federal election commission

• Maryland

Baltimore County officials: Automated calls ask for donations, but money doesn't go to local fire departments

The Volunteer Firemen's Association is part of a political action committee, not an organization that gives to local departments.

By Cody Boteler

Jul 1, 2019

• Opinion

Alternative Fact of the Week: Mitch McConnell's election reform freak-out

Mitch McConnell recognizes a good idea when he sees it; that's why he won't allow it to reach the Senate floor.

• Politics

See which Marylanders are considering running for president in 2020

The White House has lacked Maryland representation since former Gov. Spiro Agnew’s vice presidential tenure came to an end in 1973 during President Richard Nixon’s second term. In 2020, that could change.

• Politics

Democrat David Trone wins Maryland's open U.S. House seat in state's most expensive race

Democrat David Trone, who spent more than $15 million in Maryland’s most expensive congressional race, captures the 6th District seat two years after being defeated in a neighboring district. Trone was vying against former Reagan administration official Amie Hoeber.

By Jeff Barker

Nov 6, 2018

• Opinion

Pink wave makes modest splash on Maryland’s blue shores

The so-called “pink wave” has made a smaller splash in the very blue state of Maryland. To be sure, women fared well vying for seats in the state legislature. Outside the State House, however, the story is far bleaker.

• Politics

Following Maryland revelation, bills would ban election vendors from foreign control

Maryland lawmakers have introduced two U.S. House bills seeking to better safeguard election systems following the disclosure that a state election software vendor had ties to a Russian investor.

By Jeff Barker

Jul 19, 2018

• Opinion

Dark Money coming back into Maryland politics - and to a theater near you

Look out, the dark money is already starting to flow in Maryland's governor's race.

By David Zurawik

Jul 19, 2018

• Politics

Google no longer accepting state, local election ads in Maryland as result of new law

Google stopped accepting state and local election ads in Maryland on Friday as a result of a new law passed by the General Assembly that requires disclosure of who is paying for political advertising and for how much.

By Michael Dresser

Jun 29, 2018

• Politics

Challengers to Maryland Sen. Cardin, including Chelsea Manning, having a difficult time breaking through

Sen. Ben Cardin has accumulated far more campaign money than his challengers in Tuesday's primary. But the Maryland Democrat has needed to spend little of it so far.

By Jeff Barker

Jun 21, 2018

• Opinion

When charity begins, and ends, at home

The lawsuit the U.S. Attorney of New York filed against President Trump's charitable foundation, saying it was used as a slush fund to pay off legal and campaign expenses, puts a spotlight on the largely unscrutinized world of charitable organizations.

• Opinion

Robert B. Reich: Is a second American civil war possible?

When Donald Trump says the political system is "rigged," he's not far off the mark, says Robert Reich. 

• Opinion

Stormy Daniels: It's about the cover-up

The much-anticipated '60 Minutes' interview's most damaging disclosure wasn't about sex, it was about an illegal campaign donation.

• Opinion

Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg says he's open to government regulation. So what are we waiting for?

While Zuckerberg sounded like he was saying some of the right things in the CNN interview about the Cambridge Analytica scandal, his record on matters of social responsibility and stewardship of personal data contributed by members of his Facebook community is dismal.

By David Zurawik

Mar 22, 2018

• Opinion

Social media's 'self-regulation' approach failed

bs-ed-op-0228-social-media-accountability-20180227. Mr. Mueller’s investigation has proven that the digital advertising industry’s self-regulation approach has failed and allowed fake news and anonymous political ads to be easily be distributed with no checks or balances.

• Politics

Chelsea Manning files to run for US Senate in Maryland against Sen. Cardin

Chelsea Manning, the transgender Maryland woman convicted of sharing thousands of military documents with Wikileaks, has filed her candidacy to challenge Sen. Ben Cardin in 2018.

By Scott Dance

Jan 14, 2018

• Politics

As millionaires compete, 6th District House race shaping up to be Maryland's priciest

The race for Maryland Rep. John Delaney’s open seat in the House of Representatives will be the most closely watched congressional contest in the state next year. It’s also shaping up to be one of the nation’s most expensive.

By John Fritze

Dec 29, 2017

• Opinion

Develop strategy to counter online attacks

Sarbanes: U.S. must take steps to protect next election from foreign attack.

• Opinion

Goldberg: The New York Times does a super PAC imitation

The New York Times editorial board decided to operate like a super PAC last week, says Jonah Goldberg.

• Politics

Russian ads placed in Maryland might have been precursor to broader campaign

Analysts say hundreds of Facebook ads targeted at users in Maryland in the months following the city’s riots in 2015 might have been a dry run for the broader, national Russian social media campaign that followed.

By John Fritze

Nov 29, 2017

• Politics

Scientists group backs Aruna Miller in 6th District

A group working to elect more scientists and engineers is weighing in to Maryland’s 6th Congressional District Democratic primary, backing state lawmaker and transportation engineer Aruna Miller.

By John Fritze

Nov 20, 2017

• Opinion

Coal: still the lump in our stockings

The Trump administration clings to coal despite its declining use —  and this fact: Coal continues to be the nation’s top source of carbon dioxide (CO2) emission, a major cause of global warming.

• Opinion

Robert B. Reich: How to end crony capitalism

Big money is buying giant tax cuts, allowing Russia to interfere in future elections, and killing Americans, says Robert Reich.

• Opinion

Facebook's dirty dance with Russians demands regulation

For decades I have argued against any form of increased government regulation of media. But Facebook's dirty dance with the Russians in election 2016 proves it can't be trusted to police itself.

By David Zurawik

Oct 3, 2017

• Opinion

Lawmakers must unite to make sure Russian interference doesn't happen again

Lawmakers also have a role in enacting appropriate legislative reforms to stop hostile actors from threatening the integrity of our elections.

