UNCERTIFIED VOTE TALLY SHOWS FIVE ASSEMBLY INCUMBENTS ARE OUT: Local election boards were scheduled to finish ballot-counting Monday, and while there are still 17 days before the election is certified — with time for possible recounts after that — the few primary elections still hanging in the balance came into sharper focus. According to vote tallies from the state Board of Elections, about five state legislative incumbents lost in the primary and won’t be rejoining their colleagues in Annapolis in January: Senate Majority Leader Nancy King (D-Montgomery), Sen. Dalya Attar (D-Baltimore City) and Dels. Frank Conaway Jr. (D-Baltimore City), Kevin Hornberger (R-Cecil) and Stephanie Smith (D-Baltimore City). William Ford/Maryland Matters.
STATE ELECTIONS BOARD PLANS TO QUESTION BALLOT VENDOR: The Maryland State Board of Elections is planning to bring its mail ballot vendor in for questioning after a massive error forced the reissue of hundreds of thousands of absentee ballots. The board has invited officials from Taylor Print & Visual Impressions to its July 23rd meeting to ask what went wrong. Brenda Wintrode/The Baltimore Banner.
PSC FREEZES BGE’s REQUESTED RATE HIKE: A proposed rate hike request filed by Baltimore Gas and Electric has been put on hold — at least for now. The Maryland Public Service Commission stated Monday that current rates for BGE customers are frozen and will remain unchanged until a decision is reached. Dominick Philippe-Auguste/WMAR-TV News.
- The utility company last week filed a $156.1 million rate case with the Maryland Public Service Commission — a move that would increase residential customers’ electric bills by an estimated average of $8 per month. Bria Overs/The Baltimore Banner.
STATE BILL THAT WOULD HAVE CUT TOLL DEBTS DIED IN COMMITTEE: A Maryland bill that could have helped drivers reduce massive toll debts died in committee before reaching the governor’s desk, leaving thousands of drivers with no clear path to relief. Senate Bill 956/HB1283 passed the Senate but stalled in the House Environment and Transportation Committee. The subcommittee chair said the committee ran out of time to fully evaluate the bill and bring it to a vote. Mallory Sofastaii/WMAR-TV News.
MOORE DECRIES WEALTHY INTEREST GROUPS; WHAT DOES HIS WAR CHEST SHOW? Gov. Wes Moore argued in the Jubilee program Surrounded this weekend that billionaires, corporations and wealthy interest groups wield too much influence over American politics, calling the role of big money in elections “disgusting” and saying campaign donations should never be “equated as a voice or a vote.” In the latest reporting period, Moore raised more than $800,000 and reported more than $6 million in his campaign account. His donors span both ends of the donor spectrum, with thousands of contributions under $200 sitting alongside several $6,000 donations. Mennatalla Ibrahim/The Baltimore Sun.
PRIMARY TESTED BA CO’s FIRST PUBLIC FINANCING; IT WORKED FOR SOME: Baltimore County had never elected a Black woman to the council when Makeda Scott launched a campaign for the new District 3. Scott believed her chances to win were heightened by the county’s new public financing system, approved by referendum in 2020. The June 23 primary marked the first test of public financing in the county. With some votes left to be counted, at least three publicly financed candidates – including Scott — have won their primaries. Sapna Bansil/The Baltimore Banner.
BA CO COUNCIL OKs GENDER-NEUTRAL TERMS IN COUNTY CODE: The Baltimore County Council on Monday approved an overhaul of language used in the county code, which will replace words such “councilman,” “fireman” and “policeman” with gender-neutral terms. Introduced at the request of County Executive Kathy Klausmeier’s administration, the bill will require the text of the county code to use gender-neutral language. The measure ws approved in a 5-2 vote. Natalie Jones/The Baltimore Sun.
ARUNDEL PRE-K & K TEACHERS NOW ASSIGNED DIAPER DUTY: A policy that takes effect this fall instructs Anne Arundel teachers and staff who work with kids in pre-K and kindergarten to help them put on underwear, diapers and pull-ups; sit on and get off the toilet or changing table; and cleanse afterward if they can’t do it themselves. Some of those students have special needs, while plenty of others do not. School board members say the guidance, while divisive, is necessary to formalize current practice and accommodate the growing number of children coming to school unable to use the bathroom independently. Teachers who oppose it say the responsibility is an undue burden and raises potential health risks. Jessica Calefati and Maya Lora/The Baltimore Banner.
COMMENTARY: VAN HOLLEN TEST DRIVES A PRESIDENTIAL BID: Chris Van Hollen took a trip to New Hampshire last month, and he wants everyone to know it wasn’t quite what it looked like. “I went to New Hampshire because I was invited, but I would say kind of kicking the tires a little bit,” Van Hollen told the On NOTUS podcast. Van Hollen can kick whatever tires he wants, but before Van Hollen gets too far down this road, someone should hand him the file on how this has gone for Marylanders before. Because it hasn’t gone well. Ever. Brian Griffiths/The Duckpin.
SARAH DAVID PREPS TO BECOME BA CO’s 3rd STATE’S ATTY: Sarah David says she will put together a transition team, as she prepares to become Baltimore County’s next state’s attorney. David’s victory over incumbent Scott Shellenberger in the Democratic primary was certified Monday by the Baltimore County Board of Elections, and she more than doubled the number of votes Shellenberger received. David has no opponent in the General Election. John Lee/WYPR-FM.
- David finished with 54% of the vote, compared to 27% for Shellenberger. Lauren Lipscomb, the head of Baltimore City’s Conviction Integrity Unit, received 20%. The Pikesville native is on track to be sworn into office in January, becoming just the third person in more than 50 years to serve as the county’s top prosecutor. Sapna Bansil and Céilí Doyle/The Baltimore Banner.
