EARLY VOTING BEGINS TODAY and runs till next Monday, Nov. 2 Early voting starts today! Early voting centers will be open from 7:00AM-8:00 PM. Click here to find an early voting center in your county. Early voting is available each and every day from today, October 26, until Monday, Nov.2. from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. including on Saturday and Sunday.  Safety procedures like distancing will be in place. Remember to mask up.

Progressive Maryland Weekly Memo for Monday, October 26, 2020

STATEWIDE ALERTS

Early voting starts today! Early voting centers will be open from 7:00AM-8:00 PM. Click here to find an early voting center in your county. Early voting is available each and every day from today, October 26, until Monday, Nov.2. from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. including on Saturday and Sunday.  Safety procedures like distancing will be in place. Remember to mask up.

Volunteer on our elections team! Join a virtual textbank or phonebank to help elect support our candidates, or become an in-person  pollingplace volunteer.  worker volunteer. View a list of our events below or here to sign up, or contact your regional organizer for more info.

You can also vote in person on Election Day November 3 from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Check your County Board of Election website to view a list of designated polling places.

Received your ballot in the mail?  Please fill it out today and make a plan to mail it or drop it a secure box at early vote locations. Be sure to sign it and follow all the instructions.

Not registered? You can register to vote during early voting and on November 3 at the polling locations.  

CANDIDATE ENDORSEMENTS

Baltimore City:

Brandon Scott for Baltimore City Mayor

Bill Henry for Baltimore City Comptroller

Zeke Cohen for Baltimore City Council, District 1

Danielle McCray for Baltimore City Council, District 2

Ryan Dorsey for Baltimore City Council, District 3

Kris Burnett for Baltimore City Council, District 8

John Bullock for Baltimore City Council, District 9

Phylicia Porter for Baltimore City Council, District 10

Franca Muller Paz for Baltimore City Council, District 12

Odette Ramos for Baltimore City Council, District 14

Calvert County:

Antoine White for Calvert County School Board, District 2

Montgomery County:

Marylin Pierre for Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge

Sunil Dasgupta for Montgomery County Board of Education At Large

Prince George’s County:

April Ademiluyi for Prince George's County Circuit Court Judge

Gladys Weatherspoon for Prince George's County Circuit Court Judge

David Murray for Prince George's County Board of Education, District 1

Shayla Adams-Stafford for Prince George's County Board of Education, District 4

Raaheela Ahmed for Prince George's County Board of Education, District 5

Kenneth Harris for Prince George's County Board of Education, District 7

Edward Burroughs for Prince George's County Board of Education, District 8

Lower Shore & Northern Maryland Counties:

Mia Mason for Congress, Congressional District 1

See the list of endorsements on our website here. 

COVID-19 UPDATE

Our country just experienced the highest number of reported virus cases since the spring. Medical experts are warning that as cold weather arrives things will get worse. We need to stay vigilant and do our part to meet this crisis; and we should ask our elected officials to do their part. Please remember to mask, keep physical distancing, wash hands frequently and avoid gatherings of more than ten people. Following public health guidelines helps reduce the spread; ignoring the guidelines as Trump and Pence have done at their superspreader events contributes to outbreaks and puts communities at risk.

Keep these facts in mind, as well as the public policy response to the economic and health consequences of COVID, when you vote. Not just for President and Vice President but for down ballot races, too. When it comes to Board of Education candidates consider whether they support school teachers and staff.  And find out if they favor a plan for a safe, comprehensive, fully resourced and equitable return to in-school learning. At our October 7 COVID Forum we heard from teachers and health advocates about the state of the state in Maryland; and about the challenges and needs we face. A link to some of the resources our speakers is  shared  here.   

While Maryland may not be experiencing the high numbers some other states are, we are seeing dramatic racial disparities in COVID cases and health outcomes. Tens of thousands of renters are on the brink of eviction Thousands of unemployed residents aren’t receiving UI benefit payments due to the ongoing problems with the state’s system. These are huge problems. The Governor isn’t in any kind of regular communication with residents, community groups, and local officials  about how he’s managing the crisis which has led to confusion when it comes to developing public health and re-opening policies. It would be good to see our Governor show more empathy and consistent, collaborative leadership during this crisis. We deserve better, the Hogan Administration can do better.  Please sign and share this petition to the Governor TODAY.

