Hogan and a GOP controlled Senate would be bad for Maryland’s working families

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Progressive 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.

 

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!

 

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.

 

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.

 

In solidarity,
The Progressive Maryland Team

 

 

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News You Can Use: Hogan's apparent conflicts of interest as Governor shadow his Senate campaign

NUCU_logo_new.pngMaryland's media sleuths are agog at what TIME Magazine found when examining real estate mogul Larry Hogan's votes -- as governor -- for projects in which he had apparent conflicts of interest. We have the roundup here, as well as potential vulnerabilities of the Bay Bridge, an opinion that some judges shouldn't be on the ballot in Maryland, and a slow post-Pandemic recovery of school enrollment in the state. All that plus news about the other 49 states and the federal government. No news about Congress, though; they're on break till after the general election. Should we feel anger or relief?



 

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RELEASE: Progressive Maryland Launches Minimum Wage Indexing Campaign in Prince George's County

Progressive Maryland and Advocates Celebrate Victory as Minimum Wage Indexing Bill Passes Unanimously Out of Committee

Residents, Advocates, and Union Leaders Push for Economic Fairness in Prince George’s County

Prince George’s County, MD — On October 7, Progressive Maryland alongside CASA, DC Metro Council, SEIU, and advocates across Prince George’s County, held a press conference outside the Prince George’s County Council building to formally launch a campaign urging County Council members to pass legislation that indexes the minimum wage to inflation. Following the event,  this critical bill passed unanimously out of the County Council’s committee. The event featured key speakers, including bill sponsor Tom Dernoga and co-sponsor Krystal Oriadha,who spoke passionately in support of this important legislation. The livestream of the press event can be found on Progressive Maryland’s Facebook page.

Bill Co-sponsor Krystal Oriadha speaking at the press conference in front of Prince George’s County Council building. 

“These days, so many people making minimum wage are not students. These are people with families, and they’re working two jobs or more and struggling to make ends meet. We all know about inflation—it eats away at people’s ability to live” said Tom Dernoga. “Prince George’s County should’ve moved on this long ago, and this is our opportunity to do it today, get this out of committee, and move forward to a public hearing next month.”

The campaign, a collaborative effort among community organizations, workers, and local leaders, seeks to promote economic fairness, enhance stability for working families, and advance racial equity. By tying wage increases to inflation, the initiative aims to protect workers from wage stagnation and economic shocks, particularly benefiting those in essential roles such as service, hospitality, and retail sectors.

The press conference also featured remarks from fellow co-sponsor Councilmember Krystal Oriadha, who emphasized the disconnect between wages and education: “You can have someone who went out, got a college degree, a master's degree, and they are still making minimum wage in this country. This has nothing to do with effort or a lack of trying or education... the idea that people aren’t trying hard enough is just not the reality.”

The campaign highlights significant benefits of wage indexing, including:

  • Economic Fairness: Ensuring wages provide sufficient means for individuals to afford basic needs like housing, healthcare, and education.
  • Stability for Working Families: Protecting families from the pressures of inflation and fostering financial security.
  • Racial Equity: Bridging the racial wealth gap by uplifting Black and Latino workers who are disproportionately represented in low-wage jobs.

"When a number is fixed, the value of it decreases over time. The $15 I make today is not the same $15 I made yesterday and it’s not going to be the same $15 I make tomorrow" said Progressive Maryland Leader Ryan Hayes at the press conference. "We invite everyone to join us in this vital endeavor to uplift our community and ensure that every worker receives the compensation and dignity they deserve."

Ryan Hayes, Progressive Maryland leader speaking on the importance of the bill

The bill now moves to a public hearing next month, where residents and advocates will once again push for its passage to ensure economic justice for all workers in the county.

Progressive Maryland is dedicated to advancing the economic well-being of all residents in Prince George’s County. Through advocacy, education, and community engagement, the organization strives to build a future where fairness and justice are at the forefront of economic policy.

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Progressive Maryland Weekly Memo for Tuesday, October 8, 2024

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We had a big day here at Progressive Maryland! Yesterday; our team was in Prince George’s County for the hearing on the minimum wage indexing bill. Before the hearing, we hosted a press conference alongside CASA, DC Metro Council, SEIU, and other labor partners, with co-sponsors Councilmembers Tom Dernoga and Krystal Oriadha speaking in favor of the bill. They urged their colleagues to pass this crucial legislation that ensures wages keep up with inflation and addresses economic fairness and racial equity. You can watch the full press conference here.

 

The bill is gaining momentum! The committee voted 5-0 in favor of the amendment, and the next step is a public hearing in November, followed by a final Council vote. We were also featured in DC News Now and The Washington Post, so check out the coverage.

