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Trump backed-Cox wins Md. Republican gubernatorial primary

Heather Mizeur to face Andy Harris in 1st Congressional District

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From left, state Del.Dan Cox (R-Frederick County) and Democrat Wes Moore. (Screen capture of Cox via WUSA9; screen capture of Moore via WBAL TV 11 Baltimore)

State Del. Dan Cox (R-Frederick County) on Tuesday defeated former Labor and Commerce Secretary Kelly Schulz in the Maryland Republican gubernatorial primary.

Cox, an anti-LGBTQ member of the Maryland House of Delegates who former President Donald Trump has endorsed, defeated Schulz, who Republican Gov. Larry Hogan backed, by a 56.2-40.3Ā percent margin.

Unofficial election results that include early voting and Election Day ballots indicate Wes Moore, former Democratic National Committee Chair Tom PĆ©rez and Comptroller Peter Franchot are ahead in the Democratic gubernatorial primary. A state law does not allow the Maryland State Board of Elections to begin counting mail-in ballots until 10 a.m. on Thursday.

Congressman Anthony Brown on Tuesday defeated former Maryland first lady Katie Curran O’Malley in the Democratic primary for attorney general by a 59.6-40.4 percent margin. Brown will face former Anne Arundel County Council member Michael Peroutka in the general election.

ā€œA heartfelt thank you to Maryland voters for putting their faith in me,” said Brown in a statement his campaign released early Wednesday. “Our campaignā€™s message has resonated with voters and tonightā€™s results prove it. An attorney general can either be a champion for progress or a defender of the status quo. Iā€™m running for attorney general to dismantle barriers because the status quo isnā€™t working for Marylanders.”

State Del. Brooke Lierman (D-Baltimore City) will face off against Republican Harford County Executive Barry Glassman in the race to succeed Franchot as state comptroller.

Mizeur, Ivey win primaries

Democratic U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen on Tuesday easily won his primary, and is expected to win re-election in November.

Heather Mizeur easily defeated David Harden in the Democratic primary in Maryland’s 1st Congressional District that includes all of the state’s Eastern Shore. Mizeur, who was a member of the House of Delegates from 2007-2015, would be Maryland’s first openly lesbian member of Congress if she defeats Republican Congressman Andy Harris in November.

Former Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Glenn Ivey defeated former Congresswoman Donna Edwards by a 51.2-35.2 percent margin in the race to succeed Brown in the 4th Congressional District. Ivey will face off against Republican Jeff Warner in the general election.

Anti-LGBTQ state Del. Neil Parrott (R-Washington County) won the Republican primary in the 6th Congressional District. The Washington County Republican will face off against Democratic Congressman David Trone in November.

“In his time in Annapolis, the main thing Neil Parrott has accomplished is building a reputation for ineffectiveness,” said Trone on Wednesday in an email to supporters. “Heā€™s been named one of the least effective legislators in our state. Rather than getting results for his constituents, heā€™s focused on advocating for hate-filled policies ā€” like requiring people with HIV to get tattoos, taking away rights from same-sex couples and more.” 

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, who represents the 5th Congressional District, easily defeated his primary challenger. Congressmen Jamie Raskin, Kweisi Mfume, John Sarbanes and Dutch Ruppersberger also won their respective Democratic primaries on Tuesday.

“I am honored to have been selected by (Maryland’s 5th Congressional District) to be their nominee for Congress in the general election this November,” tweeted Hoyer on Wednesday. “As congressman I will continue working hard to bring resources and opportunities back to our district.”

Gay, lesbian General Assembly incumbents, candidates ahead

State Del. Gabriel Acevero (D-Montgomery County), who is the House of Delegates’ first openly gay Afro-Latino member, is currently second among the four Democrats who are running in Legislative District 39. State Del. Lisa Belcastro (D-Baltimore County) is third among the three Democrats running in Legislative District 11B.

State Del. Luke Clippinger (D-Baltimore City) is second among the six Democratic primary candidates in Legislative District 46. State Del. Bonnie Cullison (D-Montgomery County) is currently second among four Democrats who are running in Legislative District 19.

State Del. Anne Kaiser (D-Montgomery County) is currently first among the five Democrats who are running in Legislative District 14.

Kris Fair is first among the seven Democratic primary candidates in Legislative District 3, while Joseph Vogel is currently third among the four candidates in his race in Legislative District 17. Ashanti Martinez is fourth among the six Democratic primary candidates in Legislative District 3.

The top three candidates in each race will advance to the general election.

State Sen. Mary Washington (D-Baltimore City) on Tuesday was unopposed in Legislative District 43.

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Maryland

Originally charged with hate crimes, Salisbury University students now face misdemeanor charges

Suspects allegedly attacked man they met on Grindr

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Twelve Salisbury University students who were initially charged with hate crimes are facing trial on misdemeanor charges in the next week. (Photo by Wesley Lapointe for the Baltimore Banner)

The first three Salisbury University students charged in an attack on a man they allegedly lured to an off-campus apartment using a dating app are set to stand trial this week.

