News
June 2, 2026
MARYLAND, UNITED STATES, June 2, 2026 (by Katelynn Winebrenner, Capital News Service)— President Donald Trump stands at the center of everything in Washington these days — and as voters prepare to vote in Maryland’s June 23 General Assembly primaries, he seems to be at the center there, too.
State Senate President Bill Ferguson — a Democrat who hasn’t had a primary opponent since 2014 — is facing a spirited challenge from Bobby LaPin, a veteran who became a sailboat captain and social media personality. LaPin criticizes Ferguson for standing in the way of Democrats who wanted to deprive Trump of the state’s lone Republican seat in the House of Representatives – a move that Ferguson is now reconsidering.
Statewide, Democratic candidates are battling over who will work hardest to combat a presidential administration that has eliminated about 29,700 federal jobs in the state.
Perhaps for that reason, Republican candidates in Maryland focus on the state’s issues rather than federal issues — while steering clear of even mentioning Trump’s name.
Survey responses from 141 of the 235 General Assembly candidates with competitive primaries — featured in a voter guide assembled by the Local News Network at the University of Maryland’s Philip Merrill College of Journalism — show a slew of concerns about Maryland’s handling of federal issues ranging from the economy to immigration enforcement.
Maryland’s focus on national issues doesn’t surprise Mike Hanmer, director of UMD’s Center for Democracy and Civic Engagement.
“We really are in a period of heightened awareness and sensitivity to what’s going on,” Hanmer said. “Part of that is just the sheer number of changes that are being made at the federal level — or at least attempted — and the severity.”
Ferguson’s challenge
In normal times, Marylanders wouldn’t expect their State Senate president, who’s been in the General Assembly since 2011 and in his leadership role for six years, to face a vociferous challenge from a guy who passed time during the pandemic by posting videos of himself singing while nearly nude.
But these are not normal times — and Ferguson faces a fight because he insisted on the normal rule of order.
With Trump pushing Republican-led state legislatures to redraw congressional maps to benefit the GOP, Democratic governors such as Gavin Newsom of California and Abigail Spanberger of Virginia fought back by insisting their states draw new district lines to add more Democratic seats.
Such redistricting efforts typically only happen after the decennial census, but Gov. Wes Moore wanted Maryland to redraw its district lines, too. He backed a map that would have threatened Rep. Andy Harris of the Eastern Shore, the state’s lone Republican member of the House of Representatives.
Ferguson resisted. After House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries met with him to push the new Maryland congressional map, Ferguson said: “It’s precisely because we want Leader Jeffries in the majority that most members in the Maryland Senate Democratic Caucus do not support moving forward with mid-cycle redistricting that will backfire in our state courts and lose Democrats in Congress.”
Ferguson’s refusal to allow the Senate to take up redistricting during this year’s regular session gave an opening to LaPin in Baltimore City’s District 46. LaPin backed the plan to add a Democratic House seat in Maryland.
“It’s not only the state legislature’s job to make sure life is affordable and safe,” LaPin said in an interview with LNN. “Redistricting is an example where the power of the state legislatures are just all-encompassing.”
After Ferguson blocked the redistricting plan, Moore issued a round of General Assembly endorsements — and pointedly left Ferguson off the list.
Now, though, Ferguson is reconsidering the redistricting issue, saying he may call a special General Assembly session to consider the matter. The reason? The recent Supreme Court decision reinterpreting the Voting Rights Act, which has allowed several southern states to redraw their maps to eliminate Black-majority districts and enhance Republican chances in the fall.
“My job has been the same from day one: protect Maryland in the fight against Donald Trump,” Ferguson said in a statement. “That’s why I held the line on Maryland’s 7-1 map. I wasn’t willing to gamble Democratic seats on a legal fight we could lose.”
Now, though, Ferguson said: “The rules have changed.”
“Maryland must respond as the ground shifts under us,” he added. “I’m in active conversations with my caucus about a special session and constitutional amendment to address the 2022 Maryland court redistricting decision and new U.S. Supreme Court (Voting Rights Act) decision, with the aim of putting this before Maryland voters in November.”
