federal election commission

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

By David Zurawik

Jul 19, 2018

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

By John Fritze

Apr 11, 2017

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Voters have a right to fair elections

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

By John Fritze

May 14, 2016

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

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

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.

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

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