Politics

Republican Larry Hogan on Thursday sought to undercut Democrats’ plans to eviscerate him on abortion rights and his bipartisan image, with the newly minted Senate nominee and former governor describing himself as “pro-choice” for the first time and releasing an ad with footage of prominent Democrats praising his two-term tenure.

Federal and state environmental officials have acknowledged for the past couple of years that states in the Chesapeake Bay watershed will fall short of meeting some of their pollution reduction and resiliency goals by the federally prescribed 2025 deadlines. But policymakers, scientists, academics and advocates continue to focus on both the 2025 objectives and a new set of imperatives that reflect both the progress and the challenges in Bay cleanup that remain.

The last time Nick Mosby attended an election night party at Melba’s Place on Greenmount Avenue, it was for his then-wife, Marilyn Mosby. Their daughters and supporters watched as votes trickled in and her chances diminished. The former Baltimore state’s attorney lost that 2022 election badly, finishing third in a three-way race.

At what is slated to be Gov. Wes Moore’s last bill-signing ceremony of the year, the Democratic governor will sign sweeping juvenile justice legislation Thursday morning, signaling a win for prosecutors and law enforcement who say crime among Maryland youth is out of control. The legislation will create oversight to ensure the Department of Juvenile Services has clearer communication with police and local prosecutors.

The full picture of Maryland’s voter turnout in Tuesday’s primary election is still blurry, with thousands of mailed-in and provisional ballots left to count and more that could still arrive in time to be included. But one thing is for certain: The number of people who voted in-person on election day, and the volume of people who cast ballots during early voting, declined this primary cycle relative to the last two elections, according to the latest data from the Maryland State Board of Elections.

Large margins in majority-white precincts powered Mayor Brandon Scott to victory over challenger and former Mayor Sheila Dixon on Tuesday, preliminary election data shows. An overcast election day that saw relatively few people go to the polls ended with an election night AP race call some thought could take days of counting votes to settle.

A measure that will expand the use of ignition interlock devices when drivers are convicted of driving drunk is among many laws getting the signature of Maryland Gov. Wes Moore in Annapolis. The bill does away with an exemption that allowed drivers to plead down to probation before judgment in drunk driving cases. Safety advocates said that exemption allowed drivers to avoid having the alcohol-detecting devices installed their vehicles.

Mayor Brandon Scott handily won Tuesday night. Now what? For one, Scott is now solidified as the current center of political gravity in Baltimore in a big way. The Democrat’s primary win gives him a chance to become the longest-serving mayor since Kurt Schmoke, who served from 1987 to 1999. Martin O’Malley was elected to two terms, but left his second one early for the governor‘s mansion. In deep-blue Baltimore, Scott will likely soar to victory in November.