Maryland
Advocates renew press to change how legislative vacancies are filled – Maryland Matters
Maryland lawmakers this session are again targeting the process by which vacancies in the General Assembly are filled.
Changing the system has been a goal of good government groups including the Maryland Public Interest Group and Common Cause Maryland for several years. Those changes have failed even as the public grows irritated with how appointments are made to fill open seats.
Proponents say the current system ignores voters and must go.
“We’d be joining 28 other states who have figured out how to handle special elections,” said Emily Scarr, director of Maryland Public Interest Research Group. “I’m confident we can figure it out.”
The Senate Education, Energy and Environment Committee Tuesday held hearings on two bills that take a crack at changing how vacant legislative seats would be filled in the future.
An October poll conducted by Annapolis-based Gonzales Research and Media Services for Common Cause Maryland and the Maryland PIRG found that 85% of those surveyed favor a special election to fill vacant seats.
Changing the process has the backing of Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City).
There are 188 legislators in the Maryland General Assembly.
Of those now serving in the House and Senate, nearly a quarter were appointed to fill a vacancy.
Many of those who are appointed go on to be elected later. Some were appointed to the House and later appointed to fill another vacancy in the Senate.
Under current law, when a vacancy arises, the central committee of the party that held the seat interviews candidates and recommends a replacement to the governor.
The governor typically — but not always — appoints that candidate to the open seat.
Senate Bill 140, sponsored by Sen. Clarence K. Lam (D-Howard and Anne Arundel) would impose rules on how central committees fill future vacancies.
Lam has worked in previous years on bills that would create a special election process for filling vacancies. Those bills passed in the Senate but failed in the House.
“I still believe we need to include special elections in the vacancy process. I also believe that in the meantime, we should ensure the current process is as transparent as possible,” Lam said.
Lam’s bill would require public notice of vacancies and the application and interview process. Candidate interviews and central committee votes would be required to be open to the public. Members of the central committee who apply for the opening must recuse themselves from the vote.
None of the changes carry a cost for the state or local government to implement.
An identical bill is filled in the House.
If passed, the law would take effect later this year.
Senate Bill 29, sponsored by Senate Education, Energy and Environment Committee Vice Chair Cheryl C. Kagan (D-Montgomery), would replace the current process with a special election.
“I believe that whenever possible, the voters should pick their representatives,” Kagan said.
Under her bill, if the vacancy occurs within the first three years of the term, voters in the district would fill a vacancy through a mail-in special primary and general election.
If the vacancy occurs within the fourth year, central committees would name an initial replacement. That replacement would then have to run for election in the state’s primary election just a few weeks after the legislative session ends.
Kagan’s bill amends the Maryland Constitution. It would require a three-fifths vote in both chambers and approval of voters in November. If approved, the changes would take effect in 2026
If approved, the changes would cost the state an additional $150,000 to conduct a special primary and general election. Local government expenditures for the same elections would increase by about $260,000, according to estimates by legislative analysts.
Scarr said it is “the cost of having a democracy. People have to vote for who represents them. It’s a fundamental thing and if we’re not spending money to ensure that right, what are we doing?”
The bill has the support of Maryland PIRG, Common Cause and the League of Women Voters of Maryland.
“This bill gets us so much closer to our goal of enfranchising voters,” said Nikki Tyree, executive director of the state chapter of the League of Women Voters
Kagan said she planned to offer two amendments.
One deals with what she called a “domino effect” — where a resignation in the Senate results in the appointment of a state delegate thus creating a second vacancy. In those instances, a special election would only be held for the first vacant seat leaving the appointment to the House of Delegates to stand without voter input.
Such a scenario “is too complicated,” Kagan said.
“Instead of a domino, we’re clear there is one special election,” she said. The second opening would be filled by the central committee.
Kagan’s second amendment would exempt interim appointments made in the fourth year from the prohibition on fundraising during session that applies to other lawmakers. Kagan said fundraising would be allowed during a small window near the end of the 90-day legislative session.
“I have a big problem with these folks being able to raise money during session,” said Sen. Ron Watson (D-Prince George’s) who was a delegate when was appointed in 2021 to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of then Sen. Doug Peters. “I think that’s extremely problematic.”
Kagan said those interim appointments would be “disadvantaged” if they could not raise money for an election
Ferguson, who leads the Senate, expressed concerns about the costs of special elections.
