Progressive Maryland Weekly Memo for Monday, November 4, 2024
With Election Day just hours away, this is our final push to make sure Maryland voters turn out and make their voices heard. The stakes couldn’t be higher, with a close race at the presidential level, a tight Senate race where we’re working to secure a win for Angela Alsobrooks, and critical ballot questions across the state, like Question A in Montgomery County, Question H in Baltimore City and Question 1 for all of Maryland. Each race and every measure can shape Maryland’s future and we need all hands on deck to make a difference!
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Tonight, we’re hosting a Save the Senate Phonebank from 5 to 8pm. Join us to connect with voters and give this election all we’ve got. Click here to sign up. Together, we can be the deciding factor that drives turnout and defends our progressive values.
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We’re wishing for the best possible outcome this election, but it all starts with what we do in these final hours. Read on for important updates, election tools, ways to get involved, and news you can use as we head into this pivotal moment.
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Onward to victory,
The Progressive Maryland Team
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Read moreEven in Blue Maryland, Election Day Jitters Consume All Other Issues
We are ignoring Election Day, and we are sure you are too -- you have already voted early or by mail and you have already insured that your neighbors and community have a way and a plan to vote tomorrow if they haven't joined you in the Already Did It Club. Still, jitters abound and, yeah, maybe we are not so much ignoring Election Day as trying to stay calm about it. We start off with access to good advice about how to beat the jitters, and then move on to news about our state, about the other 49 states, and about the state of the country. Some of it is even not (directly) about Election Day. It's all News You Can Use.
Read moreWhy Montgomery County Should Vote No on Question A
As a resident of The Enclave apartment complex in Silver Spring, I've seen firsthand how vital it is to have leaders who show up for tenants like us—people who face serious issues with landlords and property managers. When our building had major issues with security, mold, pest infestations, and broken elevators, it was County Executive Marc Elrich and Councilmember Krisin Mink who came to listen and to fight alongside us. It was Senator Will Smith who has walked the halls with us in multiple buildings. That’s why I’m voting No on Question A. We need leaders with the time and experience to stand up for communities like mine, not politicians who come and go, with only two terms to barely learn our challenges.
Our fight at The Enclave wasn’t just about broken elevators or mold—it was about the safety and dignity of everyone living here. When our concerns went unheard for years, Marc Elrich, along with Councilmember Mink, Congressman Raskin and other officials, didn’t just make promises. They showed up in person, talked with us at press conferences, stood by our side during tenant meetings, and demanded accountability from our building’s management. I remember Marc looking directly at us, saying, “You have a right to be safe, and you have a right to get what you pay for in your rent.” For those of us who were there, this wasn’t just talk. He listened and worked to improve our lives, not because it was easy, but because he cared.
Question A, which seeks to shorten term limits, is not about improving governance—it’s a maneuver by developers and special interests to have more control over who represents us. These developers don’t want leaders who stand up to them; they want leaders who cater to them, plain and simple. And that’s exactly why they don’t want Marc Elrich around. They don’t like his pro-tenant policies or his willingness to stand up to big-money interests. This ballot question is being funded by these same groups, not by regular Montgomery County residents. They’re hoping that with shorter terms, our leaders won’t have the time to build expertise and that constant turnover will give them a foothold to push their profit-driven agendas.
We already voted for three-term limits in 2018, allowing our County Executive to build the experience necessary to tackle complex issues like housing and public safety. Changing this now doesn’t benefit the people of Montgomery County. It weakens our government and makes it harder for officials to advocate effectively for us, the residents. Issues like those we face at The Enclave—where our well-being and safety are on the line—need committed leaders who know the ropes, not politicians under pressure to pack up and leave just as they’re starting to understand our struggles.
When you vote on Question A, remember that you’re not just voting on term limits. You’re deciding whether our county should be led by those who represent our needs or by those backed by developers who don’t want tenants like us to have a voice. I urge all my neighbors to stand with me, Marc Elrich, and the officials who’ve had our backs. Let’s vote No on Question A and keep Montgomery County in the hands of those who know it best and who are truly invested in its future.
Progressive Maryland Weekly Memo for Tuesday, October 29, 2024
With just one week until Election Day and early voting already underway, we are in the most pivotal phase of our election efforts. Early voting ends this Thursday, October 31st, so now is the time to make your voice heard and influence the decisions that will shape our future.
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Don't breeze past these important ballot measures.
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-  A crucial ballot measure on the table is Question 1, which seeks to safeguard the right to make personal reproductive decisions in Maryland’s Constitution. A YES vote on this question ensures that this fundamental right is protected for generations, regardless of political changes.
- Â For Baltimore City Voters, Question H is an ultra-conservative initiative aimed at reducing the size of our city council, which would diminish the voting power of poor and working-class communities. Vote AGAINST Question H to ensure all voices from all our diverse districts are represented and heard.Â
- For Montgomery County voters, Question A is attempting to put term limits in place for our county executive seat, however, we just set the new term limits in 2018 and it’s working well, so there is no need to change that. The Republicans who lost in the previous election are trying a back-door approach to gain power and we can’t let them! Vote AGAINST Question A.Â
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We have numerous opportunities for you to get involved in helping Get Out The Vote with us, from phonebanking to canvassing and more… Check the full list of our opportunities here or in the Election Section below. Your role is vital in defending our democracy this election.
