Friend,
Last night was truly a night to remember. Whether you were with us in the room or supporting from afar, thank you for being part of Progressive Maryland’s 25-year journey. The energy, joy, and sense of purpose that filled the gala was unforgettable. It was a celebration of a movement that has grown to over 100,000 supporters statewide, and a reminder of the power we hold when we organize together.
We enjoyed incredible music, great drinks, delicious food and yes, that pasta everyone was talking about. If you know, you know.
And because of this community’s generosity and belief in our mission, we raised over $40,000 last night. We could not have done that without every single one of you, your presence, your support, and your commitment to the work ahead.
We were honored to celebrate 16 leaders across our movement, uplifting organizers, advocates, journalists, community champions, union members, and public servants whose work has shaped Maryland. You can view the full list of honorees in our digital gala program here ➜.
Our first award of the night went to our keynote speaker, Senator Chris Van Hollen, who received the Courage Award for his steadfast leadership, principled advocacy, and unwavering commitment to justice. He delivered a powerful, riveting speech that fired up the room, speaking to the state of our movement, the importance of grassroots power, and the work ahead of us. He reminded us what’s at stake, speaking passionately about protecting healthcare access at a time when the Trump administration is aggressively attacking it for millions of Americans. He also reaffirmed his support for fair redistricting and called out the dangerous schemes Republicans are pushing in red states.
We also heard from Councilmember Will Jawando, who grounded us in the work happening at the state level and highlighted the critical role Progressive Maryland plays in advancing bold policies, protecting our communities, and building political strength. His remarks helped drive support for our campaigns as we head into a defining year less than 50 days away, and a pivotal primary in June.
We are also grateful to share a special video message from Congressman Ro Khanna who wanted to speak directly to all of you about the future of the progressive movement.