“I think cost is a huge issue and I think that’s going to be a big driver of where the committee lands,” he said. “Doing a brand-new mail-in election each time just brings a lot of new costs into the system. Also, unfortunately, leads to a bit of confusion because of the waterfall effect of vacancies, a vacant Senate seat gets replaced by a delegate. That means you have one election for the senator, one election for the delegate in the same district. All of a sudden you could have three elections all in the same year and create some confusion and you have to run three elections which has a real cost to it.”
Ferguson said the same outcome could be achieved by using “existing elections.”
The House is considering a third option sponsored by Del. Linda Foley (D-Montgomery), who herself was appointed in 2021 to fill a vacancy created by the departure of then-Del. Kathleen Dumais for a judgeship.
That bill would allow central committees to continue to fill vacancies. Appointments made in the first two years would face voters for ratification in the presidential election. In the second two years of the term, the appointment would have the option of running in the state election.
That bill is scheduled for a Feb. 6 hearing in the House Ways and Means Committee.
Kagan acknowledged a preference among other lawmakers for the Foley bill. She told her committee she is also drafting a third amendment that would gut her bill and conform it to Foley’s HB 412.
“In my personal opinion it’s not as little d democratic,” said Kagan. “It doesn’t get the voters engaged frequently enough or often enough early enough. It does move the needle. It’s better than our current law and it does allow some voter engagement in a four-year term.”
Maryland
Road condition, traffic congestion in Md. costs drivers thousands, report finds – WTOP News
A new report by the transportation nonprofit TRIPS found the condition of the roads in Maryland’s D.C. suburbs is costing residents over $3,500 annually.
A new report found the condition of the roads in Maryland’s D.C. suburbs is costing residents over $3,500 annually.
This includes increased wear and tear on vehicles as well as depreciation, wasted fuel, wasted time and the cost of traffic accidents.
Rocky Moretti is the director of development and research at TRIP, a national transportation research nonprofit. During a news conference Wednesday, he said the average driver in Maryland’s D.C. suburbs is spending an additional 90 hours per year stuck in traffic and wasting an additional 26 gallons of gas.
Statewide, 30% of Maryland roads are in “poor” condition, which Moretti said is significantly higher than the national average. The D.C. suburbs fare somewhat better, with 27% in poor condition, according to TRIP. Another 24% of Maryland’s roads in D.C. suburbs are rated in “mediocre” condition, compared with 21% statewide, the report found.
“I’m sad to say, you know, a lot of that stuff just rings true with me. For a long time, I was a local commissioner back about 20 years ago, in the early 2000s. And we were constantly wrestling with the need to put more money in our traffic infrastructure and just struggling to find the funding for that, as we saw state and federal dollars continue to drop,” said Jim Kercheval, executive director of the greater Hagerstown committee.
The report said the federal transportation program that was last reauthorized in 2021 was a significant boost to Maryland, increasing federal funding for roadways by 29%. Highway construction inflation since that bill was passed, however, has increased 47%. At the same time, the state is seeing decreasing revenues from gas taxes because of electric and more fuel efficient vehicles.
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Ocean City’s 2026 calendar packed with fun events. Here’s the schedule
Ocean City, Maryland, has announced a big event lineup for 2026. Here’s a closer look at what music festival, car shows and more are to come.
The Delmarva Peninsula is no strange to Irish heritage and history.
Now, ahead of St. Patrick’s Day on March 17, 2026, here’s a closer look at just how that rich Irish history has shaped Delmarva and one of its most popular resort towns.
Irish immigrants helped shape Maryland infrastructure
The state of Maryland, in particular, has deep historical ties to Irish immigrants.
According to the Delmarva Irish-American Club, thousands of Irish immigrants arrived through the Port of Baltimore seeking refuge amid the Irish Potato Famine during the 1840s and 1850s. Together, the immigrants built railroads, dug canals, and formed tight-knit communities in areas such as Locust Point and Fell’s Point in Baltimore.
Irish immigrants also played a big part in early American infrastructure in Maryland.
Throughout the 19th century, countless Irish immigrants helped construct portions of the Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) Railroad, the oldest railroad ever to be built in the United States. Even Delmarva Irish-American Club Vice President John R. O’Brien’s great grandfather was a stone mason on the second half of the Washington Monument.
In what ways does Ocean City celebrate Irish culture?