Dylan Pietuszka, 20, Logan Clark, 20, and Sean Antone, 19, are among the 15 Salisbury students who in early November were taken into custody in connection with the attack and charged with hate crimes.

All three men standing trial this week are only facing two charges: Second degree assault and false imprisonment, which are both misdemeanors.

The rest of this article can be read on the Baltimore Banner’s website.

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Maryland

Maryland Legislative LGBTQ+ Caucus to hold town hall on Eastern Shore

Delmarva Pride Center, DoCoPride to co-host Wednesday event

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(Washington Blade photo by Ernesto Valle)

The Maryland Legislative LGBTQ+ Caucus on Wednesday will hold a town hall with the Delmarva Pride Center and DoCoPride that will focus on legal protections for LGBTQ Marylanders.

The town hall will take place from 6-7:30 p.m. in the Waterfowl Building (40 S. Hanson St.) in Easton. It will also be virtual for those who cannot attend in person.

A press release notes elected officials and ā€œstate and federal legal expertsā€ will talk about ā€œthe current status of protections for LGBTQ+ Marylanders and what the future may hold.ā€

ā€œAs Maryland prepares for the incoming federal administration, the LGBTQ+ Caucus is steadfast in reaffirming Marylandā€™s commitment to supporting all of its residents,ā€ said state Del. Kris Fair (D-Frederick County), who chairs the Maryland Legislative LGBTQ+ Caucus. ā€œCoordination will be critical to building a comprehensive package of legislation that affirms the unique lived experiences of all its residents ā€” especially queer, nonbinary, and transgender people targeted by harmful legislation.ā€

Tina Jones, co-founder and chair of the Delmarva Pride Center in Easton, in the press release notes the LGBTQ community ā€œis facing unprecedented levels of bias and potential harm at this time.ā€

ā€œAs part of our safe spaces initiative, we are honored to have this opportunity to partner with the Maryland Legislative LGBTQ+ Caucus and DoCo Pride to educate folks on their rights and stand together to say hate, bias, and harm have no place on the Eastern Shore or anywhere in Maryland,ā€ said Jones.

Registration for the event is here:

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Maryland

HIV decriminalization bill is FreeState Justiceā€™s top 2025 legislative priority

Measure named in honor of Carlton Smith, a prominent activist who died last year

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(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

A bill that would decriminalize HIV in Maryland is a top legislative priority for FreeState Justice in 2025.

FreeState Justice Community Advocacy Manager Ronnie Taylor told the Washington Blade on Wednesday the Carlton R. Smith Jr. HIV Modernization Act seeks to repeal ā€œoutdated and stigmatizing laws that criminalize the transfer of HIV, bringing Marylandā€™s public health laws in line with modern science and best practices.ā€

The bill is named after Carlton Smith, a long-time LGBTQ activist known as the ā€œmayorā€ of Baltimoreā€™s Mount Vernon neighborhood who died last May. A similar measure died in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee in 2024.

ā€œThe bill emphasizes public health education, anti-discrimination measures, and access to care, ensuring those living with HIV are supported rather than penalized,ā€ said Taylor.

Taylor pointed out FreeState Justice is working with the Maryland Legislative LGBTQIA+ Caucus and the Maryland Commission on LGBTQIA+ Affairs to build support for four additional bills and policy objectives.

ā€¢ The Birth Certificate Modernization Act would ā€œstreamline the process for amending gender markers on birth certificates to make it more accessible and affirming.ā€

ā€¢ The Commission on History, Culture and Civics would create ā€œan inclusive commission to center marginalized voices in Maryland’s history, culture, and civics education.ā€

ā€¢ The implementation of ā€œinclusive and diverse English Language Arts Standardsā€ in public schools that would ensure ā€œcurricula reflect diverse identities and lived experiences, fostering a more inclusive learning environment for students.ā€

ā€¢ The creation of a ā€œcomprehensive health education frameworkā€ that would establish ā€œa robust and inclusive health education framework for primary and secondary schools, focusing on equity and affirming all students.ā€

Taylor noted FreeState Justice is also ā€œexploring ways to supportā€ Compassion and Choices, a group that advocates for assisted dying, in their efforts in support of the Honorable Elijah E. Cummings End of Life Option Act. 

ā€œThe act has profound historical significance for LGBTQIA+ communities, as end-of-life options were first championed during the HIV/AIDS epidemic of the 1990s, highlighting the importance of dignity and choice,ā€ said Taylor.

She added the ā€œlegislative efforts reflect FreeState Justiceā€™s commitment to advancing equity and dignity for LGBTQIA+ Marylanders through policy advocacy and community collaboration.ā€

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