Yesterday marked the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs through October 15th. It’s a time to celebrate the rich contributions of Hispanic communities to our country, but also to reflect on the challenges they continue to face. Here at Progressive Maryland, we are committed to fighting for the rights of all people, including Hispanic communities. This November, the stakes are high, with right-wing politicians making it clear they’re targeting Hispanic communities with harmful policies. That’s why we need to ensure that everyone we know gets out to vote this election.

We’re also just 10 days away from our Annual Gala on September 26th, and tickets are selling fast! We’d love to see you there for a night of inspiration, networking, and progress. Special shoutout to our amazing sponsors: 1199 SEIU, People's Action, the Montgomery County Education Association, the Maryland National Organization for Women and the Office of Councilmember Will Jawando. You can buy your tickets here and join us for this unforgettable event.

In other news, our Executive Director Larry Stafford Jr. will be speaking with Jamilla Woods on WPFW 89.3 FM about the recent state budget cuts and how they will impact funding for child care and Medicaid. Listen live here or tune in directly to WPFW 89.3 FM on Tuesday, September 17 at 11am to catch the conversation. You can also access the show after it airs here.

There are plenty of ways to get involved with us here at Progressive Maryland. Read on for more on upcoming events, opportunities, and important state and national news

In solidarity,

The Progressive Maryland Team

How to improve the Chesapeake Bay (and the complex forces, human, social and natural, involved) ties in with events like the Curtis Bay coal dust problem, enviro solutions like more bike-and-walk ways to get to work, the sudden closing of Atlantic Beaches, and on the political front big-time worries among state elections officials about whether the USPS mail system is being strangled (and mail voting endangered) by USPS's cost-obsessed (and Trump-appointed) Postmaster General. Ben Franklin, he ain't...

Reposted from Maryland Matters by Josh Kurtz

Strange(ish) bedfellows: Progressive Md. runs aggressive Alsobrooks field campaign

Group’s leaders have been at odds with Prince George’s executive in the past

A year ago, the annual dinner of the group Progressive Maryland turned into an impromptu pep rally for U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-8th), who was the keynote speaker. Raskin had already said he wasn’t going to run for Senate in 2024, but many of the activists at the dinner tried to persuade him to change his mind, with chants of “Run, Jamie, Run!”

It didn’t work, of course.

A year later, Progressive Maryland is devoting most of its resources this fall to electing Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D) to the Senate seat that Raskin declined to run for. The group has budgeted about $500,000 for the effort to defeat former Gov. Larry Hogan (R) and expects its volunteers and field organizers to hit between 100,000 and 200,000 voters’ doors before Election Day.

Happy Monday! We’re in the final stretch of the election season and we know your inbox and phone have been buzzing with messages, ads, and reminders, but that’s because the stakes are high. With less than two months to go, this is the most crucial time to make sure you're ready to cast your vote.

Early voting starts on October 24, 2024, and now’s the time to lock in your voting plan. Head to our website where you can register to vote, find your polling place, and even preview your exact ballot so you know what’s coming.'

There’s a lot going on here at Progressive Maryland as we ramp up our efforts. Keep reading for updates on key state and national news, plus plenty of ways to get involved in these final weeks!

Let’s get ready to win this!

In solidarity,

The Progressive Maryland Team

The side issues in Maryland's hotly contested Senate election are not only taxes and regulatory issues but they are Maryland tax and regulatory issues as well. The Senate race is spiced by attacks on Gov. Wes Moore's handling of such issues by his predecessor, generally an attack on Democratic governance meant to sideswipe Larry Hogan's opponent in the Senate race, Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks. Moore is retaliating quite directly. Read about these and other state issues as well as the political back-n-forth in the Other 49 (states) and the Federal landscape as Congress returns and a government shutdown looks more likely. It's News You Can Use for this week, as usual a mixed bag.

