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Election aftermath: Maryland's winners and losers – Maryland Matters

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Election aftermath: Maryland's winners and losers – Maryland Matters


It’s all over but the shouting.

The sheer scale of former President Donald Trump’s victory in the presidential election was breathtaking — and will still require a lot of soul-searching and contemplation in a lot of corners of this country.

Here in Maryland, Election Day didn’t produce too many surprises. But still, there were consequential developments, and performances, and political trends, that are worth talking about.

So without further ado, here’s our list of winners and losers. It’s by no means complete. And we apologize in advance for any sins of commission or omission.

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Winner: Angela Alsobrooks

Another history-making political star is born in Maryland, and she’s headed to the U.S. Senate. Even her vanquished opponent, former Gov. Larry Hogan (R), said her election was something to celebrate — as is the fact that there will be two Black women serving together in the Senate for the first time in history.

After a shaky start, the Prince George’s County executive ran a disciplined, focused campaign and prosecuted the case against Hogan — who left office with mind-bending job approval ratings — almost flawlessly. She revealed just enough of herself, as a hardworking, conscientious public servant from humble beginnings, to connect with the voters.

But she won’t be going to Capitol Hill with the mission she envisioned. Instead of serving in a Democratic Senate, with a Democratic president who was a friend and mentor, Alsobrooks will be heading into hostile territory, dominated by Republicans. Her predecessor, outgoing U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (D), managed to be productive under GOP majorities. That now becomes Alsobrooks’ challenge.

Winner: Sheila O’Connell

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The veteran Democratic strategist has now guided both of Maryland’s U.S. senators — Alsobrooks and Chris Van Hollen (D), who is about to become the state’s senior senator — to victory. Not bad…

Winner: Diversity in the state’s congressional delegation

Maryland has had zero women in its congressional delegation for the past eight years, but with Alsobrooks’ victory and Democratic state Sen. Sarah K. Elfreth’s win in the 3rd Congressional District puts two women in the state’s 10-member Capitol Hill contingent. Assuming April McClain Delaney (D) hangs on in the 6th District, that will make three of 10.

The record for women in Maryland’s delegation? Four. From 1987-1993, the state delegation included Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D) and Reps. Helen Delich Bentley (R-2nd), Beverly Byron (D-6th) and Connie Morella (R-8th).

With Alsobrooks’ election, the state will also have more Black members of Congress than ever before, as she joins Reps. Glenn Ivey (D-4th) and Kweisi Mfume (D-7th). And her victory comes on the heels of Wes Moore’s election as governor and Anthony Brown’s election as state attorney general in 2022, a reminder that Black politicians are prospering as candidates for statewide office in Maryland.

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Winner: Andy Harris

Maryland’s lone Republican member of Congress is a strong ally of President-elect Donald Trump and should see many of his priorities enacted — or initiatives that he hates blocked — in the next few years. Harris is currently the chair of the far-right House Freedom Caucus, whose ranks will grow in the next Congress. He’s rising in seniority. And the physician will invariably be considered for a high-ranking position in the Trump administration — most likely in the health care realm — if that’s something that interests him.

Loser: Neil Parrott

The third time does not appear to have been the charm for the Republican nominee in the 6th Congressional District, pending the count of the final mail-in ballots. Parrott is a canny guy, with a following, so his political career may not be over. But it seems highly unlikely that the GOP will want to nominate the ex-state lawmaker for this competitive congressional seat a fourth time.

The governors

Push: Larry Hogan

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Sure, he lost his high-profile Senate bid to Alsobrooks. But face it, he never wanted to be in the Senate anyway, as he said repeatedly over the years.

Hogan ran a high-profile race that regularly attracted national media attention, not to mention tens of millions of dollars. He kept Democrats at home and largely off-balance, with the threat that he could flip a long-held Democratic seat, and made Maryland matter this election cycle. And even though he lost in part because Democrats did such a good job of tying him to national Republicans, he managed to largely keep his independent reputation intact — at least with the national media.

Hogan’s goal is always to be part of the political conversation. He’ll always be welcome on the cable chat shows, and invariably, there will be speculation that he might run for governor again in 2026. So … mission accomplished!

