a boy in his early teens after inviting him back to a campus apartment. Dylan Segelbaum/The Baltimore Banner.
BETHESDA DEFENSE CO. SETTLES WHITE-DISCRIMINATION CLAIM FOR $29.5M: Bethesda-based defense company Lockheed Martin has agreed to pay approximately $29.5 million to settle federal allegations that it discriminated against employees and job applicants based on race or sex. The settlement resolves allegations that Lockheed discriminated against white employees in performance assessments, bonuses and other compensation decisions. The federal government will receive $22 million and roughly $7.5 million will go to more than 1,000 effected employees, according to the release. Bridget Byrne/The Baltimore Sun.
