ON A QUIET FIRST DAY OF EARLY VOTING, OFFICIALS MAKE A LOT OF NOISE ABOUT QUESTION 3: If approved by voters, Question 3 would amend the Maryland Constitution to change the rules applying to the ways congressional districts are drawn, making it easier for the party in control to draw a map that favors it. William J. Ford/Maryland Matters.
A RECORD NUMBER OF WOMEN ARE RUNNING FOR STATE LEGISLATURES THIS YEAR: A record number of women are running for state legislative seats this November, more than two-thirds of whom are Democrats. Kevin Hardy/Maryland Matters.
HERE’S WHAT GOV. MOORE AND DAN COX PROMISED MARYLANDERS WITH DISABILITIES: Gov. Wes Moore and Republican gubernatorial nominee Dan Cox pledged Thursday to protect the rights of Marylanders with disabilities and respond to changes in federal disability policy as they outlined plans to improve access to healthcare, transportation and voting. Tinashe Chingarande/The Baltimore Sun.
LOWER ENERGY COSTS A FOR PICKARD, DEMOCRAT VYING FOR AA CO EXECUTIVE: Allison Pickard, the Democratic nominee for Anne Arundel County executive, said that, if elected, she would quickly move to implement a pilot program to lower energy costs. Pickard, of Millersville, represents District 2 on the Anne Arundel County Council and has done so since 2018. Before that, she served on the Anne Arundel County Board of Education in 2015 and 2016. Benjamin Rothstein/The Baltimore Sun.
WES MOORE WON’T COMMIT TO FOUR YEARS. IS ARUNA MILLER READY TO LEAD MARYLAND? Maryland Gov. Wes Moore won’t say whether he will serve another four years if reelected. His lieutenant governor, Aruna Miller, won’t say whether she’s prepared to take his place. Gary Collins/Fox 45 News.
TRUMP IS ON MARYLANDER’S MINDS, IF NOT THEIR BALLOTS, AS EARLY VOTING STARTS: Maryland’s in-person, early voting began across the state Thursday — and a politician who isn’t on the ballot motivated many to head to the polls. Pamela Wood/The Banner.
ONCE A RARITY, LATINO CANDIDATES ARE NOW UP AND DOWN THE BALLOT IN LOCAL, STATE RACES: Today, Latinos hold state positions and local office, and work in staff positions throughout state and local government, former Del. Ana Sol Gutierrez said. The Maryland Democratic Party said it is following 21 Latino candidates who are running for state and local offices this fall. Rosanne Skirble/Maryland Matters.
SHOULD CANDIDATES WHO RECEIVE PUBLIC CAMPAIGN FUNDS BE REQUIRED TO DEBATE? In Montgomery County, Democratic county executive nominee Will Jawando remains steadfast in his refusal to debate Republican nominee Esther Wells. Local GOP leaders now argue he shouldn’t get a choice. Ceoli Jacoby/Bethesda Today.
HARFORD COUNTY JUDGE UPHOLDS STATE BOARD RULING TO UNDO BOOK BAN ON ‘FLAMER’: A Harford County judge upheld the Maryland State Board of Education’s decision to reverse the county board’s ban on a controversial book. The county board had appealed the state board’s decision. The controversy dates back to 2025, when the Harford County Board of Education removed “Flamer,” a graphic novel after parents raised concerns over the book’s content. Barry Simms/WBAL-TV.
BRAVEBOY INVESTIGATION PROMPTS SUBPOENAS FOR RECORDS ON ORGANIZATION TIED TO PG COUNCIL CHAIR: Scrutiny over the Prince George’s County Council’s grant funding intensified Thursday, with emerging reports of subpoenas for records related to an organization tied to Chair Krystal Oriadha. Jack Hogan//The Banner.
TOP DRUG EXPERTS SUGGEST DECRIMINALIZING PARAPHANALIA: A panel of top drug experts in the state want Maryland to decriminalize drug paraphernalia and open centers that will provide a space for people to safely use drugs with trained professionals nearby, among other suggestions. Scott Maucione/WYPR.
Yes it makes sense to reject issue 3. Gerrymandering makes me mad. I’m ashamed the Supreme Court let Texas do it. This redistribution Trump encouraged is a way to cheat and give Republicans more seats in Congress, I use to live in Florida and there were some oddly shaped districts because they were trying to give black voters an opportunity to elect a black representative. I don’t know if Desantis and his gang have canceled this district or not but it sounds like it could changes. I think this is blatantly wrong.
We need balance in our government.
The Republicans and Trump have pushed the limits of the presidency into courts because they the Republicans have tried to slip around basic tenets of the Constitution.
If you dislike politicians abusing their redistricting powers, then vote NO on question 3. It will not be utilized to combat Trump as he will be out of Office by the time this is implemented. If it’s because you just dislike Andy Harris, just know he will be gone one day, one way or the other, but we will be stuck with this monstrosity of power given to the Dems of this state or whomever retains majority in the future. One needs to ask how much power do the Dems of this state need? The answer is apparently all of it. So much so that no one can question nor prevent their policies from being implemented no matter how good or bad they are. You have to ask yourself; do you want your district drawn so that your rep has to represent the Eastern Shore and a sliver cut out area on the western side? What purpose does that serve? How would a Rep be able to properly serve his district when there are people 2 areas with competing needs in one district.
This is short term gain with long term consequences, and it only serves those who are in the majority of political power in this state.