https://secure.everyaction.com/5mMTRVuXCUShC163JPVy7A2

ON THE NATIONAL PROGRESSIVE FRONTLINES

THRIVE Agenda: Our Climate/People Planet First (PPF) campaign and Green New Deal Network (GNDN) coalition partners celebrated a major milestone last week by hitting their target goal of getting 100 cosponsors on the Transform, Heal, and Renew by Investing in a Vibrant Economy (THRIVE) congressional resolution (H. Res. 1102, S. Res. 693) which is a visionary roadmap to a just recovery. Senate Democrats have indicated they see a path to pass climate change legislation in the next Congress session by using the budget reconciliation process, which allows senators to pass legislation that would change spending and tax laws with a simple majority. Sen. Whitehouse (D-RI) who has been a champion for climate change said last week, “we walked away from this problem in the Obama administration; I don’t think we can do that again” and he’s absolutely correct. With a new administration and a Democratic control Senate, our THRIVE agenda is the progressive direction our country needs to combat this crisis.

Dates to Remember:

• October 26 - The Senate is voting on Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation tonight at 7pm. Tell your Senators to vote NO by calling them at 877-745-4591. You can also tweet to them using the hashtags #OurCourts #NoConfirmationBeforeInauguration and #ThePeoplesSeat. Feel free to also share these graphics. 
• October 26-November 2 - Early voting in Maryland begins this week! 
• November 10 is the U.S. Supreme Court hearing on California v. U.S., the lawsuit that seeks to overturn the Affordable Care Act (ACA). 
• November 12-13 - Meeting the Moment: Building a more resilient nation (a virtual gathering), hosted by the Progressive Caucus Action Fund and the Congressional Progressive Caucus Center. Click to register; there’s a great line-up of speakers expected, including People’s Action director, George Goehl who plans to discuss our deep canvassing efforts. All member group leaders, advocates and grassroots activists are invited to participate. 

OUR CHAPTERS AROUND THE STATE

 Progressive Prince George’s

Prince George’s Weekly Election Phonebank

Making calls is the most powerful thing we can do to make sure folks know who will be on the ballot, and why we are throwing our support behind them – and we’ll be calling Prince Georgians every Wednesday night until Election Day.

Join us this Wednesday, 10/28 at 5:30 PM to be a part of our core team of callers: 

https://secure.everyaction.com/1mW-xu8ZikqJvav2Boas8g2

We'll be talking with voters about our endorsed school board candidate in District 4, Shayla-Adams Stafford, as well as some others on our slate. We’re also checking in with voters to make sure they’ve requested their ballots and have a plan to vote. This is incredibly important since the deadline to do so is quickly approaching. On Wednesday, we’ll begin with a quick training and then start dialing!

PMD Montgomery

Election Phone Bank for MOCO Chapter for our candidates Marylin Pierre for Circuit Judge and Sunil for School Board At-large!: email [email protected] for details and link.

 Frederick County Progressives

Take Action Anne Arundel County

Anne Arundel Fair Election Townhall October 27th at 7pm!

https://secure.everyaction.com/jtOqPmi9UUaM8-vJn6EckQ2

https://www.facebook.com/events/767805693798315/ 

Our Fair ElectionTown Hall will be on Tuesday the 27th from 7 to 8 pm. https://secure.everyaction.com/whaEprsurES1U1y8jm-PxQ2

Talbot Rising

Lower Shore Progressive Caucus 

LSPC has sent out this message to its network about the need to vote quickly rather than at the last minute. https://us18.campaign-archive.com/?e=95edce160f&u=bcb616fdd9945fc2c5e497238&id=60f6f9e024 -- PMD Baltimore

EVENTS FROM OUR ALLIES

Wednesday, October 28  | 7-9 PM | MDC DSA  Prince George’s County Branch (prov.) biweekly meeting

Saturday Oct 31 | 3:30 PM | Make Calls to Defeat Spooky Austerity with Maryland State Delegate Gabriel Acevero

MoCo DSA and Progressive Maryland are campaigning to defeat Montgomery County, MD ballot question B, a pro-austerity, regressive tax scam that will benefit only the county’s wealthiest property owners. Follow link for details

November 17 and 19 | Building an Antiracist Economy in Maryland 

Virtual reports and panel discussion presented by the Maryland Center on Economic Policy. Info and registration to come. A progressive think tank on the model of EPI; you can sign up for their email list here.

OUR RECENT BLOG POSTS

Reading the Progressive Maryland BlogSpace: our recent blog posts are shown below, but if you want a handy way to keep track – and never miss a blog post – you can sign up to get this Weekly Memo by email. Remember this is your blogspace and your participation is heartily invited. See something going on that you don’t like – or that you do like and hope to see more of? Send us your thoughts; submit to the moderator at [email protected]

October 25, 2020 EARLY VOTING BEGINS TOMORROW -- Check out our endorsed candidates and VOTE

Progressive Marylanders: Early voting statewide begins TOMORROW – Monday, October 26 – and continues through November 2, the day before Election Day November 3. It includes Saturday (Oct. 31) and Sunday (Nov. 1) and runs from 7 AM to 8 PM in most locations. On how to vote, and who Progressive Maryland is backing, read on...