Push: Wes Moore

Our energetic governor was a coveted surrogate for the Harris-Walz ticket and other Democrats around the country, engendering good will among fellow officeholders, party donors and activists, and notice from the national pundit class. He’ll undoubtedly be discussed as a potential Democratic candidate for president in 2028.

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But man, Trump’s victory and the likelihood of full Republican hegemony on Capitol Hill is a disaster for Moore’s policy priorities and many of Maryland’s federal funding imperatives, at a time when four senior members of Congress from Maryland are moving on. [Loser: Matthew Verghese, Moore’s director of federal relations and senior adviser. Sorry, Matt.] How does the state prepare and compensate?

And we wonder: Are Moore and his team ready for the additional and inevitable national scrutiny and expectations, especially when there are so many governing and funding challenges ahead? How does he balance the work that’s required at home with his presumed national ambitions? Where does he fit in the national conversation about the future of the Democratic Party? Who’s advising him on these matters?

Loser: Martin O’Malley

His term as commissioner of the Social Security Administration ends around the time Trump will reenter the White House in January, and there’s zero chance he’ll be reappointed, which means he’ll be  out of a job then. Adding to the indignity, Baltimore City voters ignored his advice to vote against Question F, a ballot measure that will pave the way for the redevelopment of the Inner Harbor.

The resistance

Push: Jamie Raskin

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Whether or not Democrats retake control of the U.S. House of Representatives, which may be a stretch at this point, Raskin will use his position as the top Democrat on the Oversight and Accountability Committee to serve as a counterweight to Trump and Republican excesses on a variety of fronts. Obviously being chair comes with real power, while being the ranking member at least provides a bully pulpit. We can only begin to imagine how bummed Raskin, who has spent the last several years defending freedom and the Constitution, must be feeling right now. But people will listen — even if they don’t hear.

Push: Anthony Brown

See Raskin, Jamie, above. Especially if Republicans have full control of the federal government, Democratic attorneys general like Brown could become the last line of defense against extreme Trump and Republican policies — a role Brown’s predecessor, Brian Frosh (D), performed well during Trump’s first term.

In a statement Wednesday, Brown acknowledged the challenges ahead and vowed to act against any federal actions that threaten Marylanders’ rights.

“No matter who sits in the White House, my dedication to protecting the rights and well-being of Maryland’s communities remains unwavering,” he said.

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The question is, how many federal judges remain who will be receptive to the Democratic AGs’ arguments?

The rest

Winners: Ambitious Montgomery County politicians

Now that MoCo voters have effectively booted County Executive Marc Elrich (D) by imposing a two-term limit that prevents him from seeking reelection in 2026, umpteen ambitious Montgomery Democrats, most of whom serve on the county council, can begin mobilizing in earnest to try to replace him.

How many will run in the end? How many will share the same political bases and cut into each others’ base of support? Are there any outsiders who could make a viable run in the Democratic primary? How many candidates will agree to use the county’s robust public financing system, minimizing the influence of special interest money?

And could 2026 finally be the year that Montgomery County elects a woman as county executive? They’ve already done it in Anne Arundel, Cecil, Frederick, Harford, Howard, Prince George’s and Wicomico counties, and in Baltimore City — but not in the jurisdiction that prides itself on being the most forward-looking and progressive in the state.

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Meanwhile, Elrich could have the last laugh: He’s contemplating running for a county council at-large seat again — a position he held for three terms before being elected executive in 2018. We would not bet against him.

Winner: Brandon Scott

Although he never had to sweat the general election, Scott (D) on Tuesday became the first Baltimore mayor to be reelected since Martin O’Malley in 2003. Because he looks like a kid, and sometimes displays a teen’s edgy energy, Scott is often underestimated. He shouldn’t be.

Winner: Zeke Cohen

Another political reformer wins citywide office. Cohen (D) will take over as Baltimore City Council president in December. That’s not a bad thing.

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Winner: Abortion rights

Seventy-four percent of state voters can’t be wrong.

