Former Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn running for Congress

Harry Dunn, a former U.S. Capitol Police officer who has extensively spoken out about the violence he and other law enforcement experienced on Jan. 6, 2021, announced that he is launching a campaign for Congress in Maryland.

Watch this story below.

CBS Sunday Morning interview with Governor-Elect Wes Moore

Watch this interview with Wes Moore former Army captain, bestselling author, and anti-poverty advocate, who will be sworn in this week as Maryland's first African American governor. He talks about his unique career path to the governor's residence in Annapolis.

Wes Moore (@iamwesmoore) is a former Army captain, bestselling author, and anti-poverty advocate, who will be sworn in this week as Maryland's first African American governor. He talks about his unique career path to the governor's residence in Annapolis. pic.twitter.com/uGypoQocTE

— CBS Sunday Morning 🌞 (@CBSSunday) January 15, 2023

Anthony Brown becomes Maryland's first Black attorney general

Anthony Brown, an outgoing three-term congressman and former two-term lieutenant governor, made history in 2022 by becoming Maryland's first African American attorney general when he defeated former Anne Arundel County Councilman Michael Peroutka.

With early voting, mail-in ballots and more than 90% of precincts reporting, Brown had almost 60% of the vote — a lead of more than 285,000 votes.

A Republican has not been elected attorney general in Maryland since 1919. Edward D.E. Rollins was the last Republican to serve in the office, after being appointed to it in 1952.

Wes Moore elected governor in Maryland

Democratic candidate Wes Moore is projected to win Maryland’s gubernatorial race against Republican challenger Dan Cox, becoming the state’s first Black governor.

Moore, is a bestselling author, former nonprofit CEO and combat veteran who campaigned under the slogan “leave no one behind” and pledged to create greater opportunity for Maryland residents, strengthen education and boost economic growth.

Only two other Black politicians have ever been elected governor in the United States — Virginia’s Douglas Wilder in 1989, and Deval Patrick of Massachusetts in 2006.

USM Board of Regents Appoints Dr. Valerie Sheares Ashby as Next President of University of Maryland, Baltimore County

The University System of Maryland (USM) Board of Regents has appointed Dr. Valerie Sheares Ashby as the next president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). Ashby, currently Dean of Duke University’s Trinity College of Arts & Sciences, will begin her tenure as UMBC president on Aug. 1.

Ashby has been dean of Trinity College of Arts & Sciences since 2015, and was reappointed for a second, five-year term in 2019. She received her B.A. and Ph.D. degrees in chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) and completed her postdoctoral research at the Universitat Mainz, Germany.

Ashby came to Duke from UNC, where she chaired the chemistry department from 2012-15 and was a faculty member since 2003. She has served on UNC’s Arts & Sciences Foundation Board of Directors and Research Advisory Council, and chaired the College of Arts & Sciences Faculty Diversity Task Force. Dean Ashby also directed the UNC National Science Foundation Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate, aimed at increasing the number of underrepresented students completing doctoral degrees and continuing into the professoriate in science, technology, engineering and math and social, behavioral and economics fields.

Ashby will succeed Freeman Hrabowski, who has led UMBC to national and international acclaim since his appointment as president 30 years ago in 1992.

“Dr. Ashby is clearly the impressive scholar and dynamic leader we need to build on the strong foundation of inclusive excellence at UMBC,” said Board Chair Linda R. Gooden. “UMBC is a jewel—nationally and internationally recognized for its innovative teaching and pathbreaking research.  All of this success is due to the dedication and hard work of President Hrabowski and his outstanding team.  The Board of Regents knows this legacy will be in good hands with Dr. Ashby.  I am grateful to the UMBC presidential search committee, chaired by Regent Michelle Gourdine, for finding such a distinguished leader among so many great candidates.”

“It is an incredible honor to be asked to lead a university that has excelled in so many ways that are essential both nationally and to me personally – particularly in regards to foregrounding inclusive excellence,” Ashby said. “I have tremendous respect for all the members of the UMBC community and am looking forward to working in partnership with the students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends who are the heart of this institution.”

“I’m excited to see how Dr. Ashby’s vision will shape the next chapter for UMBC,” said USM Chancellor Jay A. Perman. “Without question, she has the experience and the attributes needed to grow UMBC’s academic and research prominence, and she’s steeped in the culture of inclusive excellence that has made the university a national exemplar of access, equity, and achievement. It’s hard to imagine finding a better fit for a school whose future is as bright as UMBC’s.”

As dean at Trinity College, Ashby elevated the national and international prominence of the humanities and social science departments across the college by investing in faculty- and student-driven strategic areas. She completed the Duke Forward campaign, exceeding the $435 million Trinity goal by $45 million, including $200 million raised for financial aid post-campaign.

