We hope you had a safe and happy holiday weekend!

Tomorrow is Giving Tuesday, and we hope this year you’ll choose to make a gift to support our grassroots advocacy efforts at Progressive Maryland. As a grassroots organization, we rely on small donations from progressives like you to bring our vision for a better Maryland to life. You can donate at this link — no gift is too small, any amount makes a difference. 

Thanks to your help, we’ve been able to develop strong issue campaigns on the local, state, and federal levels, and we’ve trained dozens of electoral candidates on how to run successful campaigns. We're entering the final stretch of 2021 on a strong note because of supporters like you. 

Check out campaign developments and additional opportunities to get involved in this week's memo.

In Solidarity,

The Progressive Maryland Team

Support Progressive Maryland This Giving Tuesday

Tomorrow, November 30th, is Giving Tuesday, and we need your support! 

We’re fighting for real, progressive change and a more equitable future, but we can’t do it alone. Your gift of any amount today and tomorrow allows us to continue:

• Building progressive electoral power to reshape Maryland politics
• Fighting inequities and racial disparities in our healthcare system
• Advocating for swift and meaningful climate action
• Pushing for urgent drug policy and criminal justice reforms 
• Protecting voting rights and ensuring fair elections
• & so much more

 — Give today to help us build a more progressive future

Quick Actions:

• Sign up to volunteer with our election team and ensure progressive candidates win in 2022!

• Tell the Senate to act: pass the Build Back Better Act now and send it to Pres. Biden’s desk! Call Senator Van Hollen (202-224-4654) and Senator Cardin (202-224-4654) today.

• Join us for Throwdown Thursday this Thursday, Dec. 2 to phone bank for progressive candidates.

Statewide Updates:

2022 Elections

We need YOUR help to elect progressives to office in 2022! Here’s a post published last week in Maryland Matters about our first rounds of endorsements in races across the state.

Campaigns are underway and we have many ways to get involved with our election team. We’re recruiting folks to make phone calls, knock on doors, distribute literature, and talk with voters — we’ll provide training and support. Every day between now and the June 28 primary matters, and every conversation we have will make a difference. Sign up here to join our election team!

Note to Candidates: If you’re running for office, have already filed for candidacy, and are interested in being considered for our endorsement, you may complete a candidate questionnaire here.

Throwdown Thursday 

Join us virtually this Thursday, December 2 at 6:00pm to call and text voters across the state with our team! We’ve activated folks on key issues, and now we’re going to talk with them about the 2022 elections, including a special election taking place in January. We need your help to get progressives elected. Click this link to let us know you’ll join — it’s fun, and it’s a great opportunity to meet fellow Maryland progressives.

Drug Policy Campaign

Our Drug Policy Task Force is hosting a Legislative Launch Party this Wednesday, December 1 at 7:00pm over Zoom to share our legislative priorities for the upcoming session. We’ll be joined by Delegate Jazz Lewis and Luke Jones from Maryland NORML to answer all your questions about marijuana legalization. Join us as we kick off our activities heading into the 2022 legislative session — RSVP here to attend the virtual launch party!

Healthcare Justice Campaign

Prescription Drug Pricing, Paid Family and Medical Leave in the Build Back Better Act

It’s time for the U.S. Senate to pass the Build Back Better Act which won a majority vote in the House on Nov. 19. This package will offer significant financial relief for seniors and families by lowering prescription drug prices, expanding child care, and providing paid family and medical leave. The House Democrats in our Congressional Delegation voted in favor, and we should take a minute this week to urge Sen. Van Hollen and Sen. Cardin to declare their support. Call Sen. Van Hollen at (202) 224-4654 and Sen. Cardin at (202) 224-4524 TODAY and tell them to push for a speedy vote. 

End Medical Debt Maryland

Thanks to your help, End Medical Debt Maryland passed the Medical Debt Protection Act of 2021 earlier this year! This legislation established some important protections for Maryland patients, but we need to do more. Get involved with our campaign to educate Marylanders on their rights as patients, pass comprehensive medical billing reform, and eliminate barriers to healthcare. Will you join us? Sign on to join our coalition! 

Fighting COVID

The emergence of the new Omicron virus variant is raising serious concerns around the globe including here in the United States. And it’s all the more reason that protecting and saving lives has to remain a top priority of elected officials and our public health systems. We can do our part, too, by exercising caution, using masks, getting vaccinated and urging  friends and family to do the same. We must also make the most of all the Federal relief dollars and resources that Maryland has received to meet the needs of our communities and all those affected by this public health crisis. Take a minute to sign this petition to state leaders.