Democrats rip Trump
Many other Democratic primary races have become contests of who can stand out as the toughest opponent to Trump’s movement while addressing Maryland’s affordability issues.
“The Trump administration’s dangerous policies and actions have made Marylanders less safe while increasing prices for gas, electricity bills, prescription drugs and childcare,” State Senate Majority Leader Nancy King, who is running for reelection for District 39 in Montgomery County, said in the survey. “Now, more than ever, Marylanders rely on the state government to keep them safe and provide essential services.”
One of King’s Democratic primary challengers, Amar Mukunda, agreed fixing Maryland’s affordability and dealing with Trump is one of his highest priorities.
“I am both deeply concerned and deeply optimistic about our future,” Mukunda said. “I come from an immigrant family; too many of us are living in fear as Trump unleashes a wave of hatred. … I grew up struggling in this county, moving eight times before finishing high school; I understand how skyrocketing costs are disrupting families. … I’m running because I know we can meet these challenges — if we do things differently.”
Other General Assembly challengers said personally experiencing these issues is what motivated them to start their campaigns.
Alicia Contreras-Donello, a Democratic candidate for District 14 in Montgomery County, said she started her venture into local politics after losing her job when the Trump administration closed the U.S. Agency for International Development.
“When my agency was dismantled, my public service mission didn’t end,” Contreras-Donello said. “I brought it home. … I am running to lower costs for families, strengthen education and workforce development, grow thriving healthy and safe communities and build an economy and government that works for everyone.”
Other Democratic candidates said Maryland’s struggles started before Trump’s first term.
“Too many people feel like our economy isn’t working for them and our democracy isn’t responding to them,” said Spencer Dixon, a Democratic House of Delegates candidate for District 32 in Anne Arundel County. “While these feelings have never been more true than they are today, they didn’t start the day Donald Trump strolled down his golden escalator over a decade ago. … I’m proud that we have stood up to Trump and worked to protect our citizens from some of his most harmful policies, but there’s more we can be doing.”
Many candidates referenced the increase of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in the state as a motivator for their campaigns.
“I refuse to stand by idly while ICE prepares a massive operation to snatch my neighbors off the streets and send them across the state to an illegal detention center in the county where I was raised,” said Democrat Craig Hayes, who is running for the District 22 seat in Prince George’s County. “I believe our ongoing constitutional crisis needs a new generation of state leaders who are willing to propose bold policy solutions to not only protect but strengthen our democracy.”
Republicans go local
As Democrats focus on the Trump administration’s role in the state’s economic issues, Republicans have pointed to state taxes and fees, not mentioning the federal government’s impact in Maryland.
“I am running for reelection to the House of Delegates to continue cutting taxes, protecting our second amendment, lowering utility rates and eliminating red tape,” said Del. Kevin Hornberger of District 35B in Cecil County. “I will continue pushing back on the majority party’s tax and spend policies while making this an affordable place to raise a family.”
Other Republican challengers echoed calls for better oversight when it comes to the budget.
“Taxes and fees must be reduced to reduce the stress on residents but still bring in enough to sustain the state,” said Larry Novak, a Republican running in District 42B in Baltimore County. “Transparency must be reintroduced in Annapolis. We are struggling under a huge, negative deficit. Accountability seems to have disappeared, and the constituents have suffered because of it.”
Other candidates, like Jake Taylor, who’s running for a House seat in District 34B in Harford County, said they want to see more conservative representation in the General Assembly to prevent state overreach in local communities.
“Local government is where the rubber meets the road,” Taylor said. “It’s where trash gets collected, criminals get arrested, streets get paved, snow gets plowed and people’s voices get most heard. The rising tide to increase financial burdens on local governments while stripping them of responsibility and authority over their own backyards is a recipe for disaster.”
Republican incumbents like Del. April Rose, of District 5 in Carroll and Frederick counties, agreed they wanted to maintain a conservative voice in the Assembly.
“I enjoy serving my constituents, helping to solve problems and to be a voice for conservatives in the state of Maryland,” Rose said. “That point of view is needed in this very liberal state.”