As a researcher, Ashby has focused on synthetic polymer chemistry with an emphasis on designing and synthesizing materials for biomedical applications such as X-ray contrast agents and drug delivery materials. She is the recipient of a National Science Foundation Career Development Award, the DuPont Young Faculty and 3M Young Faculty Awards, as well as numerous teaching awards.

UMBC is a dynamic public research university integrating teaching, research, and service to benefit the citizens of Maryland. The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education recently placed UMBC into the category of doctoral universities with very high research activity, popularly known as Research 1 (or R1). UMBC is now ranked as one of only 146 R1 institutions nationally, including 107 public and 39 private universities. As an Honors University, the campus offers academically talented students a strong undergraduate liberal arts foundation that prepares them for graduate and professional study, entry into the workforce, and community service and leadership. At the graduate level, UMBC emphasizes science, engineering, information technology, human services, and public policy. More about UMBC’s mission and vision is here.

Chancellor Perman appointed the search committee in October 2021, informed by outreach to the campus community after President Hrabowski’s late August announcement that he would begin retirement at the end of the 2021-2022 academic year. The committee reflected the board’s commitment to finding a successor who will continue UMBC’s impressive strength in education and research, its commitment to access and affordability, its embrace of community service, and its leadership in diversity, equity, and inclusion.

President Hrabowski is nationally celebrated for his results-driven commitment to inclusive excellence, collaborative approach to leadership, and mentorship that pairs high expectations with strong support. Through his time at UMBC, these qualities have become core to the university’s unique culture and community. They have also inspired national and global recognition. 

In a combined statement shortly before the start of the current academic year, Chair Gooden and Chancellor Perman noted President Hrabowski’s influence and remarkable legacy at UMBC. “In fact, it’s UMBC’s commitment to the achievement of every student, and its work in cultivating a diverse corps of scholars and leaders, that has marked the university as one of the most respected (and emulated) pioneers in American higher education,” they wrote.

“To follow President Freeman Hrabowski is a distinct privilege,” Ashby said, “as he has been a role model for so many in higher education over the last 30 years, including myself. His extraordinary leadership and dedication to UMBC ensures that I am arriving at a university that is already performing at a very high level. There is no ceiling on what we can achieve from here.”

To learn more about UMBC, visit www.umbc.edu.

The USM comprises 12 institutions: Bowie State University; Coppin State University; Frostburg State University; Salisbury University; Towson University; the University of Baltimore; the University of Maryland, Baltimore; the University of Maryland, Baltimore County; the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science; the University of Maryland, College Park; the University of Maryland Eastern Shore; and the University of Maryland Global Campus. The USM also includes three regional centers—the Universities at Shady Grove, the University System of Maryland at Hagerstown, and the University System of Maryland at Southern Maryland—at which USM universities offer upper-division undergraduate and graduate courses.

Systemwide, student enrollment is roughly 165,000. The USM and its institutions compete successfully for nearly $1.5 billion in external grants and contracts annually. USM institutions and programs are among the nation's best in quality and value according to several national rankings. To learn more about the University System of Maryland, visit www.usmd.edu.

Donna Edwards announces run for former congressional seat

Former Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Md.) on Thursday launched a campaign for her old House seat in Maryland's 4th Congressional District.

Edwards represented Maryland's 4th District for five terms before waging an unsuccessful bid for Senate in 2016, losing in the Democratic primary race to then-Rep. Chris Van Hollen.

She is now looking to replace Rep. Anthony Brown (D-Md.) as he vacates his seat to run for Maryland attorney general.

In a video announcing her candidacy, Edwards said she is running to give her district a stronger perch in Washington, emphasizing her experience serving in national politics.

Rep. Anthony Brown to run for Maryland attorney general

Rep. Anthony Brown (D-Md.) on Monday said that he will run for Maryland Attorney General in 2022.

In a video announcement, Brown called himself a “champion for progress.”

“Sure, we’ve made progress over the years, but too many barriers exist for too many Marylanders, from health care and housing to the environment and education, to workplaces, policing and the criminal justice system,” Brown says. “I’m running for attorney general to dismantle those barriers.”

Brown is seeking to replace Brian Frosh (D), a two-term incumbent who said last week he would retire in 2022.

[SOURCE: THE HILL]

Democrat Wes Moore announces run for Governor of Maryland

Author, former nonprofit executive and combat veteran Wes Moore on Monday afternoon officially joined the field of Democratic candidates vying to become the next governor of Maryland in 2022. Watch his announcement video below:

I defied the odds to become a Rhodes Scholar, Army officer & CEO.

Now, I'm announcing my run for Maryland Governor.

Because I believe no matter our start—we all deserve an equal opportunity to succeed.