Local Chapter Updates:

Progressive Harford County: 

Progressive Harford County is hosting weekly happy hours before heading to the Harford County Council hearings on Tuesday evenings. All can attend, regardless of age — RSVP here and we’ll email you the time & location. Check out the calendar on the Progressive HarCo website for more upcoming events!

Progressive HarCo is also recruiting candidates to support during the 2022 elections. If you're interested in running for office in Harford County, fill out this form and we'll contact you about supporting your campaign.

Progressive Montgomery:

The Montgomery County Council is considering a number of important measures over the next month. We urge MoCo residents to stream the Montgomery County Council’s Virtual Community Listening Session on Thrive Montgomery 2050 this Tuesday, November 30 at 7:00pm. Learn more here and stream the session live on the Council’s Facebook page.

Anne Arundel Fair Elections Task Force:

Want to help get big money out of Anne Arundel County politics? Join the Fair Elections Task Force and attend the Task Force meeting on Tuesday, November 30 at 6:30pm.

Progressive Prince George's:

Start making calls and door knocking now for the upcoming special election in Prince George’s County. Help us elect our endorsed candidate — current Prince George’s County Board of Education member, Edward Burroughs — to the District 8 seat on the County Council. Sign up to phone bank or knock doors for Edward Burroughs with us.

State and National News:

Build Back Better’s rough chances in the Senate, Opioids, climate threats and immigration reform are on the national agenda, while in Maryland worries about the new variant and hopes for better environmental outcomes make the news. Find all this — and more — on the PM BlogSpace.

Events From Our Allies: 

Tuesday, November 30 | 6:30pm (virtual) — Join the Prince George’s County Department of the Environment for a Community Meeting to discuss their Climate Action Plan. Register to join the meeting. 

Tuesday, November 30 | 6:00–7:30pm (virtual) — CASA is hosting a Teach-In: Annapolis 101, Passing Immigration Reform in 2022. Join to learn about how the Maryland General Assembly operates, key players in the legislature, how to testify in support of critical immigration reform, and CASA’s demands for immigrant justice. Register for the teach-in.

Tuesday, November 30 | 7:00–8:00pm (virtual) — Join Jews United for Justice, the Baltimore Jewish Council, and the JCRC of Howard County for Illuminating Justice: Issues for Working Families in the Upcoming Legislative Session. Participants will hear from leaders in the movement for paid family & medical leave and the fight for renters’ rights. Register to join. 

Wednesday, December 1 | 6:00–7:30pm (virtual) — The Metropolitan Washington Labor Council’s Committee on Political Education is hosting a Prince George’s County 2022 Candidates Labor Forum. The forum will educate candidates on political and legislative issues the labor movement seeks to address and will feature panelists in healthcare, education, the public sector, building trades, and transportation, among others. Email [email protected] for registration information. 

Wednesday, December 1 | 8:00am (Washington, DC) — Join the Center for Reproductive Rights for the Abortion Is Essential Rally for Our Rights at the steps of the United States Supreme Court building (1 First St NE, Washington, DC 20543). RSVP for the rally to receive additional information.

Wednesday, December 1 | 12:00pm (Ellicott City) — Join the Silver Spring Justice Coalition in Ellicott City to demand the Howard County State’s Attorney reopen the case against the officers who fatally shot Kwamena Ocran in January. Participants will gather in front of the Howard County Circuit Court (9250 Judicial Way, Ellicott City, MD 21043). RSVP to join. 

Thursday, December 2 | 6:00–7:30pm (virtual) — CASA is hosting a Teach-In: Healthcare Expansion for Immigrant Families. Join this teach-in to learn about legislation being introduced in the upcoming legislative session to expand healthcare access to all Marylanders, regardless of immigration status. Register for the teach-in. 

Friday, December 3 | application deadline (Baltimore) —  Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott is relaunching Results Teams for the Baltimore Fiscal 2023 budget process and is looking for participation from city residents. Learn more and apply here.

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 at [email protected].  

New Today: COVID, BBB, COP and other acronyms in the news that affect you — the Monday roundup of news you can use, linked to the Weekly Memo

Progressive Maryland Weekly Memo for Monday, November 22, 2021

Robbie Leonard endorsed for BACO state's attorney by a progressive alliance (November 17, 2021)

We're Endorsing Candidates for the 2022 Elections! (November 16, 2021)

Progressive Maryland Weekly Memo for Monday, November 15, 2021

"We should never stop learning," a teacher's journey to respect diversity in the classroom — by Timothy Dale Williams, November 3, 2021

Progressive Maryland Weekly Memo for Monday, November 1, 2021

>>Read more on the homepage of progressivemaryland.org.