Push: Prince George’s County

County residents, who often complain that they’re overlooked in the DMV, can and will take enormous pride in the election of Angela Alsobrooks as the state’s next U.S. senator. But Alsobrooks’ looming departure for greener political pastures comes at a potential cost to the county. For 14 years, even during crises like the pandemic, the county government had fairly stable and forward-looking leadership, after a major and deflating scandal — first under Rushern Baker (D), then under Alsobrooks (D).

Now the county enters a period of political transition and uncertainty, with even the method for picking Alsobrooks’ temporary successor not altogether clear. And many of the competent professionals who surrounded Alsobrooks in county government are likely to disburse.

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Loser: The Washington Post

The newspaper was roundly criticized, and rightfully so, after failing to endorse a presidential candidate for the first time since the 1970s. So much for “Democracy Dies in Darkness.”

But even people who saw great import in the Post’s White House endorsements conceded that a minuscule number of readers, at most, could be influenced by what the editorial board said about presidential candidates.

Where the Post could be, and has been, influential is with endorsements in local races. And this year, the paper all but abdicated that responsibility. In fact, the only Maryland general election in which the editorial board weighed in was the U.S. Senate race, opting for Alsobrooks over Hogan, though it praised both.

The New York Times this year announced that it would no longer endorse candidates in local races, though it did endorse Kamala Harris for president. Is the Post moving out of the endorsement business altogether? That would be a diminishment of its power and civic duty.

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Christmas forecast: Wintry mix, ice possible by Friday in DC, Maryland, Virginia

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Christmas forecast: Wintry mix, ice possible by Friday in DC, Maryland, Virginia


The holiday season is upon us! Christmas is just a few days away, and for the most part, it does look like the weather is going to cooperate over the holidays. 

In fact, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day could be two of the warmer days of the year for our region, which is not saying much. Washington, D.C. is running more than six degrees below normal for the month so far, temperature-wise, our coldest December since 2010.

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Some sunshine is expected for Christmas Eve with temperatures in D.C. expected to rise into the middle 50s with light winds. It should be one of the more comfortable afternoons of the month with sunny skies. 

Clouds will increase during the evening hours, though some rain showers possible in the first half of Christmas Day. These should be scattered about though — the holiday does not look like a washout. 

All things considered, not a bad Christmas! But no threat of a white Christmas either for those that were looking for some holiday snow.

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It is the Friday after Christmas that bears watching! Cold air gets pushed southward into the Mid-Atlantic on Friday morning, courtesy of a high pressure system pushing through eastern Canada. 

A steady northeast wind will “trap” this cold air southward, something that often happens in this region during the winter months due to our proximity to the Appalachian Mountains to the west.

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By Friday afternoon, a fast moving storm system is expected to cross the region from west to east. As mid-level winds are out of the southwest, southern moisture will gather along a warm front, meeting the cold air stuck across the region and causing precipitation to break out. 

While some initial snowflakes at onset are possible, especially in our northern zones, the depth of the cold air is forecast to be pretty shallow. So, the bulk of precipitation locally is forecast to fall as sleet and freezing rain.

Sleet is ice pellets, snow that has melted to rain, only to refreeze before hitting the ground. A slushy accumulation of sleet is enough to cause travel issues and slick spots. Freezing rain falls like rain, but freezes on contact with a surface where temperatures are below freezing. 

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Ice is a major concern to travelers. Such mixtures are difficult to pre-treat roadways for, as the more liquid nature of the precipitation can lead to runoff of any pre-treatment chemicals.

The question with shallow cold air events like this one is how long will the cold air hold on, and how fast will the region transition over to all just plain old rainfall, if they even do at all. 

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In similar past events, weather models tend to underplay how long cold air lingers in the D.C. region, leading to a longer than expected sleet and freezing rain event. This is particularly true in our northern zones, where cold air just naturally hangs on longer. 

Winter advisories seem likely for parts of the region on Friday due to the threat for icing and hazardous travel conditions. Those traveling, especially Friday afternoon and evening, should exercise extreme caution.