I'd be humbled by your support→ https://t.co/rX4BO0kIyc#MooreforMaryland pic.twitter.com/CyVrwX2sfn

— Wes Moore (@iamwesmoore) June 7, 2021

Maryland bill would rename local highway to 'President Barack Obama Highway'

State senators in Maryland recently introduced legislation that seeks to rename Indian Head Highway after former President Obama.

Senate Bill 213, introduced by Democratic state Sens. Arthur Ellis and Obie Patterson, would require the Maryland State Highway Administration to designate the highway, also known by some as Maryland Route 210, as “the President Barack Obama Highway.”

The change would cost roughly $12,500 to cover the costs for the design, construction and installation of the signs for the highway, which runs through parts of Maryland and Washington, D.C., a fiscal and policy note shows.

If passed, the legislation would take effect on at the start of October.

[SOURCE: THE HILL]

Congressman Cummings recovering after bacterial infection

Maryland U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings had a medical procedure on his knee Friday to drain a bacterial infection, his office said, hours after his wife announced she was dropping out of the Democratic primary for governor because of "personal considerations."

The congressman's office said doctors drained the infection in a minor procedure. He was admitted to Johns Hopkins Hospital Dec. 29.

"He is resting comfortably and expects a full recovery," his office said in a news release.

[SOURCE: Star Telegram]

Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, ends her campaign for the Democratic nomination for Maryland governor

Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.) has been hospitalized for treatment of a bacterial infection, his office confirmed Friday hours after his wife, Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, ended her campaign for the Democratic nomination for Maryland governor.

Cummings was admitted to Johns Hopkins Hospital on Dec. 29 with a bacterial infection in his knee, according to a statement released by his office. Doctors drained the infection Friday during a “minor procedure,” according to the statement, and added that he is “resting comfortably and expects a full recovery.”

Rockeymoore Cummings, a policy consultant, cited “personal considerations” in dropping out of the race Friday.

Rockeymoore Cummings, the second woman and the last of eight candidates to enter the crowded race, launched her campaign three months ago.

“Making a positive and direct contribution to the state of Maryland and to our nation was my greatest motivating factor for stepping into the public arena,” Cummings said in a statement. “Unfortunately due to personal considerations, I am suspending my bid for governor of Maryland.”

“Making a positive and direct contribution to the state of Maryland and to our nation was my greatest motivating factor for stepping into the public arena,” Cummings said in a statement. “Unfortunately due to personal considerations, I am suspending my bid for governor of Maryland.”

Rockeymoore Cummings has worked in politics as a staffer on Capitol Hill and for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation but was not widely known in state politics. The bid for governor was her first run for public office. As a small-business owner, Rockeymoore focused her campaign on addressing economic inequality.

[SOURCE: THE WASHINGTON POST]

Roger B. Taney statue removed from Maryland State House ground

A statue of the of the U.S. Supreme Court justice who wrote the Dred Scott decision that upheld slavery and denied citizenship to African-Americans has been removed from the grounds of the Maryland State House.

The statue of Roger B. Taney was lifted away by a crane at about 2 a.m. Friday. It was lowered into a truck and driven away.

A panel voted by email Wednesday to remove the statue, which was erected in 1872.

House Speaker Michael Busch, who voted for removal, wrote this week that the statue “doesn’t belong” on the grounds. His comments came after the violent protests in Charlottesville, Virginia, over the weekend. Gov. Larry Hogan said this week that removing the statue was “the right thing to do.”

Roger B. Taney statue removed from Maryland State House ground

Bernie Sanders endorses Ben Jealous for Governor of Maryland

Former Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders weighed into Maryland's race for governor Thursday, endorsing Ben Jealous in the 2018 Democratic gubernatorial primary. Watch Sander's endorsement below.

Legislators propose Tubman and Douglass statues outside Maryland State House

A proposal to place statues of anti-slavery heroes Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass in the Maryland State House would add a new chapter to the history of Maryland as told through its iconic capitol building.

The plan would help educate future generations of visitors about the key roles in U.S. history played by the two 19th-century Marylanders who were born into bondage on the Eastern Shore.

It would also make a statement about where Maryland stands in the early 21st century — much as the statue of a brooding Chief Justice Roger B. Taney outside the State House’s front door represents the pro-Southern sentiments in the state in the post-Civil War era.

Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (Calvert) and House Speaker Michael E. Busch (Anne Arundel), both Democrats, recently proposed the plan to place statues of Tubman and Douglass in the Old House of Delegates Chamber. Gov. Larry Hogan (R) quickly embraced the idea.

The support of the three top leaders makes it virtually certain that Tubman and Douglass will take their place among the select group of historical figures honored with statues at the nation’s oldest state capitol building still being used by a legislature.

