Dear Friend, We wish everyone who is celebrating, a bright and joyous Diwali! This day is a beautiful reminder that light prevails over darkness. It also gives us a moment to reflect on how fortunate we are to live in one of the most racially and culturally diverse states in the country.
This election season offers a chance to vote for candidates who will better reflect our diversity as a state and our values. It gives us a chance to say yes to prosperity and security for all of our communities; to say yes to rights for women, LGBTQ residents, immigrants, people of color and workers; and to say yes to a more inclusive Maryland. If you have not yet voted, make your plan to vote by mail, or to vote in person during early voting starting Thursday and running until Thursday, Nov.3, or in person on Tuesday, Nov. 8.
It’s crunch time for reaching and galvanizing voters. Join our amazing team to make calls or knock doors with us. Sign up to canvass with us! Click here to join our phone banking efforts!
Donate to support our electoral efforts here
Thank you for helping us build a statewide base of electoral organizing power in 2022 and beyond. Read on for more important election information and updates on our issue campaigns and local organizing. In solidarity, The Progressive Maryland Team |
📝 Election Corner: Important Election Dates and Deadlines: Be sure to make your plan to vote |
Early Voting: Starts this Thursday Oct. 27 and goes until Nov. 3. Check your Board of Elections for locations and times. 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:
We’re taking on the insurance companies and the drug companies! Their mistreatment of patients and our healthcare system cannot stand—it’s long past time to rein them in! Check out last week’s Care Over Cost Event with People’s Action and Senator Bernie Sanders: watch it here. You can help us keep up the demand, too, for Executive Action to lower the Rx prices that greedy drug companies are behind. Sign the petition to HHS Sec. Becerra. Get involved in our campaigns! Just drop a note to Patty.
Campaign For Justice and Ending the War on Drugs:
Justice is on the ballot this year! Our Task Forces remind all Marylanders of the importance of voting in favor of Question 4 to legalize cannabis. Punitive marijuana laws fueled mass incarceration and widespread racist policing practices. Cannabis possession is a tool with which the police target Black and Brown Marylanders, legalization will take the tool away and free up public resources to help meet pressing community needs around social services.
Returning Citizens Task Force:
RCTF held its first Expungement Clinic/ Education event at the New Chapel Baptist Church in Camp Springs on Saturday, October 22. We helped a number of people with criminal records get an expungement -- meaning that their charges will no longer show up on background checks, inhibiting their ability to find jobs or housing. Those who didn't qualify had the expungement process explained to them, and got additional legal advice and information about other resources. Thanks to The League of Women Voters who provided valuable information about voting rights, voter registration and key election dates. SLK Health Services, which supports vulnerable populations, including returning citizens, the LGBTQ+ and HIV communities -- also took part in the event.
Several elected officials and candidates stopped by to lend their support and listen to concerns. Thanks to Jamila Woods, State Delegate candidate in State House District 26 and Councilmember Jonathan Medlock, District 6. Prince George's County Council Chair Calvin Hawkins sent a representative. We’re grateful to Rev. Dr. Kerry Hill, who graciously allowed us the use of his Church. We look forward to more clinics and collaborations in the future. If you’re interested in joining our efforts, please contact Kurt or Dev. |
Local Chapter Updates: Progressive Harford County
Join Progressive Harford County tonight, Oct. 24, from 6-8 p.m! We’ll gather on Zoom to call Harford County voters who vote less frequently in midterm elections. We’ll talk about candidates Heather Mizeur for Congress, Jacob Bennett for County Council, Ballot Question 4 for cannabis legalization, and making a plan to vote. Sign up now!
This Saturday, Oct. 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. we’ll be doing door knocking in Edgewood. Join us to talk about Heather, Question 4, and local School Board candidate Stephen Puopolo, and to share information about voting. Early Voting will be underway so it’s a good time to contact voters. Click here to sign up.
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! Kris Urs, PM’s new organizer, is teaming with Jared, Rosie and a great grassroots team to help elect progressives up and down the ballot in that critical region of the state. To get involved with PM’s work on the Shore, contact [email protected] and learn about upcoming events here.
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Montgomery County
Progressive Maryland has endorsed community leader Grace Rivera-Oven for the Montgomery County Board of Education, District 1. She has the support of the unions that represent teachers (MCEA) and school staff (SEIU Local 500) and many Democratic clubs in the County. All Montgomery County voters can vote for Grace.
Learn more about her vision and values at her website.
Progressive Prince George's
Get Out The Vote: Thanks to all who joined our canvass on Saturday–we knocked on more than 300 doors for PM endorsed candidates Wes Moore for Governor and Jonathan Briggs for Board of Education (learn about Jonathan HERE) and for a Yes on Question 4 for Cannabis legalization. We continue our GOTV work at this Thursday’s virtual phone bank. Sign up today!
Zoning Bill Update: The Council hearing on CB 92 is tomorrow, Tuesday, Oct. 25 at 10 a.m. There’s some speculation that CM Hawkins may withdraw the bill (which would restrict community input on land use and development project decisions) he sponsored but we’ll be there and we encourage all who plan to attend or testify to do the same.
Office of Ethics and Accountability Appointment: Progressive Maryland and other community groups opposed the selection of Todd Turner to head this County Office. Unfortunately, the Council voted earlier today, to appoint him despite a career riddled with ethical conflicts of interest and without looking into his ties with a developer friendly super PAC that has been active in this year’s election cycle. We appreciate the leadership of Councilmember Ed Burroughs in opposing Turner. We will be watch his actions closely.
Want to get involved? Simply Fill out this form. Our Chapter is working on a number of important local issues and initiatives. |
Events from Allies: Today| happening now!
T1INTERNATIONAL is having a live event on their Facebook page.
For those on desktop, go to your News Feed and click Watch on the left.Then, click Live below Watch on the left. The livestream will be available for replay immediately. |
State and National News:
Good news: Maryland elections are VERY well-run. Tougher news: Maryland's K-12 students have a lot of pandemic deficits to overcome. And who is paying for school lunches these days? Much more in News You Can Use about labor's rapprochement with Wes Moore; housing pluses and minuses in MoCo and nationally, the explicit threats of national GOP types if they get control in DC about tax cuts (and their perils), losing those discounted Medicare prescription deals and more. Read the details on all these pressing topics in News You Can Use, our blog of Maryland and national progressive concerns. If you need an incentive to vote progressive, look no further.
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Progressive Maryland
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Largo, MD 20792
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