One of her challengers, Sallie Taylor, another Republican District 5 candidate, said current representatives aren’t doing enough to fight against the Democratic majority.
“I love Maryland and hate the disastrous path the Democrats have put us on,” Taylor said. “Unlike those running for delegate in 5th District, I don’t have a job, my children are grown and I can … devote 365 days a year to serve and defend Maryland against the centralized progressive policies of the majority party, which are driving both retirees and young professionals away and making it impossible to start and/or to maintain a thriving business.”
While focusing their attention on state-specific policies, Republican candidates who responded to the LNN questionnaire rarely mentioned the president. Asked to name a public figure they admire and explain why, only two named Trump: Del. Bob Long and Bobby “Al Jolson” Berger, a former police officer and entertainer who for years portrayed Jolson, a vaudeville star a century ago, in blackface. Both Long and Berger are running in Baltimore County’s District 6.
Meanwhile, six of the GOP candidates cited the late President Ronald Reagan as the public figure they admire most, while three named the never-Trump former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan.
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May 13, 2026
HYATTSVILLE, MARYLAND, UNITED STATES, May 13, 2026 (by Streetcar Suburbs Publishing Staff)— County and state representatives influence zoning, public schools, police, courts, and local government investment and spending in our communities.
In our area, the Democratic primary election June 23 will almost certainly decide who represents us at the county, state, and federal level, because our area is overwhelmingly Democratic. Below you can find information about countywide races and local county and state races for districts that include Hyattsville, College Park, and Laurel.
Most races below have only Democrats running in them; a few have one Republican, and only one (District 23) includes two Republicans.
The school board races are non-partisan, but will still be on primary ballots.
How can I vote?
Mail-in ballots started arriving in May for the June 23 election. To vote in Democratic primary races, you need to register as a Democrat. June 2 is the deadline to register to vote online or to register to vote by mail.
The Maryland State Board of Elections announced mid-May that mail-in ballots sent before May 14 have errors. Corrected ballots are coming in the mail, and information is being updated on the state board of elections website.
You can also register to vote in person on election day or during early voting, which starts on June 11 and ends June 18, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day. Visit the Prince George’s County Board of Elections website for lists of early voting centers and drop box locations for mail-in ballots.
What candidates will be on my ballot?
Look up your sample ballot here.
Where can I get information on candidates?
We asked local candidates what they have accomplished for their communities and what they hope to accomplish if elected. We also asked them about government spending. Their responses follow; click the plus sign by their names to see what they said.
Below the candidate statements, we list other resources, including recordings of candidate forums.
We will continue to update this online guide. Please send voter education resources you think we should include to kit@streetcarsuburbs.news.
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Maryland State Legislature
District 22 (Hyattsville)
Alonzo T. Washington, the current state senator for District 22, is running unopposed in the Democratic primary and did not respond to our voter guide inquiry. Neither did Republican Jim Wass, who will oppose Washington in the general election.
The four democrats below are competing for three seats as state delegates for District 22, including only one incumbent, Ashanti Martinez.
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Craig Hayes
Residence: Hyattsville
Age: 35
Fun Fact: I played alto saxophone with my grandparents in an ensemble called Sentimental Sounds, and we recorded a self-titled cover album performing jazz, big band, and pop hits from the 40s, 50s, and 60s.
Accomplished for community: I am most proud of the advocacy work I have done with candidates, elected officials, and organizations like Ranked Choice Voting Maryland across the state to promote electoral reforms like proportional RCV, special elections for state legislative vacancies, and public financing for elections because I believe all Marylanders should have a meaningful voice in who represents them at every level of government. In just the past few years, there has been significant movement in localities across the state to implement some of these reforms, including Greenbelt voters approving RCV last year and places like Montgomery County, Annapolis, Frederick, Hyattsville, and Rockville all actively considering adopting it. If elected, I hope to accelerate this trend to strengthen our democracy.
Goals: In addition to passing electoral reform legislation, I will prioritize expanding workers’ rights in both the public and private sectors by advocating for binding arbitration and the right of educators, school staff, and librarians to strike. I also hope to pass a $25 an hour state minimum wage that is indexed to inflation so that we can achieve one fair living wage for all workers in Maryland. Similarly, I will continue to protect the most vulnerable in our state, including immigrants, communities of color, and the LGBTQ+ community.
