Candidates and Education — A Guide to the Maryland Primary

Jim Block and Jan Plotczyk • July 5, 2022


Many candidates for governor have presented detailed education platforms, reflecting the reality of state-level education control and the fact that they could influence the shape of education in the state. Candidates for Congress have a different focus; their involvement with education has more to do with federal opportunities for funding of education programs. 

 

The primary election is scheduled for Tuesday, July 19. Only residents who have registered their political party preference are eligible to vote, and they may only vote for their party’s candidates. Thus, Democrats may only vote for Democratic candidates and Republicans only for Republican candidates.

 

 

Governor/Lieutenant Governor

 

Dan Cox + Gordana Schifanelli — Republican

http://www.dancoxforgovernor.com

Cox is opposed to "Critical Race Theory," calling it "Marxist propaganda." He is against "gender identity indoctrination" in our schools. He supports parental rights in the classroom and is against what he calls the bloated bureaucracy state public school “Superboard.” He wants the state government to increase school choice and charter schools.

 

 

Robin Ficker + LeRoy F. Yegge, Jr. — Republican

http://www.cutmdsalestax2cents.com

Ficker's sole policy commitment is to sponsor a yearly reading contest in which "every classroom in the state will send a student who has read the most books in a year."

 

 

Kelly Schulz + Jeff Woolford — Republican

http://www.kellyschulzforgovernor.com

A proponent of parental rights, Schulz is outspoken about education and the failings of public education in Maryland. As governor, she promises to champion a “Parental Bill of Rights” to empower parents to be involved in their children’s education, and to make sure schools are accountable to parents. She also wants Maryland to introduce new and innovative solutions such as P-TECH schools, where students earn a high school diploma, an industry-recognized associate’s degree, and gain relevant work experience in a growing field. 

 

Schulz believes that neighborhood location should not determine education quality. Her solution is school choice, public charter schools, and “record funding for our schools.” However, she has hedged her answers when asked about funding the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future.

 

 

Joe Werner + Minh Thanh Luong — Republican

http://www.wernerformaryland.com

Werner believes that families should have the opportunity to choose to enroll in charter schools instead of public schools. He feels charter schools provide a “more effective” education.

 

 

Rushern Baker III + Nancy Navarro — Democrat

http://www.rushernbaker.com

Rushern Baker III suspended his race for governor on June 10.

 

 

Jon Baron + Natalie Williams — Democrat

http://www.jonbaron.com

From his website:

“As governor, I would bring a bold approach to improving K-12 education by funding programs tested and shown to improve student outcomes and reduce racial and income achievement gaps. My education plan will:

  • Create a Statewide Tutoring Corps to provide high-quality tutoring to every struggling first and second grader in Maryland.
  • Expand Career Academy programs in high schools.
  • Expand high-quality public charter schools like KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program).
  • Offer “Learning Accounts” to low-income 10th graders, providing up to $10,000 in financial aid for college if they do well in high school.”

 

 

Peter Franchot + Monique Anderson-Walker — Democrat

http://www.franchot.com

A major platform for Franchot is to improve educational outcomes for all Marylanders. Some details from the campaign website:

  • Augment Maryland’s education system to provide a more comprehensive, fully-resourced model that equips students with the knowledge, skills, and self-confidence they need to thrive in the modern economy
  • Pilot innovative approaches to equipping high school students with real-world skills
  • Reduce standardized testing
  • Allow collective bargaining on classroom size
  • Push for fully elected local school boards
  • Ensure no school building suffers from mold, undrinkable water, or absence of climate control
  • Pilot an intergenerational child care program, utilizing Maryland’s seniors in the programming and oversight
  • Pilot fully debt-free paths to a vocation or college degree
  • Integrate union vocational training and apprenticeship programs into Maryland’s public high school system
  • Pilot various student loan debt forgiveness plans

 

 

