IN MARYLAND’s FEW PURPLE DISTRICTS, RACES ARE COMPETITIVE: Only about a dozen of the 188 state legislative races could be considered competitive. Anne Arundel County is the heart of purple Maryland, with several competitive races. But there are also an Eastern Shore district Democrats are trying to flip and a Democratic Harford County senator who has held on despite the county’s Republican lean. Pamela Wood/The Baltimore Banner.
MOORE BACKS PLAN TO TIE SOME DRUG COSTS TO FEDERAL PRICES: Gov. Wes Moore offered his “public and loud” support for proposed legislation that would allow the state to more quickly reduce the price of some expensive drugs for non-Medicare recipients by piggybacking on the federally negotiated price limits under Medicare. Danielle Brown/Maryland Matters.
- President Donald Trump and Gov. Wes Moore don’t agree on much. But Moore found himself Wednesday in the unusual position of begrudgingly acknowledging that the Trump administration is doing something right when it comes to prescription drug prices. The federal government now negotiates drug prices for Medicare, and Moore wants Maryland to piggyback off that work to cap prices here. Pamela Wood/The Baltimore Banner.
U.S. REP. ANDY HARRIS’s TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD NIGHT: Andy Harris had a tough night. Maryland’s lone Republican member of Congress argued with the audience as much as he did with his Democratic opponent, Dan Schwartz, on Tuesday. He lashed out. He told people they were rude and not respecting his right to freedom of speech. He finger-wagged at his challenger. Harris’ combative approach continued after the debate at a news conference with reporters, which has since gone viral. Pamela Wood/The Baltimore Banner.
- Here is the audio followed by video of Harris’ exchange with Banner reporters, at times focusing on columnist Rick Hutzell. The Baltimore Banner.
- And here is the video of the exchange between Harris and Cat Murphy of Capital News Service that has gone viral. In it Harris claims her videotaping without his permission was illegal, which it wasn’t. The Baltimore Banner.
- Cat Murphy of Capital News Service speaks with CNN about U.S. Rep. Andy Harris’ volatile reaction to her recording an interview with him among a group of other reporters who were doing the same thing following his debate with Dan Schwartz. Jake Tapper/CNN.
- Harris’ attempt to eject Murphy from the media availability to which she was invited, along with other members of the press, mirrors President Donald Trump’s embattled relationship with reporters. Harris lashed out at Murphy after she asked him to respect the press. Brenda Wintrode/The Baltimore Banner.
HUTZELL: HARRIS COMES OUT SWINGING, AT A COLLEGE JOURNALIST: Cat Murphy stood there, determined to remain composed as Andy Harris threatened to have her arrested. In that moment, Harris, an eight-term Republican U.S. representative, revealed his true character. At the end of the campaign in Maryland’s 1st District, one in which he has been largely silent, Harris finally came out swinging — at a 22-year-old college journalist. Rick Hutzell/The Baltimore Banner.
WANNA BE A JUDGE? LAW DEGREE NOT REQUIRED: You don’t need a law degree to become a judge in much of Maryland. In fact, you don’t even need legal experience. A farmer, flight attendant, corrections officer and minister have all become judges in the state. In 18 of Maryland’s 24 jurisdictions, orphans’ court judges, who are voted on every four years in the gubernatorial elections, do not need to be licensed attorneys. In these jurisdictions, at least 45 of the 54 orphans’ court judges elected in 2022 don’t have a license to practice law in Maryland. Sofia Montoya-Deck/The Baltimore Sun.
U.S. DECLARE POWER GRID EMERGENCY FOR MID-ATLANTIC: The U.S. Department of Energy issued an emergency order Tuesday aimed at preventing power blackouts in Maryland and throughout the mid-Atlantic during a period of unusually warm fall weather that’s boosting demand. Lorraine Mirabella/The Baltimore Sun.
WHAT HAPPENED TO HOWARD COUNTY REPUBLICANS? Even for deep-blue Howard County, where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans more than 2-to-1, this election represents a departure from previous cycles. No GOP candidates entered the race for county executive, Howard’s top elected position, or most other local offices such as state’s attorney, register of wills and sheriff. Out of more than a dozen people who pursued County Council seats this spring, just one had an R next to their name. Lillian Reed/The Baltimore Banner.
REDEVELOPMENT OR NOT, MAYOR WANTS HARBORPLACE PAVILIONS RAZED: Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said he wants the Harborplace pavilions torn down — regardless of whether the developer behind the reimagining is ready to build. “They have to go,” Scott said at The Banner’s annual Impact Maryland event Wednesday. “We have to remind ourselves of something: Those pavilions have been outdated for 20 years,” Scott said. “We also have to be honest. Shopping malls are dead. So, yes, this should be demolished.” Giacomo Bologna and Hallie Miller/The Baltimore Banner.
MONUMENT HONORING MALCOLM X UNVEILED IN ANNAPOLIS: A double-sided monument sharing quotes and photos of civil rights activist Malcolm X was unveiled Wednesday at the Michael E. Busch Annapolis Library. More than 100 people came for the unveiling and to hear from various federal, state and local officials. Malcolm X, who died at the age of 39 in 1965, had no direct connection to Maryland, but that was not a deterrent to honoring him, said Sen. Shaneka Henson (D-Anne Arundel). William Ford/Maryland Matters.
- The largely privately funded memorial is double-sided and features photos of Malcolm X from his public life and a brief biography. Inside the memorial is time capsule filled with predictions from public figures and elected officials about what race relations will look like in the United States 50 years from now, said Carl Snowden, the convener of the Caucus of African American Leaders. Cody Boteler/The Baltimore Banner.
- Malcolm X’s views originally were rooted in racial separation, but his evolution into a global human rights leader before he was assassinated in 1965 was an inspiration for the commemoration. Ahmad Garnett/The Baltimore Sun.