• Maryland

Piel: Searching for common ground

Our society, our culture, has become so nasty and at times so hateful in the way we treat one another — especially with those with whom we disagree.

• Politics

Miller raises $350K for potential House contest

A state lawmaker running for the Democratic nomination in the 6th Congressional District expects to report a healthy first fundraising quarter, despite uncertainy about the incumbent.

By John Fritze

Jul 13, 2017

• Politics

Maryland Democrats begin to line up for competitive congressional district — just in case

Democratic Rep. John Delaney's deliberation over whether to run for governor next year has created a political free-for-all in the state's westernmost congressional district, with a half dozen prominent Democrats expressing interest in his seat.

By John Fritze

May 8, 2017

• Politics

House Majority Leader Frick raising money for congressional bid

Maryland House Majority Leader C. William "Bill" Frick is raising money to run for Congress in 2018, anticipating fellow Democrat Rep. John Delaney may vacate

By Erin Cox

Apr 17, 2017

• Politics

Van Hollen camp pays fine over dispute with Emily's List

Van Hollen camp pays fine over dispute with Emily's List

By John Fritze

Apr 11, 2017

• Opinion

Alternative fact of the week: The bus stops here

Trump's claim of busloads of Bay State illegal voters hits a new standard for hooey

• Politics

Reed Cordish to join Trump administration

A prominent Baltimore-based real estate developer and longtime friend of the Trump family will serve as an assistant to the president.

By John Fritze

Jan 17, 2017

• Opinion

The Trump tax brouhaha

Forcing Trump to produce five years of tax returns doesn't help voters but real tax reform might

• Maryland

Clinton leads Trump in Carroll donations

In a county known for a heavy Republican advantage, Hillary Clinton leads in local presidential campaign contributions.

• Maryland

Interactive: How much has Carroll County contributed to the presidential campaigns?

• Howard County

In favor of Question A: Fund will amplify the voices of small donors

Howard County Council members Jon Weinstein and Jen Terrasa say Question A, establishing citizen-funded campaigns, will amplify the voices of small donors.

• Politics

Popular Larry Hogan campaigns for few fellow Maryland Republicans

The judicious approach to the first political contest of Hogan's tenure reflects the governor's reluctance to appear partisan and his desire for voters to see him first as a leader, secondly by political party. "I don't think I have an obligation to elect Republicans," he said.

By Erin Cox

Oct 15, 2016

• Opinion

Trump's financial holdings should disqualify him from the presidency

Given that the office of president of the United States must be held to the absolute highest of moral and ethical standards, professionalism, and avoidance of conflicts of interest, and given the fact that there is no way of insulating Mr. Trump from such conflicts given the complexities of his financial holdings, there is only one rational conclusion: Donald Trump is categorically disqualified from serving as president.

• Politics

First attack ads in state fly in Md. congressional race

Two attack ads are running on television in the previously sleepy contest between Democratic Rep. John Delaney and Republican challenger Amie Hoeber, the first negative ads of the general election season to hit the state's airwaves.

By John Fritze

Sep 25, 2016

• Politics

Rep. John Delaney files FEC complaint over super PAC funded by opponent's spouse

Rep. John Delaney's campaign has filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission over a super PAC funded by his opponent's spouse -- an unusual

By John Fritze

Sep 22, 2016

• Politics

Former Gov. Ehrlich sends fundraising pitch for Pat McDonough in 2nd Congressional District

Former Republican Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. endorsed the GOP nominee in Maryland's 2nd Congressional District and will call on supporters to donate to his

By John Fritze

Sep 15, 2016

• Maryland

Van Hollen camp jumps gun on outside group

Political fundraising solicitations are notoriously loose with the facts, but a recent blast email from Rep. Chris Van Hollen's campaign for Maryland's open Senate seat has received some attention for its claims — even with that low bar in mind.

By John Fritze

Sep 3, 2016

• Opinion

The biggest threat to American sovereignty

Donald Trump talks about minimizing foreign influences on the U.S., but his campaign appears to be illegally soliciting donations from countries abroad.

• Opinion

A big idea for Hillary

Hillary Clinton should commit to reversing the trends that have led big business to have a greater influence on public policy than people.

• Opinion

Voters expect elections will be fair

Voters have a right to fair elections

• Politics

David Bossie of Citizens United elected GOP national committeeman in Maryland

The president of Citizens United was elected Maryland's Republican national committeeman on Saturday, unseating a veteran incumbent .

By John Fritze

May 14, 2016

• Maryland

Ben Carson takes on new role with Trump campaign

Dr. Ben Carson, the retired Johns Hopkins neurosurgeon who suspended his presidential bid two months ago, will help Donald Trump's ascendant campaign choose a running mate — a move that has Carson supporters hopeful about his political future.

By John Fritze

May 4, 2016

• Howard County

Switchbacks on the road to campaign finance reform [Commentary]

The Maryland legislature had an opportunity to strike a blow against the culture of corruption that is eroding American democracy.

• Elections

Complaints filed against Baltimore mayoral candidate Catherine Pugh, donors

State prosecutors have been asked to examine campaign contributions from several companies to state Sen. Catherine E. Pugh, the leading candidate to become the next mayor of Baltimore.

• Politics

Md. House race nation's most expensive

A competitive contest for the Democratic nomination — and a huge investment by a self-funded candidate — has made the fight for Maryland's 8th Congressional

By John Fritze

Apr 17, 2016

• Politics

Van Hollen raises $1.8M in 2016

Rep. Chris Van Hollen raised $1.8 million this year in his bid for Maryland's open Senate seat.

By John Fritze

Apr 15, 2016