Politics

A Republican lawmaker apologized Saturday for tweeting profanity in response to a tweet from Maryland General Assembly’s top leadership, stating she meant to privately send the message to a close friend. The social media exchange centers on a lawsuit filed last month that challenges a General Assembly-approved map of the state’s congressional districts. Senate President Bill Ferguson and House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones, both Democrats, released a joint statement Friday expressing disappointment in a Maryland judge’s decision to reject the map as “a product of extreme partisan gerrymandering.”

Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby’s defense has doubled down on claims the prosecution in her federal indictment is vindictive, and that the case should be thrown out. In an omnibus reply filed Friday, Mosby’s defense said if the federal government does not dismiss the case, one prosecutor, in particular, should be disqualified from the prosecution. Mosby has maintained her innocence and insists she is the target of Assistant U.S. Attorney Leo Wise — who made donations to Mosby’s top challengers in the 2018 election cycle — and former acting U.S. Attorney Stephen Schenning.

In a 10-candidate primary, every inch matters. And every candidate is consequential: Even if they get only 1%, a last-place finisher’s vote total is significant, because it’s coming out of other candidates’ hides. Polls have suggested that there are four leading Democratic candidates for governor – Comptroller Peter V.R. Franchot, former Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker III, former U.S. Labor Secretary Tom Perez, and author and former foundation CEO Wes Moore. With 3 1/2 months left until early voting (unless there’s another primary delay), there could still be a breakout candidate or two.

Maryland’s new primary date has local election officials worried that, compared to prior elections, a larger number of county voters may be unable to cast a ballot at the polling place nearest them. Frederick County Elections Director Barbara Wagner is scheduled to present a draft plan to the county Board of Elections on April 6 to determine where voters from each of the county’s precincts will vote this summer.

A judge has accepted a remedial Baltimore County Council map with one majority Black council district. U.S. District Court Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby said at a status conference Thursday afternoon that the new map drawn by the Baltimore County Council is better than the one she struck down in February because it gives Black voters a chance to elect their candidate of choice.

Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson on Thursday spoke with C4 and Bryan Nehman on a number of different topics including the 30-day gas tax holiday and crime. The biggest news in Maryland over the last few weeks has been the 30-day suspension of the gas tax signed into legislation by Gov. Larry Hogan. The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded fuel is $3.797, nearly 50 cents less than the national average of $4.236.