Dear {{FirstName or 'Friend'}}, 

From Salisbury to Aberdeen to Federick to Seat Pleasant our volunteers, chapters, leaders and members are pulling out the stops to make a difference in the 2022 elections! We’re knocking on doors, making phone calls and energizing voters all over the state. People are making decisions right now about whether to vote and how they’re going to vote so the contacts we’re making every day can make a critical difference.

That’s why if you haven’t gotten involved yet, we urge you to join the effort! No campaign experience is needed. We will train and support everyone who can throw down with us. (We also have paid canvass positions available in some parts of the state. See below for details about all opportunities)

The gubernatorial debate last Wednesday evening illustrated why we must elect Wes Moore over Dan Cox. Moore is in tune with the needs of all regions of our state and will push an agenda that supports good jobs, community needs, and a state government that works for all Marylanders. Cox and the Republican candidates would do just the opposite, stripping our civil rights and undermining our public schools and institutions. 

The 2022 general election offers us a chance to reject Dan Cox, the rest of the top of the GOP ticket, and Donald Trump (who now owns the Republican party). Insead, we can score major progressive victories. More champions in Annapolis means we can pass policies that will expand healthcare, fix our drug laws and criminal justice system, and create an economy that supports workers and families.

We can win with your help: 

Sign up to knock doors with our team

Join us virtually to make phone calls

See the memo for more details about important election deadlines and opportunities to get out the vote work at the local level. Thank you for your support!

In solidarity,

The Progressive Maryland Team

 

📝 Election Corner:

Important Election Dates and Deadlines: Be sure to make your plan to vote

Click here for answers to your questions about voting. 

General Election Dates and Deadlines:

Find out about PM’s endorsed candidates

Voter Registration Can Take Place:

Mail-In Ballot Requests and Return Dates Ballot Deadlines:

Voting In Person Dates:

Task Forces & Issue Campaigns Updates:

Healthcare For All:
Tomorrow Night! Join People’s Action and U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders for a virtual event about our national Care Over Cost Campaign: Tuesday, October 18th, from 8-9 p.m. Eastern 

We’re taking on the insurance companies and the drug companies! Their mistreatment of patients cannot stand—it’s long past time to rein them in! Tomorrow’s event focuses on abuses in the insurance industry. You can help us keep up the demand, too, for Executive Action to lower Rx prices. Sign the petition to HHS Sec. Becerra. If you want to get involved in our campaign, contact Patty.

Progressive Maryland's Justice Task Force, Returning Citizens Task Force and Drug Policy Task Force:

The virtual Town Hall last week  was joined by more than 35 people – thanks to all who came to the event.  We heard from Nikki Owens, whose cousin—someone without a record, someone who was not committing any kind of crime—was shot and killed by Prince George's County Police; she talked about how that tragic event transformed her. Nikki reminded us that the time to act for police accountability is now. Yves Brady from the Drug Policy Task Force highlighted the importance of voting in favor of Question 4 to legalize cannabis. They stressed all the ways in which it’s the right thing to do, including removing cannabis possession as a tool with which the police target Black and Brown Marylanders. Alfriedia Hylton, chair of the Returning Citizens Task Force, reviewed the problems people face when trying to reintegrate into the community: lack of housing, jobs, and access to social services. 

Our discussion groups drilled down on the issues and came up with some potential demands and next steps to educate the broader community about the need for police reform, an overhaul of drug policy and an end to mass incarceration. Stay tuned for updates and if you’re interested in joining us please contact Kurt or Dev.

Returning Citizens Task Force: 

Announcement and notice to returning citizens: Progressive Maryland’s RCTF is holding an expungement/voter registration clinic on Saturday, October 22 from 11:00 am - 3:00 pm at the New Chapel Baptist Church, 5601 Old Branch Ave., Camp Springs, MD. This event is open to all. For more information or to rsvp please email Kurt.

Local Chapter Updates:

Progressive Harford County 

Join us tonight! We’re calling our supporters to do election volunteer recruitment! Join the phone bank, happening from 6-8 p.m. Click this link to sign up. 

And this Thursday, Oct. 20, from 6-8 p.m we’re making calls to voters on Zoom. We'll be calling to talk about supporting Question 4 for cannabis legalization, voting for Heather Mizeur and Gillian Miller, and making a voting plan. Sign up here.

Progressive Frederick County

Our chapter is working to elect progressive state legislators and a new Sheriff who will bring a much needed new approach to policing in the county. To volunteer with Frederick County Progressives, contact Zack . To apply for a paid position click here. 

Lower Shore Progressive Caucus

LSPC is building momentum for a blue wave on the shore this November! Eric Urs, PM’s new organizer, and Larry Stafford, PM’s Executive Director, led a canvass on Saturday in Somerset County with local LSPC supporters and Delegates Sheila Ruth, Robyn Lewis, and Mark Korman. This great team knocked on a couple hundred doors and heard from voters about their concerns. To get involved with PM’s work on the Shore contact Eric and check out the grassroots power of LSPC here.

Montgomery County

Urgent Election Alert: The Progressive Maryland Board of Directors voted last week to endorse Grace Rivera-Oven for the Montgomery County Board of Education, District 1. She has the support of the unions that represent teachers (MCEA, apple ballot) and school staff (SEIU Local 500) and many Democratic clubs in the County. Vote our progressive vision and values, vote for Grace!  

Learn more about her vision and values at her website.

Attend a Meet and Greet with Grace this Wednesday October 19. Click here to sign up. 

Progressive Prince George's

Fill out this form to Get involved with Progressive Prince George’s. Our Chapter is working on a number of local issues and initiatives.

Events from Allies:

Vote For Question 4 Rally| Saturday, October 22 Noon- 4 pm. Chesapeake Apothecary 4781-A Crain Highway, White Plains, MD.

For more information on this event and to sign up, click here.

State and National News:

People’s Action Home Guarantees Kansas City campaign was featured in the New York Times, Sunday, October 16. 

In national news, the COVID health emergency was extended by 90 days on Oct. 13. In light of this announcement, Maryland nursing homes and hospitals will receive $50 million shared evenly to help reduce the burden that the pandemic continues to put on staffing needs.

A concerning new study shows that Black homeownership has decreased to a 60-year low nationally. The Urban Institute is working with cities in a dozen states and the District of Columbia, including Baltimore, on strategies to bring rates of  Black homeownership up. Among them are financial assistance to Black homebuyers to help them cover down payments and closing costs, and support for current homeowners facing foreclosure. Statewide in Maryland, the Black homeownership rate is only 51%.

Lots more on environmental policies, education, and Maryland’s workers and labor efforts in this week’s News You Can Use blog.

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.

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