Douglas F. Gansler + Candace Hollingsworth — Democrat

http://www.ganslerformaryland.com

“As governor, I will ensure full, timely implementation of the Blueprint, add school resource officers, and take actions to increase student achievement and wellness.” Gansler has pledged “to provide affordable childcare and universal Pre-K for every Maryland family so no parent has to choose between caring for their children and pursuing a career of their dreams.” He recognizes the challenges that still exist due to covid. (Vote411.org)

 

 

Ralph W. Jaffe + Mark Greben — Democrat

http://www.fedupwithcrookedpolitics.com

Jaffe pledges to attempt to abolish the Maryland State Department of Education because he feels that the counties should control their own educational philosophies.

 

 

Ashwani Jain + LaTrece Hawkins Lytes — Democrat

http://www.jainforgovernor.com

Jain has many ideas for how to improve education and public schools on his website. Among them:

  • Fund the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future as a crucial step in addressing inequities in the state’s education system
  • Replace school resource officers (SROs) with mental health professionals
  • Expand broadband
  • Teach the history and prevalence of racism that still affects our society today
  • Ease student debt of educators; reduce student debt for all students
  • Make community college more affordable and accessible
  • Provide affordable housing for teachers and para-educators
  • Invest in trade schools
  • Invest in school construction
  • Increase access to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) programs
  • Provide universal Pre-K
  • Depend on performance-based assessments rather than standardized testing

 

 

John King + Michelle Daugherty Siri — Democrat

http://www.johnkingforGovernor.com

Because King is a lifelong educator and former U.S. Secretary of Education, it’s no surprise that he has many detailed plans for addressing education challenges on his campaign website, including to:

  • Build on Maryland’s Blueprint for Education
  • Ensure that public money goes to public schools
  • Recognize, support, and diversify Maryland’s educator workforce
  • Prepare all students for college and careers
  • Help all students learn and love to read
  • Ensure an education that reflects Maryland’s students and our nation’s history
  • Support and sustain a diverse educator workforce
  • Support covid recovery in the schools
  • Support early childhood education
  • Support higher education, HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities), career readiness

 

 

Wes Moore + Aruna Miller — Democrat

http://www.wesmoore.com

Moore’s guiding philosophy is “no matter your start in life, you deserve an equal opportunity to succeed – a job you can raise a family on, a future you can look forward to.” Education is a large part of this philosophy, and on his website there are detailed plans and pledges to achieve the following goals:

  • Ensure Maryland’s Blueprint for Education is fully funded and implemented
  • Support educators, para-educators, and education support professionals
  • Make childcare and early childhood education more affordable and accessible
  • Set students up for success
  • Tackle disrupted learning
  • Prioritize students’ social/emotional well-being
  • Combat the school-to-prison pipeline
  • Prepare students for good-paying jobs

 

 

Tom Perez + Shannon Sneed — Democrat

http://www.tomperez.com

Perez states that he “believes in access to a quality, equitable education” for all Marylanders. His education platform includes:

  • Fully funding the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future
  • Ensuring that our teachers are being paid fair and competitive wages
  • Increasing access to early childhood education
  • Funding school construction
  • Supporting educational equity
  • Fully funding HBCUs
  • Making community colleges and trade schools tuition-free for all students, including Dreamers
  • Expanding CTE (career and technical education) programs in high schools
  • Supporting and expanding pre-apprenticeship opportunities and registered apprenticeships
  • Building equitable digital infrastructure to close the digital divide, especially in rural and urban communities

 

 

Jerome M. Segal + Justinian M. Dispenza — Democrat

http://www.segalforgovernor.org

Segal is a former professor of education philosophy. His education platform includes:

  • Education for its own sake and for critical thinking to solve pressing problems — more history, arts, and humanities
  • Schooling having less to do with the job market, with more focus on history, the arts, the humanities, and civics

 

 

Congress 1st District

 