On August 15th, Progressive Maryland (PM) hosted our powerful Defending Democracy: Maryland Communities in Action virtual event, marking the official launch of our electoral campaign. The energy was electric, and the turnout was incredible, as we united with advocates from across the state to ensure Maryland remains in the hands of those who will fight for working families and justice for all. 

We hope you enjoyed the Labor Day weekend and had some quality time with family. As we welcome September, we’re officially in the final stretch—exactly 9 weeks from Election Day. This election is one of the most important and intense we’ve faced, and it’s crucial that we come together as a community to ensure our values are protected at every level—presidential, congressional, state, and local. Every level is equally important, and defending our democracy requires action across the board.

To help you stay informed and engaged, our website features an easy-to-navigate 2024 Election Tools page. Be sure to check it out for essential election information and tools to make your vote count.

The Senate race in our state is particularly critical and heating up fast. According to WBAL, a new poll shows the Maryland U.S. Senate race is tied. With so much at stake, we must reach even more voters and out-organize the Republicans. We’ve been working hard to reach voters and our efforts are far from over.

Every Thursday evening, we host phonebanking sessions where we talk to voters about Angela Alsobrooks and help them solidify their voting plans. And this month alone, we have four Days of Action dedicated to canvassing for Angela Alsobrooks in various locations across the state. Sign up here to get involved.

As we gear up for these final weeks, your involvement is more important than ever. Let’s come together to make sure our voices are heard and our values are defended.

Read on for important updates from our task forces and issue campaigns, events from allies and the latest state and national news.

In solidarity,

The Progressive Maryland Team

Yes, a big Nebraska company got an initial contract to rebuild the Key Bridge while the state seems to be trimming a lot of local road rehab out of the stressed budget. Meanwhile, health hazards -- coal dust, listeria and yes backyard chickens -- creep into our state. In the other 49 states, news of plastic bags and environmental foot-dragging, solar on public land, a Green New Bank and lots of news on the national front from various sources. It's after Labor Day, all the political newsletters are using terms like "the home stretch" and of course its fizzing state and nationwide. It's News You Can Use and these days there's never too much and it's always more than you can stand.

Happy Monday and Happy First Day of School! As our children head back to class today, we're entering year three of the Blueprint for Maryland's Future. This is a pivotal moment for improving our education system, ensuring every student has access to quality education and the resources they need to thrive. We're making strides, but there's still work to be done.

We’re also exactly one month away from our Annual Gala! This year's event is set to be bigger and better than ever. With Nina Turner as our keynote speaker and Drew Murray the magician hosting the evening, you won't want to miss the chance to connect with fellow progressives, community leaders, and passionate advocates. Early bird tickets end this week, so make sure to grab yours before they’re gone!

As we gear up for the fall sprint to Election Day, we’re coming off the momentum of the DNC ceremonies and focusing on Maryland’s crucial Senate race. While Hogan and his team mock and insult Alsobrooks in the media, we’re doubling down on our efforts to out-organize the Republicans and reach voters where it counts. That’s why we need you to join us for Throwdown Thursdays, our weekly phonebanking session dedicated to GOTV for Alsobrooks. Sign up here and help us make every call count. We’ll be at it every week until the election and the big day will be here before we know it.

Read on for updates from our issue campaigns and task forces, opportunities to get involved, and the latest state and national news.

Lots going on under the umbrella of Labor Day's official launch of the presidential campaigns -- The Bay's pollution by two large local businesses is compounded by local governments' insufficient moves to remedy stormwater runoff. Result: a one-two punch to the Bay's future. Students' cellphones are an up-front issue in schools throughout the state, while the effects of the Blueprint for Maryland's Future, the long-range (and expensive) plan for school improvement, is creeping into everyday life in mostly good ways (unless you are a county budget officer). Around the country, those states that still tax groceries are deciding to dump or suspend them to ease supermarket costs. And more: new Covid boosters OK'd, states struggle to overcome local resistance to renewables, and a software company is sued by DOJ for enabling rental price-fixing. It's News You Can Use.