Politics

A week before the start of early voting, Maryland Republican gubernatorial hopeful Kelly Schulz was looking for a knockout blow in her race against primary foe Dan Cox. A television ad paid for by Democrats highlighting Cox’s connection to President Donald J. Trump seemed the perfect cudgel for the former head of a state agency and Gov. Larry Hogan’s pick as his successor. A portion of Lawyers Mall between the State House and the house she hoped voters would elect her to live in seemed the perfect venue.

At least two state senators are actively working to defeat House incumbents in their districts in party primaries, where early voting begins Thursday. In Baltimore City’s District 45, state Sen. Cory McCray (D) has assembled a ticket with two House candidates that pointedly does not include Del. Stephanie Smith (D). And in Montgomery County’s District 39, state Sen. Nancy King (D) and two of the district’s House members are hoping to defeat the other incumbent delegate, Gabriel Acevero (D).

When Democratic voters cast their ballots this summer, they’ll see Rushern L. Baker III’s name on the list of candidates for governor even though he’s no longer campaigning or trying to win votes. Baker, who was making his second try at winning Maryland’s governorship, suspended his campaign in June, citing a lack of money and an unclear path to victory in a crowded field of Democratic contenders.

The Carroll County Board of Commissioners approved $309,002 in county money to continue funding for two programs that work to combat the opioid crisis locally. Commissioners voted 4-0 Thursday to approve $135,000 for operations at the Carroll County Mobile Crisis Team’s call center, and $174,002 for the continuation of an after-school program run by the Boys and Girls Club of Westminster. Commissioner President Ed Rothstein was not at the meeting.

The Anne Arundel County Council approved a ballot question for the November general election that would extend council term limits by an additional four years. Voters will now get to choose whether to extend council members’ term limits from two consecutive four-year terms to three after six of the council members voted to put the question on the ballot. Only Andrew Pruski, a Gambrills Democrat, voted against the measure due to some confusion around pension benefits.

Maryland’s Republican primary for attorney general features a retired Montgomery County lawyer who once prosecuted the serial killer known as the Son of Sam running against a former third-party presidential candidate from Anne Arundel County with ties to a white supremacist organization that has advocated for a second Southern secession.