ALL IN: EHRLICH TO ACT AS ‘EMISSARY’ FOR COX, OTHER GOP CANDIDATES: Former Republican Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. is supporting Del. Dan Cox — a candidate endorsed by former president Donald Trump and labeled a “QAnon whack job” by outgoing Gov. Larry Hogan (R) — in Cox’s bid to become Maryland’s next governor. Ehrlich will serve as an emissary for Cox (R-Frederick) and other GOP candidates, including Michael Peroutka, who has past ties with an extremist group and has argued in support of conspiracy theories about the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the Maryland Republican Party announced. Ovetta Wiggins/The Washington Post.
OPINION: MOORE & COX BOTH LACK EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE: With the primary elections over, Democrats have nominated Wes Moore and Republicans have nominated Del. Dan Cox. What makes this election historic is that the two major party candidates lack prior public service experience running a large government agency or department. Brian Griffiths/The Baltimore Banner.
VICTIMS OF CLERGY SEX ABUSE FRUSTRATED BY FROSH: Three years after Attorney General Brian Frosh (D) announced an investigation into child sexual abuse by clergy in Maryland, victims are still waiting for results. And they are frustrated by what they see as foot-dragging by Frosh. In 2019 he hired veteran prosecutor Elizabeth M. Embry to spearhead a probe of predators and church higher-ups who knew of abuse and did nothing. If Embry’s team has made progress, it has not become public. Bruce DePuyt/Maryland Matters.
ELRICH LEAD WIDENS IN MO CO EXEC RACE: Incumbent Marc Elrich expanded his lead over challenger David Blair in the Democratic primary for Montgomery County executive after the ninth day of canvassing, according to results released Tuesday night by the State Board of Elections. Elrich gained 53 votes for a lead that now totals 173 votes. Staff/Bethesda Beat.
REP. TRONE, BROTHER PUSH COLORADO BOOZE INITIATIVE: U.S. Rep. David Trone of Maryland and his brother Robert, who together own the national Total Wine & More chain, have spent $2 million supporting a potential 2022 Colorado ballot initiative that would loosen the state’s liquor licensing laws and eventually let them open an unlimited number of Colorado stores. They have each given about $1 million to Coloradans for Liquor Fairness, an issue committee backing Initiative 96. Jesse Paul/The Colorado Sun.
POLITICAL NOTES: WAITING ON DNC; EMERGE CLAIMS VICTORIES: The Democratic National Committee will wait until November to decide which states should take leading roles in the 2024 presidential nominating calendar. Maryland is one of 17 states vying to become the “fifth state” in the frequently make-or-break early stage of campaigning. Emerge Maryland, a candidate training program for Democratic women in Maryland, said more than 70% of the program’s graduates on the ballot in the July primary were successful. Sixty-three candidates who took part in the program ran for election on July 19, and 45 have emerged victorious. Danielle Gaines/Maryland Matters.
CAMPAIGN FINANCE CHANGES IN ARUNDEL: A campaign finance system that would give some candidates the option of accepting government funding if they only accept small donations could be coming to Anne Arundel County. Brooks DuBose/The Capital Gazette.
DEL. BRANCH LOSES RE-ELECTION BID: Baltimore City Del. Chanel Branch, daughter of retiring House Majority Whip Talmadge Branch, will not return to Annapolis to represent District 45 in January. Hannah Gaskill/The Baltimore Sun.
RAISES PROPOSED FOR BA CO EXEC, COUNCIL: The Baltimore County executive, the top county administrative officer and members of the County Council would receive raises of around 10% under legislation introduced Monday night. A cap on council members’ pensions also would be removed under one measure. Alison Knezevich/The Baltimore Sun.
CITY SHERIFF NOMINEE HOPES TO MODERNIZE OFFICE: Sam Cogen promises that his win over a three-decade incumbent for Baltimore sheriff is also a win for tenants facing eviction. Cogen, who became the Democratic nominee when the final votes trickled in on Friday, ran on a platform to modernize the sheriff’s office — a significant shift from incumbent John W. Anderson, who refused to have a computer in his. Sophie Kasakove/The Baltimore Banner.
11-VOTE VICTORY FOR HARFORD COUNCIL: James Reilly has won the Harford County Council District D Republican primary over John B. Carl Jr. by 11 votes following a recount Tuesday at the Harford County Board of Elections. Jason Fontelieu/The Aegis.
GRAND JURY INDICTS TEEN SQUEEGEE WORKER: A Baltimore grand jury on Tuesday indicted the 15-year-old boy accused of fatally shooting a bat-wielding man during an altercation with a group of squeegee workers last month on first-degree murder and related charges, his attorney said. Lee O. Sanderlin, Alex Mann and Cassidy Jensen/The Baltimore Sun.
- The indictment means the boy’s case will remain for now in the adult court system, where he could face as much as life in prison if convicted. Defense attorneys and activists had called for the office of Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby to reduce the charges and prosecute the boy in juvenile court instead. Tim Prudente and Cadence Quaranta/The Baltimore Banner.