 

Now that we’re less than a month away from Election Day, it’s crucial to reach out to voters and highlight what’s at stake. We’re hosting a phone bank tonight from 6-8:30 PM, and we’d love for you to join us! Sign up here. If you can’t make it, we have another one on Thursday from 5-6:30 PM for Throwdown Thursdays—sign up here.

 

Our issue campaigns and task forces have so much more to update you on, and there are tons of ways to get involved, so be sure to read on for all the details. Plus, we’ve got some important state and national news for you, so don’t miss out!

 

In solidarity,
The Progressive Maryland Team

 

 

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Affordable housing, help with family groceries, and forgiveness of parole debt is on state officials' minds

NUCU_logo_new.pngMaryland officials are busily leveraging new funds to attack the housing shortage in Baltimore through an "acquire and repurpose" program for the inventory of vacant or abandoned dwellings.  Officials are also planning to forgive debts on parole tabs formerly owed by state inmates, now made illegal by a new law. And they have to be basking in the news that many thousands of Maryland's children have been helped to get more nutritious food through a family grocery program this past summer. All that and more about Maryland, plus (sometimes startling) news from the other 49 states and in areas that affect the entire nation (no news from the Feds, of course; Congress is out for election campaigning after doing about as close to nothing as any session since Harry Truman). It's all in this week's News You Can Use.

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A coup by the MAGA forces is still possible after the 2024 election

Sean Dobson, a political analyst and campaigner as well as a longtime friend of Progressive Maryland, outlines how MAGA-GOP operatives could interfere with, and even overturn, a legitimate Democratic presidential victory. His several scenarios show that the Electoral Count Reform Act, useful as it can be, may still not prevail against operatives determined to put Trump back in office. Attention to swing states, by all large-D and small-d democratic forces, must be paid.

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Progressive Maryland Weekly Memo for Monday, September 30, 2024

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Happy last day of September! As we prepare to enter the fourth quarter of the year, it’s time to focus on finishing 2024 strong. With just a few months left, we’re more motivated than ever to drive meaningful change and build a brighter future for Maryland.

 

Last Thursday, we held our Annual Gala, and it was an incredible success! The evening was filled with inspiration, powerful conversations, and a shared sense of community. Nina Turner delivered a stirring keynote speech, reminding us of what’s at stake in this election and the importance of defending our democracy. If you missed her speech or want to relive the moment, you can watch it here. A huge thank you to all who joined us and to our sponsors, artists, and volunteers who made the night possible. We recognized some of Progressive Maryland’s outstanding volunteer leaders who helped to lead our healthcare, environmental, and housing justice work and who donate their time and expertise to our communications team and organizing staff. Check out our PM Events section later in the memo for the full list of awardees.

 

As we look ahead, we have just 36 days left until the election, 24 days until early voting begins, and absentee voting is already underway. Now is the time to do everything we can to defend our democracy! One of the most effective ways is by making sure voters have a plan to vote and know what’s at stake, especially in the critical Senate race.

 

We need your help! Sign up for a phone banking shift this Tuesday or Thursday—we have various times available, and whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned pro, we’ll make sure you’re prepared to get out the word.

 

Sign up for a phone banking shift here:

Tuesday Phonebanking to Save the Senate

Throwdown Thursdays

 

We also encourage everyone to tune in to the Vice Presidential Debate tomorrow at 9 PM. It’s an important opportunity to hear directly from the candidates, and we hope you find time to watch.

 

As always, read on for updates from our task forces, issue campaigns, and the latest in state and national news.

 

In solidarity,

The Progressive Maryland Team

 

 

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Hurricane, heat, floods, a movie we have seen too often. News You Can Use

NUCU_logo_new.pngPretty amazing how a mere national disaster puts state news in the shade. Helene was like that, revving up to Cat4 in the superwarm waters of the Gulf of Mexico and delivering a haymaker up and down the Florida peninsula’s West Coast and into the Panhandle before going on to flood much of the Southeast up to… Virginia!. Florida has a state-backed home insurance plan; how much pressure will this latest disaster put on it, and the insurance industry as a whole?  See below for some early estimates on the total cost of one of climate change’s biggest recent tantrums. As we see below, POLITICO Playbook reported Monday a.m. that President Biden said he "may have to" call Congress back into session to pass emergency disaster funds. Yes, there is other news – also about climate. Maryland finally got around to protecting workers against our ever more superheated summers – now that summer is officially in the rear-view mirror. It’s all News You Can Use.

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My American Dream is solidarity for all, not with Trump and Vance

"Immigrants breathe new life into communities. Our hope, resilience and joy renews faith in what is possible when we live an “American Dream” of solidarity together." Read an account of what the real immigration problem is from Sulma Arias of People's Action. It is not immigrants -- who are keeping our economy vibrant and our culture ever self-enriching. Instead, it is ultra-nationalist demagogues like Trump and Vance, and the lies they use to prop up their failing effort.

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