Ocean City, Maryland’s first ever St. Patrick’s Day Parade took place in 1980. Since then, the parade and accompanying festival have grown into one of the Eastern Shore’s biggest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
Following the influx of Irish immigration during the 1840s and 1850s, many individuals of Irish descent began to settle throughout Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic region. Now, that heritage is reflected in local organizations, churches, music traditions and community-wide events such as Ocean City’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
This year’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration will take place on Saturday, March 14, 2026. The procession will begin at noon at 57th Street on Coastal Highway, marching south to the 45th Street Shopping Center.
How can people honor their Irish heritage at home?
There are many ways people of all ages can honor their Irish heritage and history alongside friends and family at home.
A few Irish-centered activities include:
- Listening to traditional Irish folk music
- Baking Irish soda bread or stew
- Learning about family genealogy
- Reading Irish literature and mythology
- Sharing Irish stories and folklore with children
- Decorating with Celtic symbols and shamrocks
Fun Irish phrases such as “Sláinte” (meaning cheers or good health), “Céad míle fáilte” (meaning a hundred thousand welcomes), and the Irish blessing “May the road rise to meet you,” can also be incorporated into daily vocabulary.
What is the Delmarva Irish-American Club?
The Delmarva Irish-American Club was founded in 1980 by a small group of friends with the vision of celebrating the Feast Day of St. Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland, with a grand parade.
The club’s first membership drive resulted in 75 members. Today, there are nearly 300. The club is open to anyone who is Irish, of Irish descent, or likes all things Irish, Delmarva Now previously reported.
The Delmarva Irish-American Club — a 501(c)(3) social organization — is an all-volunteer, local charity that works year-round to celebrate and preserve Irish history and culture on the Eastern Shore.
“Our goal is to celebrate Irish heritage and share those traditions with the broader community while keeping them alive for the next generation,” Vice President John R. O’Brien shared.
The club is largely responsible for the Ocean City’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and also supports Irish music, dance and cultural events throughout the year. To learn more, visit www.delmarvairish.org.
Olivia Minzola covers communities on the Lower Shore. Contact her with tips and story ideas at ominzola@delmarvanow.com.
Parents who’ve lost their children to fentanyl overdoses went to Annapolis, Maryland Tuesday in search of accountability.
They want a new law that would hold drug dealers accountable when someone dies from an overdose. Their efforts have met strong opposition in the past, so this year, lawmakers are making changes.
Isis Flores held photos of her 16-year-old son, Yader, who died from a fentanyl overdose.
The Montgomery County mom pleaded with lawmakers to pass legislation that would hold drug dealers accountable when someone dies from an overdose.
“A mother who lost a child in 2022 to this horrible drug,” she said. “This is something horrible and that a child passed through — my son was one of them.”
Scott Broadfoot Sr. spoke through tears about his 21-year-old son, Scottie, who also died from an overdose. While prosecutors say there was a suspect in his son’s death, the person could not be charged under current Maryland law.
“Losing Scottie is a devastation unlike any other,” Broadfoot said. “The pain that follows, his passing, is something our family carries every day.”
These families are supporting a bill that would make distribution of heroin or fentanyl causing serious bodily injury or death a felony in Maryland. Supporters say it’s needed to hold people accountable for overdose deaths.
“We can’t bring these brothers, sisters, moms, dads back,” said Maryland Del. Chris Tomlinson, who represents Carroll and Frederick Counties. “But we can take this small step to keep this poison off the streets and hold drug dealers accountable for selling a lethal product that results in death of those we cherish the most.”
This is the third year in a row this legislation has been introduced, but because of the opposition, supporters have made changes. They’re hoping those changes will make a difference in getting it passed this year.
Among the concerns from opponents is the bill could punish those struggling with addiction who need help and treatment they won’t get through the prison system.
The biggest change supporters made to the bill is that a suspect must have a prior drug manufacturing or distribution conviction in order to face this new felony charge.
Supporters say dozens of other states already have similar laws.
“It is time that House Bill 1386, that this bill be passed so Maryland can join the vast majority of jurisdictions that already see the dangers of fentanyl and already have drug-induced homicide laws” said Stuart Welch with the Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office.
In previous years, the bill has not come up for a vote. Supporters say they’ll keep coming back until the bill passes.
“How many lives must we lose?” Broadfoot said.
The maximum sentence for anyone convicted under this new law – if it passes – would be 20 years in prison.
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