Andrew P. Harris — Republican — incumbent

http://www.andyharris.com

Harris states on his campaign website that “education is the cornerstone of every child’s development and the foundation of our future economic success as a country.” He advocates for:

  • More funding for public schools
  • Local control of schools
  • Jobs skills training in high schools
  • Addressing issues of higher education, including its affordability
  • Ensuring a simplified federal student aid application
  • Exploring solutions to the out-of-control student loan debts
  • Supporting students earning college credits from demonstrating knowledge they acquired and not just how many hours they spend in a classroom
  • Encouraging more federal support for funding internships and apprenticeships

 

 

R. David Harden — Democrat

http://www.hardenforcongress.com

From Harden’s website: “I will advocate for and work to strengthen our public education system, including our early childhood programs. I support universal public pre-kindergarten, free and nutritious school lunches for every student, equitable funding for schools in historically underserved communities, and strategic investment into modernizing school infrastructure. For those who attend two and four-year colleges, we must ensure that they are not saddled with excessive debt when they graduate and enter the workforce.”

 

 

Heather R. Mizeur — Democrat

http://www.heathermizeur.com

Mizeur’s education platform is geared toward job skills training. Her 10-point EconomyFirst plan includes a section on 21st century skills: workforce education and training. She stresses the need to teach the job skills that match employer needs. Her plans include advancing career and technical education opportunities and establishing robust and accredited apprenticeship programs. She says: “I am dedicated to appointing a member of our future congressional staff team to oversee and coordinate implementation and oversight of Maryland’s CTE plan and other regional workforce development issues in the First District, including targeting federal funding opportunities to advance these goals,” through $1.3 billion annually in state formula grants awarded through the federal Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act. On apprenticeship, Mizeur explains, “There are federal resources available for apprenticeship expansion and innovation and I envision bringing stakeholders together to apply for available grants and help our region successfully compete for these funds. The U.S. Department of Labor has devoted $113 million for its Apprenticeship Building America (ABA) Grant Program for this fiscal year alone.”

 

 

Jim Block taught English at Northfield Mount Hermon, a boarding school in Western Mass. He coached cross-country, and advised the newspaper and the debate society there. He taught at Marlborough College in England and Robert College in Istanbul. He and his wife retired to Chestertown, Md. in 2014.

 

Jan Plotczyk spent 25 years as a survey and education statistician with the federal government, at the Census Bureau and the National Center for Education Statistics. She retired to Rock Hall.

 

Common Sense for the Eastern Shore

Ocean City Restaurant Owners Who Backed Trump Now Struggle with Visa Crackdown

By CSES Staff • October 1, 2025
Heavily dependent on international students working under the J-1 visa program, Ocean City’s seasonal restaurants face a new difficulty after federal policy changes under the Trump administration. Each summer, roughly 3,300 J-1 visa holders arrive in Ocean City to help fill more than 12,000 seasonal jobs, according to the Maryland Restaurant Association. Many of these restaurant workers handle everything from cooking to serving customers. The U.S. State Department identifies Ocean City as the nation’s top destination for summer work travel exchange visitors. This year, the program was paused and later reinstated with new restrictions and federal investigations, which disrupted hiring and complicated staffing for the 2025 season. Nearly 60% of Worcester County voters supported Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election. Now, however, restaurant owners who backed Trump are confronted with the consequences of his administration’s visa policies, which threaten the flow of international workers upon which they rely. The disruption has led to worker shortages, operational difficulties, and uncertainty about future seasons. Restaurants that depend on J-1 students to meet demand during peak tourist months are preparing for further complications as federal reviews of visa programs continue. Local economic leaders warn that without these workers, Ocean City’s seasonal businesses could struggle to stay afloat. For restaurant owners and community members who overwhelmingly supported Trump, the new reality has raised questions about the resort town’s current workforce model under tighter immigration policies.