Spending? I think there is a persistent pattern of misusing taxpayer dollars to fund what are essentially campaign-style mailers for current councilmembers seeking election for other public offices.
I also agree with the current county delegation that there needs to be more transparency regarding the county council’s transfer of more than $27 million from the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission’s budget.
Who’s on your team? Citizens for an Inclusive Hyattsville, Founder; Center for Freethought Equality PAC; Additional endorsements, distinctions, and pledges can be found at craighayes.com/endorsements
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Other resources
If you didn’t find what you need above, here are some other places to look:
PGCTV ran a county executive candidate forum and a state’s attorney forum this spring. They have also interviewed candidates including Daniel Armando Jones, Tara Jackson, Wanika Fisher, and John Carr.
The Washington Informer published a primer on the county primaries.
Prince George’s County Young Democrats is running a series of candidate forums this spring; past ones are viewable on their YouTube page.
The Banner has a Prince George’s County voter guide, which includes these races as well as state and county races outside our coverage area. It is behind a (cheap) paywall.
Update May 21: A prior version of this guide said the Judge of the Orphan’s Court race is contested. It is not. The three candidates are the current judges of the orphan’s court.
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April 23, 2026
MARYLAND, UNITED STATES, April 23, 2026 (by Josh Kurtz, Maryland Matters)— There will be significant turnover in Annapolis come 2027, with five state senators and 19 House members either retiring or running for other offices, and others could be ousted in the primaries or general election.
You don’t have to look too far down the ballot to find interesting battles in the June 23 primary. Many seem to be taking place in Prince George’s County, which is hardly surprising, given the level of political churn there, but just about every jurisdiction in the state has a noteworthy political race somewhere.
On Wednesday, Maryland Matters looked at county executive and congressional primaries worth watching. Here are some legislative primaries and local races to keep an eye on.
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House of Delegates
Prince George’s-palooza: There is an abundance of intriguing House primaries in Prince George’s County – some in districts where very few incumbents are running again. In District 22, the lone incumbent on the ballot is Del. Ashanti Martinez (D), the chair of the Legislative Latino Caucus, who was appointed to the job in 2023 after twice running unsuccessfully for the seat. Another strong contender is Molly McKee-Seabrook, who has worked for the district’s former senator, Paul Pinsky (D), and for Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City). But don’t count out Edmonston Mayor Tracy Gant or Craig Hayes, a progressive political strategist.
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April 9, 2026
GREENBELT, MARYLAND, UNITED STATES, April 9, 2026 (by Stephen Lotz, Greenbelt News Review)— Four candidates, all Democrats, are running for three available spots in the 2026 Maryland House of Delegates District 22 election. Two current delegates, Anne Healey and Nicole Williams, are not seeking reelection. Ashanti Martinez is the only incumbent on the ballot.
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Craig Hayes
Candidate Statement:
“I refuse to stand by idly while ICE prepares a massive operation to snatch my neighbors off the streets and send them across the state to an illegal detention center in the county where I was raised. I am running for Delegate because I believe our ongoing constitutional crisis needs a new generation of state leaders who are willing to propose bold policy solutions to not only protect but strengthen our democracy. That is why I support electoral reforms like proportional ranked choice voting and special elections for legislative vacancies so that Maryland voters always have a voice in who represents them. With nearly two decades of experience organizing political campaigns and working directly with elected officials and community leaders, I will be ready on day one to represent the people of District 22 in Annapolis.”
Candidate Biography:
Hayes, 35, of Hyattsville, is a political consultant and campaign strategist with nearly two decades of experience. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Shippensburg University. Hayes worked as a field organizer for Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign, a staff assistant for Congressman John Delaney and a campaign manager for a Maryland House delegate race. He currently works as a senior advisor and project manager on local, state and federal political campaigns.
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Stephen Lotz is a student at the University of Maryland’s Philip Merrill College of Journalism interning with the Greenbelt News Review.
March 31, 2026
