The fight for fair representation is back on.

Last week, legislative leaders announced a special session from August 3–5 to take up congressional redistricting. Earlier this year, thousands of Marylanders—including many of you—spoke out in support of responding to the GOP's national gerrymandering strategy, but those efforts were ultimately stalled in the Senate. Now, after months of advocacy and recent attacks on voting rights across the country, this issue is back before the General Assembly.

While lawmakers are expected to consider a constitutional amendment rather than new congressional maps, this special session is an important step toward protecting Maryland's ability to ensure fair representation in the future. Progressive Maryland will once again be mobilizing members, supporters, and coalition partners to make our voices heard.

Stay tuned for opportunities to take action in the weeks ahead. Until then, read on for campaign updates, upcoming events, and state and national news you can use.

In solidarity,
The Progressive Maryland Team 

 

Here’s what’s in today’s memo:

  • Feedback Survey 

  • Issue Campaign Updates
  • Local Chapter Updates
  • State & National News

 

 

 

 

Share Your Feedback:

Every election cycle is a chance for us to learn, adapt, and grow our grassroots power. That’s why we’re asking all our members to take just 3 minutes to fill out our 2026 Primaries Member Participation Survey.

👉 Click here to take the 3-minute survey now.

Your feedback will directly shape:

  • How we communicate about endorsed candidates and ballot measures.
  • The types of volunteer training and political education we offer.
  • How we can better support you with accessible, community-centered activities.
 

Campaigns Updates: 

Healthcare Justice: Take Action for Medicare for All

Our Healthcare Task Force is continuing the fight for a healthcare system that puts patients before profits. As insurance companies continue to raise costs and deny care, we’re pushing more members of Congress to support Medicare for All.

We’ve made it easy to take action — just enter your information at the links below and submit the email we’ve already drafted. You’re welcome to personalize the message also.

Everyone:
Help us urge Sen. Angela Alsobrooks to continue building support for Medicare for All by adding her name as a cosponsor.

Email Sen. Angela Alsobrooks →

If you live in Congressional District 2:
Urge Rep. Johnny Olszewski to cosponsor the Medicare for All Act and join the growing number of lawmakers fighting for healthcare for all.

Email Rep. Johnny Olszewski →

These actions are part of our ongoing campaign to build support for Medicare for All. On July 22, members of our Healthcare Task Force will head to Capitol Hill for the Congressional Progressive Caucus hearing on Medicare for All and meet with Rep. Olszewski and Sen. Alsobrooks’ offices to keep pushing for the healthcare system our communities deserve.

Sign up here if you wish to join us!

Take action today and help us keep the pressure on.

Utility Justice: Fighting for Affordable Energy and Accountability

We have been fighting on the front lines for affordable energy, clean power, and accountability from Maryland’s utility companies, and we’re continuing that fight as rate increases continue to put pressure on families across the state.

At a time when Marylanders are already facing an affordability crisis, rising energy bills should not mean bigger profits for corporate utilities. We’re joining ratepayers across the country in demanding an energy system that puts people first, not utility executives and shareholders.

Last month, members of our team joined advocates from across the country to hold utility companies accountable for rising costs, record profits, and the need for a clean energy future that works for everyone. As extreme heat drives up energy demand and families struggle to keep up with bills, we know that lowering costs and building a sustainable energy system must go hand in hand.

Stay tuned for more ways to take action and join us in the fight for affordable, reliable, and clean energy for all.

Progressive Maryland Climate Policy Analyst Iman Habib joins ratepayers and advocates at a United Ratepayers action demanding utility accountability and affordable energy.  Credit: Getty Images

 

Local Chapter Updates:

Frederick County: Progressives Meet & Greet

Calling all Frederick County progressives! Join us on Tomorrow, July 14 at 7 PM for an evening of community, conversation, and connection. Whether you're new to the movement or have been organizing with us for years, this is a great opportunity to meet fellow progressives, learn about the issues shaping Frederick County, and discover ways to get involved in local advocacy and campaigns. We hope to see you there!

RSVP here →

Shore Progress:

Summer Social

Join us for our 5th Annual Summer Social on July 25 at Layton's Chance Vineyard & Winery. Enjoy an afternoon of food, drinks, guest speakers, raffles, music, and community while supporting efforts to elect leaders who will fight for working families across Maryland's Eastern Shore.

Get your tickets here →

 

State struggles to resist Trump admin cuts, restrictions: it's News You Can Use

Natural disasters and nasty bugs are at the top of Maryland's summertime agenda, including the worldwide heat wave costing lives from Europe to Central Maryland and sourced in a Pacific El Nino. You can plan a summer getaway, but where can you go to get away? It's one world, like it or not. Meanwhile, Maryland's biggest adversary is its own national government,  and the state is pushing back on a number of fronts, as see below. Montgomery County has just put up a portal on its website with real-time alerts on ICE activity. Other states (Texas, Maine) are fighting the unrestrained brutality of ICE; see Megan E's accounts below. New DHS boss Markwayne Mullins' hopes to keep ICE out of the headlines will have to wait until he has better recruits and better training -- or maybe abolishes ICE and just starts over. Lots of news at the national/global level starting with the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham, whose ties to Trump and ability to soothe rancor in the Senate was critical to the few things Congress has been able to accomplish. And the Rappahannock tribe in Virginia has been slowly reclaiming land from which they were evicted centuries ago; they just got some more back. It's News You Can Use; occasionally it's not all bad.

 

Read more

 

Progressive Maryland BlogSpace:

We value creating space for our members to express their thoughts on any issues related to our campaigns. Have an idea for a blog post? You can submit writing, film, graphic design, etc., to be published on our website to the blog moderator, Woody. 

>>Read more on the homepage of progressivemaryland.org

 

woody woodruff

About

M.A. and Ph.d. from University of Maryland Merrill College of Journalism, would-be radical, sci-fi fan... retired to a life of keyboard radicalism...