Glenn Ivey enters the House determined to prevent democracy from crumbling – Maryland Matters

By Courtney Cohn

Glenn Ivey enters his first time period as a congressman after a landslide victory in opposition to Republican challenger Jeff Warner.

This was not his first time that Ivey, a Democrat, ran for the Home. He ran in 2012 however dropped out earlier than the first as a result of fundraising points. He tried once more in 2016 however misplaced within the main.

Ivey mentioned he needed to make a distinction in so many communities and now his perseverance has been rewarded.

He’ll signify Maryland’s 4th District, a predominantly Black constituency, which incorporates components of Prince George’s County and a sliver of Montgomery County.

“There are main challenges which are being addressed a method or one other in Congress, and I definitely need to be a part of attempting to assist tackle these issues and discover optimistic methods to maneuver the nation ahead,” Ivey mentioned in a current interview.

He’ll succeed Rep. Anthony Brown, who was elected Maryland’s first Black legal professional basic final week.

Ivey obtained to know lots of his constituents because the state’s legal professional for Prince George’s County. He served in that place for 2 phrases from 2003 to 2011.

“We had some profitable prosecutions that I feel led us to have good general suggestions from the neighborhood,” Ivey mentioned.

In that position, he prioritized points reminiscent of decreasing homicides and violent crime on the whole, home violence consciousness and studying applications.

The Ivey title is a well-liked political model in Prince George’s County. His spouse, Jolene Ivey, serves on the county council and spent eight years within the Home of Delegates. His son, Julian Ivey, serves within the state Home.

Ivey was additionally the chairman of the Maryland Public Service Fee, the general public utility regulator.

He mentioned he hopes to be assigned to the Home Judiciary Committee as a result of his intensive authorized expertise, together with serving because the Democratic counsel to the Senate Whitewater Committee and working with former Rep. John Conyers Jr., when the Michigan Democrat was a member of the Judiciary Committee.

“I feel the background is basically there for Judiciary Committee-related issues that take care of the courts,” Ivey mentioned.

Ivey, 61, additionally labored on Capitol Hill for the late Maryland Sen. Paul Sarbanes and for former Senate Democratic Chief Tom Daschle of South Dakota.

Going into his time period, one in every of Ivey’s prime priorities is defending democracy and the appropriate to vote. He mentioned he’s pissed off with politicians refusing to concede after they lose an election.

“I might name it the crybaby politics of election deniers,” Ivey mentioned. “We need to get again to the times the place in the event you misplaced, you assist with the transition, so incoming officers can deal with the enterprise of governing and getting the work carried out for the folks.”

He’s additionally captivated with enacting gun management laws, particularly to guard youngsters in faculties from mass shootings.

“I get that folks need to shield their Second Modification rights, however we’ve obtained to guard second graders as nicely,” Ivey mentioned.

He mentioned additionally goals to work on the highest concern for a lot of voters on this election: the economic system. He desires to assist tackle inflation however not elevate rates of interest a lot that it’s going to hurt People.

“We don’t need to put the nation right into a recession,”  Ivey mentioned.

It isn’t formally identified which social gathering will win management of the Home with votes nonetheless coming in from key states like Arizona and California, although Republicans are favored. The ultimate tally will largely decide whether or not Ivey and his Democratic colleagues can transfer their coverage agenda ahead.

“Hopefully, we’ll win the bulk, and we’ll have the ability to proceed constructing on the entire issues that obtained carried out in the previous couple of years,” Ivey mentioned.