It feels good to be stepping into the official holiday season! While the exhaustion may be catching up with us, so is the joy of seeing just how much we’ve accomplished together. Here at Progressive Maryland, we’ve already started planning for our 2025 agenda, and we couldn’t be more excited about what’s ahead.

In case you missed it, we celebrated a major victory last week: Prince George’s County Council passed a bill to index the minimum wage to inflation! Thanks to tireless advocates, over 2,600 petition signers, and powerful testimony from our members, wages in Prince George’s County will finally keep pace with the rising costs of housing, groceries, and other essentials. This is a life-changing win, and we’re determined to create even more victories like this in 2025.

There’s still important work to tackle in these final weeks, and we’re counting on all of you to help us finish strong. We’ve got some exciting issue campaign events coming up so be sure to look later in the memo for details to add to your calendar. You’ll also find important updates and key state and national news. 

Don’t forget to check out a sneak peek of our 2025 agenda and see how you can make a tremendous impact.

In solidarity,

The Progressive Maryland Team

"Around the country, states led by Democrats have expressed alarm about many of the new measures that Mr. Trump and his allies have described and have made broad preparations of their own," the New York Times (among many others) reports. "Lawyers have been scouring through the conservative policy plan known as Project 2025, and they have been strategizing how to challenge any such plans in an altered judicial landscape. Private advocacy groups have hundreds of lawyers ready to go to court. Governors in Democratic-led states have been preparing to coordinate."
Maryland's attorney general, Anthony Brown, is joining other blue-state AGs to strategize in next-door Pa. as the Trump revenge machine cranks into action. The state's other officials (see below) are wondering if they are now on their own as far as preparing systems for the impact of climate change. Counties and cities are putting together protections for their immigrant communities. Get the picture, storm clouds and all, in News You Can Use.

Well, the new folks in DC (currently broadcasting from Mar-a-Lago) are not (at all!) clarifying what the next few years look like, but they are keeping everyone on their toes as their flurry of supposed appointments  shows just how uncertain civic life will be for all the states, Maryland definitely included.

Maryland houses over 138,900 civilian federal workers and roughly 50,000 active-duty and reserve service members (30,000 at Ft. Meade, the state's largest single employer). All are vulnerable to job loss or threatened relocation of agencies outside the DMV. Still, the state holds out hope that some high-profile projects (the Key Bridge replacement; possible new Bay Bridge spans, the new FBI building) may attract federal fund participation and coat-tail other projects. But serious cuts or "revenue enhancements" definitely loom for Maryland.

Both our state and others are fussing to adjust to the (sometimes surprising) local outcomes from the election, as we see as well, and plenty of organizations working with those newly under fire brace against the somewhat vengeful approach of the future administration. As Megan E.'s national report (below) points out, the House will vote tomorrow on a measure threatening any nonprofit not totally in step with the TrumpWorld line with charges of supporting terrorism (!). It sounds ridiculous -- until it passes.

So we have to toughen up. We are ready, and we know our allies will be too.

In victories from North Carolina to Washington State and Maine, we find evidence that good organizing not only works, it wins. When we look beyond the headlines, we find evidence that good organizing is the antidote to authoritarianism - which is something we will all need in the days to come. In places where People’s Action and its affiliate groups engaged in year-round organizing to build base and relationships around the issues that matter most to people, we won. Yes, we won.

Election season may have wrapped up last week, but we know the impact of these results will be felt for a long time to come. While we celebrate, we’re also fully aware of the work that lies ahead as we navigate this transformative moment in Maryland’s political landscape.

Progressive Maryland’s grassroots efforts delivered remarkable wins this cycle. From Angela Alsobrooks' historic election as the first Black Woman to represent Maryland in the U.S. Senate to shaping Prince George’s County with a Progressive-majority school board, each victory is a testament to the dedication, unity, and strength of our movement. In Baltimore City, our coalition stood strong against the proposed reduction of City Council seats, defeating Question H and preserving the voice of Baltimore’s residents.

Through our Save the Senate campaign, we reached over 335,000 voters across the state, running the largest independent expenditure campaign in Maryland to ensure Alsobrooks’ success. This achievement is not only a reflection of our relentless organizing and advocacy but also of our belief in a Maryland where every voice counts, and every community has a champion.

Read on for a full recap of these victories, and click here to view a message from our Executive Director, Larry Stafford, where he addresses the election’s significance and our vision for the road ahead. 

With fewer than 50 days left in 2024, we’re determined to finish the year strong. Let’s keep this momentum going as we prepare for the challenges and opportunities of 2025!

In solidarity,

The Progressive Maryland Team

After such a long and exhausting election season, we needed to pause and sit with this reality for a moment before reaching out. For all of us who poured our hearts into this fight—canvassing, phone-banking, and advocating tirelessly—this is a tough outcome, and it’s okay to feel the weight of that deeply. We’ve taken a week to breathe and reflect on what we’ve accomplished, and today, we want to thank you for every ounce of energy, resilience, and heart you put into this work.

A grateful message to Maryland activists from Progressive Maryland Executive Director Larry Stafford Jr.