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Make sure to tune in today at 11 AM EDT for our live radio show on WPFW-FM’s 89.3, your station for jazz and justice. On this edition of Community Watch and Comment, Dave Rabin, along with you, our listeners, will be joined by Professor Matthew Taylor. He is the author of "The Violent Take It by Force: The Christian Movement That Is Threatening Our Democracy." This insightful discussion will delve into the implications of Christian nationalism and the significant threat it poses to American democracy.Â
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Stay informed with key updates on our issue campaigns and make sure to read our insightful blog posts, plus more in today’s memo. Together, let's make these final days count! Read on for more news and information about the home stretch.
In Solidarity,
The Progressive Maryland Team
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Read moreElection fever takes over the landscape; housing and health care costs raise the ante
As we enter the last full week of election frenzy, with the presidential plebiscite scheduled for a week from tomorrow, the persistent issues -- housing, health care, the shrinking inflation factor and robust employment numbers -- are obviously on our minds -- or were, if you were among the nearly 300,000 Maryland voters who hit the early-voting venues last Thursday and Friday (early voting ends this coming Thursday, that is to say Hallowe'en). NBC News reports 44,101,704 mail-in and early in-person votes cast nationally up to this point (Monday morning), which is just a ton. Keep your eyes on the numbers and on how the issues are framed by the candidates as Election Day itself approaches. Clearly, many millions of voters are taking steps to make sure that a bad break or two on Election Day itself doesn't keep their votes off the books. It's all News You Can Use.
Read moreProgressive Maryland Weekly Memo for Monday, October 21, 2024
With just about two weeks left until Election Day and Early Voting starting THIS Thursday, October 24th, we’re entering the most critical phase of our election efforts! There is so much to accomplish in these final days, from defending local and state races to voting on important ballot questions that will shape our future.
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One of the key ballot measures is Question 1, which will protect the right to make personal reproductive decisions in Maryland’s Constitution. A YES vote means ensuring this right is protected for generations to come, no matter who’s in office.
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There’s so much we need to accomplish in these next few days, and we can’t do it without you. From phonebanking to canvassing and everything in between, we have opportunities for everyone to help out. Later in the memo, you’ll find a full list of ways to get involved in our election efforts. There’s a role for you in defending our democracy this election season!
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In other exciting news, don’t forget to mark your calendars for our next live radio show on November 19th at 11 AM on WPFW 89.3 FM! Last week, our Executive Director Larry Stafford Jr. had a great conversation with Janna Parker from Prince George’s Changemakers about their initiatives, including efforts to provide healthy food options for incarcerated people and a basic income pilot program. Watch the full interview here.
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Keep reading for key updates on our issue campaigns and check out our News You Can Use section for important articles on the blog.
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In solidarity,
The Progressive Maryland Team
Growing voices in public spaces in Maryland; plus, concerns about juvenile crime and justice and about Blueprint extension
As the eccentric vibe for this election amplifies, the effects seem to reach from the very top of the ticket to the most local of issues and offices. Early voting begins this Thursday (!) through Oct. 31. Meanwhile the everyday concerns of Marylanders continue: the state's African immigrant community is being heard from commensurate with its growth; concerns about juvenile crime are throwing a critical light on the juvenile justice system and its leader; and extending pre-K services to all the state's 3- and 4-year-olds is raising difficulties that catch the attention of Assembly members before the January session begins. All that plus events in The Other 49 (states) offering good and bad examples, and national/federal issues around the election, housing policy and more. It's News You Can Use. And don't miss the several opinion pieces on the stakes in our Senate race we published today.
Read moreProgressive Maryland Weekly Memo for Tuesday, October 15, 2025
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We're back and ready to hit the ground running because today marks exactly 3 weeks until Election Day and early voting beginning next week.
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While recent polls show Angela Alsobrooks with a slight lead over Hogan, we cannot afford to take any chances. Every call and every connection counts, and our voter outreach efforts are critical to maintaining that momentum. Join us tonight for Tuesday Phone Banking from 6:00-7:30 PM (sign up here), or if that doesn’t fit your schedule, sign up for Throwdown Thursday Phone Banking from 5:00-6:30 PM (sign up here). Every volunteer helps us get closer to a victory for working families and progressive values in Maryland!
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This year’s presidential election comes with an extra-long ballot—everything from local offices to the president. That’s why making a voting plan is so important! Head over to our website to get all the tools you need from registering to vote and viewing a sample ballot for your county to finding your designated polling place.
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There’s a lot to catch up on this week! Read on for ways to get involved in our issue campaigns and stay updated on state and national news.
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In solidarity,
The Progressive Maryland Team
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