October 19, 2020 Progressive Maryland Weekly Memo for Monday, October 19, 2020

Early voting begins next week and tomorrow is the deadline for requesting an absentee -- "mail-in" ballot. Read all about it in the Memo, plus updates on how the Hogan administration is doing in the struggle to cope with COVID (spoiler alert: not good), how to contest the corporate darling Judge Amy, and working to support progresssive down-ballot candidates in jurisdictions all over the state. Check it out in this week's Progressive Maryland Weekly Memo.

October 12, 2020 Fines, fees dog returning citizens here -- not just in Florida

Marylanders shocked by Florida's vindictive requirement that ex-felons must pay off all fees before they can vote should know that equally onerous requirements hobble returning citizens iin Maryland as well. In Florida, GOP legislators connived to suppress votes after the state's voters, in a referendum, determined that ex-felons should enjoy the right to vote. In Maryland, not so dramatically, the impediiments to resumng life in society pile up with equal, remorseless tenacity. Maryland Matters's Hannah Gaskill recounts testimony from the Job Opportunities Task Force, our progressive ally organization focusing on the ways poverty is criminalized and perpetuated in our state.

October 06, 2020 With no special session, MD legislators are ignoring their responsibilities

Time is running out for the Maryland General Assembly to do what its clear duties require and meet in Special Session to finish their work from the cut-off session in spring 2020 and remedy the shortfalls of the Hogan administration in keeping the state's people and economy protected from the effects of COVID-19.

Here, a participant in the recent People's Special Session recounts how the leaders of the Assembly tried -- and failed -- to pre-empt or muffle these demands by crashing the People's Special Session.

As Rashad Lloyd says here in a Maryland Matters commentary, "The people won’t forget the harm the General Assembly has caused by failing to take action. We certainly won’t forget this moment when they’re up for reelection in 2022."

See more of our PM BlogSpace coverage on the need for a special session here and here.

September 23, 2020 Progressives line up against MoCo Question B with citizen group

Progressive Marylanders in Montgomery County have been fighting, with allies, to defeat the right-wing stealth measure Question B that would cripple public services in the county with a tax-break windfall for the rich. Adam Pagnucco in the Seventh State blog updates that fight as a new umbrella coalition is launched by a citizen group with many of those allies. Stay updated with Montgomery Neighbors Against B Coalition at mocoagainstb.org and at our Facebook and Twitter @mocoagainstb 

September 18, 2020 Progressives vow to maintain pressure for special session despite surprise leadership cameo

Despite the surprise appearances of House and Senate leaders at a rally to show how a special Assembly session could work, their disappointing refusal to call such a session brought progressives' vow to keep the pressure on. Read about what happened Wednesday and what happens next.

September 16, 2020 Maryland transit cuts are hurting essential workers, low-income communities

Maryland's transit systems -- buses, MARC and more -- are about to take a $150 million hit. It is unsurprising but outrageous that "these cuts... would be devastating to many Marylanders that live in low-income  communities, communities of color, and people with disabilities." Sixty-four Maryland activist groups across the political, community and environmental spectrum wrote this letter demanding the cuts be reversed and the Transportation Trust Fund tapped to ease the plight of essential workers, who largely come from the most impacted communities.  

September 15, 2020 Voters want legislators to be working for them. Now.

“Our state’s government isn’t intended to be run by just one person,” observes state budget expert Ben Orr. “… Gov. Hogan is operating without oversight and with no provisions for accountability on the part of the General Assembly. Billions of dollars have come to Maryland and [been disbursed] — or not — without the input of the legislative branch.”

Get the General Assembly to do its job by assembling at a rally in Annapolis tomorrow (Wednesday, Sept. 16). We'll show them how a people's legislature can meet safely instead of hiding behind the pandemic.

REMEMBER – these blog posts are frequently expressions of political opinion from our wide-ranging membership and circle of allies. They are not expressions of opinion by Progressive Maryland. Don’t be surprised if they sometimes vary in their political content. You might even disagree with them – a good reason to contribute a blog of your own. Send it to the moderator, Woody Woodruff, at [email protected]. 

>>Keeping up with the blogs is easier with the index. The blogs published in the PM BlogSpace from June 2015 through December 2016 are all available with descriptions and links here. You can follow blogs for 2017-18 starting from here