Snowfall wise, the best chance of getting any snow would be at the very start of the event when the depth of the cold air is deepest. Some models do suggest there could be a quick burst of snow in our suburbs north of D.C. that could put down a quick coating before a transition over to a mixture of sleet and freezing rain. 

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For travelers, heavier snow looks more likely across the Northeast. Cities like New York and Boston could squeeze out a few inches of snow, while interior regions could see 4-8″ of snowfall, which is likely to disrupt travel on a regional basis.

After the system moves out of the region early on Saturday morning, the remainder of the weekend looks rather mild weather wise. 

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Impacts from the Friday system should not linger as temperatures rise well above freezing on Saturday with 50s possible by Sunday. Though a few showers are possible Sunday as well, it does not look overly impactful for travel.

The next blast of strong, cold winter air is set to move into the D.C. region just ahead of the New Year’s Holiday. Tuesday in particular looks especially cold, with high temperatures struggling to make it above freezing across much of the region. 

At the moment, it does look like this next burst of cold will come without any winter weather threats, but it is far enough in the future that we need to monitor for potential forecast changes. We will keep you updated! 

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From all of us here on the FOX 5 Weather Team, happy holidays and Merry Christmas! Have a safe and wonderful holiday.

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Chance of showers on Christmas, wintry mix possible in Maryland on Friday

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Chance of showers on Christmas, wintry mix possible in Maryland on Friday


Multiple storm systems will impact the Mid-Atlantic through the holiday weekend, into next week. The WJZ First Alert Weather Team
has tagged Friday as a possible First Alert Weather Day, due to the potential for a slick wintry mix of freezing rain, sleet and snow. 

Gloomy weather continues into Tuesday evening in Baltimore

Temperatures remain stuck in the low to mid-40s across central Maryland, greater Baltimore and the eastern shore. Morning rain and wintry mix have moved out of our area. But, clouds remain thick.

Plan on a mostly cloudy evening with a temperatures hovering in the upper 30s and lower 40s. Areas of fog may develop overnight, into early Wednesday morning. Temperatures will be in the upper 30s and lower 40s around sunrise on Christmas Eve morning.

Fantastic Christmas Eve weather in Maryland

Wednesday will be the nicest weather day of the week. 

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With the help of much more sunshine, temperatures will warm into the upper 40s and lower 50s in many areas. It’ll be breezy. Winds will gust 20 to 30 MPH through the afternoon. The weather looks good for holiday plans, aside from the breezy winds.

Travel weather will be great up and down the I-95 and I-70 corridors across the region through Christmas Eve afternoon. 

Damp start to Christmas Day in Baltimore

A passing storm system will send a round of showers through Maryland on Christmas morning. While mostly rain, snow and sleet may mix in early in the morning. The chance of a brief wintry mix is greatest in northeast Maryland around sunrise. No wintry accumulation is expected, with morning temperatures in the mid to upper 30s.

The forecast dries out from northwest, to southeast, by mid-morning. Afternoon temperatures peak in the upper 40s and lower 50s, under a mostly cloudy sky.

Another batch of cold air will blow into Maryland Christmas night, into Friday morning ahead of the next storm system.

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Potential winter storm Friday across Maryland 

There is a chance of freezing rain, sleet and snow on Friday. Travel impacts are possible.

Colder air will be in-place across Maryland as the next storm system approaches. All wintry precipitation types are possible across our part of the state. A few wintry showers could arrive as early as Friday morning. However, a greater chance of winter weather and slick travel arrives late Friday afternoon. The wintry mix of freezing rain, sleet and snow could continue into Friday night. 

Snow and ice may accumulate. However, it’s still early and the forecast may need to be adjusted. Check back with the WJZ First Alert Weather Team over the next few days. Friday is a possible First Alert Weather Day.  

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Maryland commission approves half of BGE’s $152.3 million funding request to support rate increase

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Maryland commission approves half of BGE’s 2.3 million funding request to support rate increase




Maryland commission approves half of BGE’s $152.3 million funding request to support rate increase – CBS Baltimore

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The Maryland Public Service Commission approved nearly half of Baltimore Gas and Electric’s (BGE) $152.3 million request for funding to support the final year of the company’s rate hike plan.

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