After a very discouraging national election outcome, Maryland progressives are rallying, minimizing their recuperative down-time to freshen up for the next struggle. The presence of Donald Trump, or at least a Trump-style regime, for four years is daunting but we have done this before. And if, as folks say, the Orange Menace knows more about making a mess of democracy than he knew the first time around -- well, we know more too. But enough of that -- we need to join in solidarity with other states in the resistance effort and shape up a shadow government that will achieve our goals at every level and across sectors. It won't be long before the all-too-many who bought into the MAGA fantasy find out that it's the corporate billionaires, not working people, who will reap the rewards. We need to be ready to welcome them back as they catch on to the grift. Get the information you need for the struggle in News You Can Use.

This year, Progressive Maryland left no stone unturned to secure one of the most consequential Senate victories in our state’s history. Angela Alsobrooks’ win to become Maryland’s first Black woman U.S. Senator is a victory not only for progress but for the protection of democracy itself. From the moment we stepped into this race over the summer, we knew we had a fight ahead. We couldn’t afford to sit this one out, not when the stakes were so high. With years of progressive gains on the line, we worked tirelessly to keep Maryland’s Senate seat blue and prevent a Hogan bid from threatening the progress Marylanders depend on.

Our campaign was relentless. Our staff, volunteers and vast network of allies statewide worked together like never before, sparking a movement that stretched across every community in Maryland. In a matter of months, we reached over 335,000 voters through our digital engagement and on-the-ground field operation. We knocked on over 100,000 doors, engaging voters in conversations about the importance of the Senate race and Angela Alsobrooks’ role in protecting Maryland’s future. We saw new faces, first-time volunteers who stepped up fearlessly to join us at our Days of Action, canvassing to get out the vote. Almost 100 Volunteers from all over the state signed up to phonebank with us, making thousands of calls and reaching voters from Western Maryland to the Eastern Shore until the very last moment on Election Day. We called through over 60,000 voters during the 22 phone banks we held for the Senate race, bringing Marylanders together week after week to keep up the momentum. 

We spread the word about the dangers of a Hogan victory and how it would harm Maryland’s working families, making sure every Marylander understood what was at stake. We made clear our vision for a future where Angela Alsobrooks’ leadership could make a difference, from championing healthcare to advocating for workers’ rights. We mobilized every tool in our arsenal to protect the values that our communities hold dear.

Alsobrooks’ victory means Maryland will continue to have a champion in the Senate who understands the importance of protecting democracy and standing with working families. But as we celebrate this momentous win, we know that our fight isn’t over. In Washington, the Senate is facing a daunting GOP takeover, and while we are proud of what we’ve achieved, we remain hungry for what’s next. Our movement isn’t just about one election—it’s about building a future where progressive values thrive not just in Maryland, but nationwide.

As we continue to face tough battles, we’re determined to protect and defend these ideals for Marylanders and Americans alike. Angela Alsobrooks’ victory is just one chapter in a much larger story. And we are committed to continuing this work, advancing progressive change, and rallying the voices of Maryland to fight for a better, fairer nation.

Progressive Maryland’s ‘Save the Senate’ Operation Reaches Over 335,000 Voters Statewide, Securing Victory in a Landmark Election

Annapolis, Maryland –  Progressive Maryland celebrates a monumental victory as Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks has been elected to the U.S. Senate, marking a pivotal moment in Maryland’s history. As the largest independent expenditure campaign outside of the Alsobrooks campaign, we reached more than 335,000 voters across the state through extensive canvassing, phone banking, social media and community engagement.

With a commitment to defeating former Governor Larry Hogan, we ran a statewide paid canvassing operation. In addition, we led 14 Volunteer Canvassing Days of Action across Maryland’s key areas, mobilizing hundreds of volunteers to reach tens of thousands of voters at their doors, engage them one-on-one, and rally communities to turn out for this historic race. We also held strategic phone banks persuading likely Hogan supporters to make the choice for Alsobrooks and ensured that likely supporters for Alsobrooks were making it to the polls. 

"Through our GOTV work and a powerful media push to highlight Hogan’s harmful past leadership decisions, we worked tirelessly to prevent him from taking this critical seat," said Christianne Marguerite, Communications Director at Progressive Maryland. "With op-eds, press conferences, and blog posts, we rallied public support to defeat a candidate whose record as governor consistently blocked essential progress for Maryland’s working families. Our anti-Hogan campaign underscored the stakes of this election, and we are proud of our success in ensuring that Maryland’s working families are now represented by someone who truly stands for our interests, not partisan ideology."

"With Angela Alsobrooks’ victory, we’ve made history and upheld the values that Marylanders care deeply about,” said Larry Stafford, Executive Director of Progressive Maryland. “Our team’s commitment to reaching voters in every corner of the state demonstrates the power of grassroots organizing, especially with so much on the line. This Senate seat is critical to the future of our democracy, and I couldn’t be prouder of our volunteers and supporters who made this possible. At Progressive Maryland, we’re not just supporting candidates; we’re continuing to shape the political landscape here in Maryland, amplifying the voices of working families and building a more just future for our state."

Alsobrooks’ win is a testament to the strength of our community-driven efforts and her election represents the values of a diverse and forward-thinking Maryland. As she heads to Washington, we at Progressive Maryland will continue advocating for policies that reflect our communities' needs and push for a fairer, more inclusive future for all Marylanders—even as we face new challenges with a GOP-controlled Senate.

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