Read more: Tubman and Douglass statues would write a new chapter in state history

Anthony Brown wins Maryland Democratic gubernatorial primary

[SOURCE] CNN projects that Maryland Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown will win the state's Democratic gubernatorial primary.

In a state dominated by Democrats, Brown will now be considered the favorite to win the general election in the race to succeed term limited Democratic Gov. Martin O'Malley. Brown was backed by O'Malley, a potential 2016 Democratic presidential candidate, as well as former President Bill Clinton.

If he wins in November, Brown would become the third African-American elected governor in U.S. history.

06/24/2014 Primary Elections: Warren Christopher candidate for Maryland congressional seat.

Here at African American Reports we have reached out to African American candidates involved in state primaries tomorrow, 06/24/2014.

One candidate is running for a seat in the US House of representatives in Maryland. His name is Warren Christopher.

Here is a brief statement from Mr. Christopher to African American Reports as to why voters in Maryland's CD4 should support him.

WARREN CHRISTOPHER FOR CONGRESS

Will FOSTER PARTNERSHIPS AND RELATIONSHIPS TO SECURE FEDERAL FUNDING for our District – seniors, veterans, woman, education, and small businesses. Lobby to serve on the House Armed Services Committee, Veteran Affairs Committee and/or Committee on Homeland Security.

Will work to lower corporate tax rate and eliminate special interest loopholes.

Will work to CREATE JOBS, ACCESS TO EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FOR ALL to meet the demands of industry; focus on innovation as a cornerstone of economic development.

Will WORK WITH ALL FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL LEADERS.

Will INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO IMPACT THE 4TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT and our country –TECHNOLOGY IN EVERY CLASSROOM AND A COMPUTER ON EVERY DESK.

Close the healthcare gap; disparities amongst the underrepresented.

Will DELIVER 1ST CLASS CONSTITUENT SERVICES and never ignore the people of the 4th Congressional District.

A LEADER working with federal, state and local officials to implement solutions to the foreclosure crisis, closing the pay gap for women and securing paid sick leave; SECURE LOW INTEREST RATE LOANS AND PRIME COTRACTS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES.

Will PROTECT AND DEFEND ALL VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES’ Benefits and COLAs (cost of living allowances).

06/24/2014 primary election: Greg Holmes candidate for Maryland congressional seat

Here at African American Reports we have reached out to African American candidates involved in state primaries tomorrow, 06/24/2014.

One candidate is running for a seat in the US House of representatives in Maryland. His name is Greg Holmes.

Here is a brief statement from Mr. Holmes to African American Reports as to why voters in Maryland's CD4 should support him.

Hi, My name is Greg Holmes. I am a lifelong resident of Prince George's County. I'm a Christian, husband, dad and mentor.

I am running for Congress to give our community a competitive edge and the opportunity to vote for economic prosperity, job creation, and high academic standards. These issues transcend race and economic background and I will champion them as your Congressman. This is the moment we vote for the change we seek. Please vote Greg Holmes for US Congress. Marlo Holmes, Treasurer.

Greg Holmes

Candidate for Congress

Maryland’s 4th District

Greg Holmes website: http://www.gregholmes.org/

06/24/2014 Primary Elections: Aisha Braveboy, Dem candidate for Maryland Attorney General

Here at African American Reports we have reached out to African American candidates involved in state primaries tomorrow, 06/24/2014.

One candidate is running for Attorney General of Maryland. Her name is Aisha Braveboy. Here is a brief statement from Aisha Braveboy as to African American Reports as to why Maryland voters should support her.

If elected, Aisha would be the first African American Attorney General in Maryland history, the second black woman in U.S. history to serve as a state attorney general and only the 4th black person in U.S. history to serve as a state attorney general. Read a statement from Aisha Braveboy explaining to voters why they should vote for her.

Voters should vote for me because of my unique policy focus and record of independence. Preserving wealth and economic opportunity will be the top priorities of my administration as Maryland Attorney General. The two largest sources of wealth for Maryland families are their jobs and their homes. I will prioritize enforcing our wage laws so that women receive equal pay for equal work and will protect home values in communities affected by foreclosure by targeting mortgage companies that engage in illegal housing practices. I am independent and would do what is right regardless of the political consequences. For example, a federal judge recently ruled that Maryland was committing discrimination against its historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in violation of the U.S. Constitution. As Attorney General, I would not defend the state while it is committing discrimination against Maryland’s HBCUs.

Aisha Braveboy has been endorsed by the AFRO American Newspaper. Read that endorsement here: AFRO’s Primary Endorsements for Baltimore City, Baltimore County, and Maryland - See more at: http://www.afro.com/sections/news/Baltimore/story.htm/?storyid=83031#.U5oruO3fCcc.twitter

Aisha's website: http:www.aishabraveboy.com