Poverty in MD-01 Will Increase with GOP’s One Big Beautiful Bill

By Jan Plotczyk • October 1, 2025
Poverty in Maryland’s First Congressional District will increase because of the GOP’s budget reconciliation bill— the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” — that was narrowly passed in July. Rep. Andrew P. Harris (R-MD01) voted to pass that wildly unpopular bill and to kick our neighbors off SNAP and Medicaid to give tax cuts to billionaires. That was a cruel choice. More of his constituents will be living in poverty because of the OBBBA’s cuts to programs that support people’s basic needs. Poverty Rates in Maryland’s First Congressional District The official poverty rate for MD-01 has hovered between 8.5% and 9.8% for the last seven years. (Poverty rates for congressional districts were not calculated for 2020 due to the pandemic.) In 2024, 72,800 of our neighbors were living in poverty.

Don’t be Fooled! OBBBA is Not a Tax Cut for Working Families!

By Jan Plotczyk • October 1, 2025
President Trump has recently realized — apparently — that his One Big Beautiful Bill Act is not universally beloved by the American people. Aside from GOP lawmakers, billionaires, and MAGA faithful, the measure has never enjoyed the support of anyone. Polling conducted up to the bill’s passage, and analyzed by G. Elliott Morris , showed that On average across pollsters and methods, 31% of Americans support the One Big Beautiful Bill, while 54% oppose it. That net rating of -23 is, to put it mildly, abysmal… [H]aving a majority against you with just a third in support is terrible! And the bill has not become any more popular since its passage. But instead of fixing the parts of the bill that average people detest — the cuts to social programs for families, the extended tax cuts for billionaires — Trump has decided to just rebrand the bill as something he thinks they’ll love. And having decided that a public relations fix is all that’s needed, the White House has told GOP legislators that the bill shall now be known as the Working Families Tax Cut Bill. What tax cuts for working Americans are in the bill? Tax credits. The bill includes modest increases in the Child Tax Credit and Child and Dependent Care Credit. The standard tax deduction. The bill increases the standard tax deduction for individuals by $750 and for couples by $1,500. The no-tax-on-tips provision. Trump touts this as a true working-class tax cut. But it does not benefit many because only 3% of workers earn tips, and one-third of those earn too little to pay federal taxes. The no-tax-on-overtime-pay provision. This sounds good, but the no-tax applies only to the “half” portion of time-and-a-half pay. If a worker earns $20/hour regular pay and $30/hour overtime pay, the first $20/hour of overtime pay is taxed; only the $10/hour of premium pay is not taxed. It is estimated that for the bottom 40% of workers by income, this will equate to a tax savings of $10/year. Those meager offerings cannot obscure the fact that the bill gives 45% of the tax cuts to the wealthy ; only 1% of the tax cuts go to the lowest fifth of wage earners. To pay for those tax cuts for the wealthy, the bill contains $1.4 trillion in benefits cuts that will affect lower income Americans: many millions will lose health insurance coverage, food assistance, and federal student financial aid. Any small tax benefit that accrues to lower income Americans from the OBBBA is more than offset by benefit losses and Trump’s new tariffs (a defacto sales tax). The Yale Budget Lab found that when one combines the effects of Trump’s tariffs and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, 90% of American families will end up worse off. Seventy per cent of households will face losses ranging from $780 to $2,570 each year. So, don’t be conned. Recognize Trump’s gaslighting for what it is, a desperate attempt to mislead and deceive the American people. Jan Plotczyk spent 25 years as a survey and education statistician with the federal government, at the Census Bureau and the National Center for Education Statistics. She retired to Rock Hall.

Wicomico County Councilman Josh Hasting launches bid for House of Delegates in District 38B

By CSES Staff • October 1, 2025
Before a crowd at Burnish Brewing Company, Wicomico County Councilman Josh Hastings, a Democrat, launched his campaign for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 38B, setting up what is expected to be one of the most competitive races in the state in 2026. The seat is held by GOP Del. Barry Glassman, who was appointed after former Del. Carl Anderton accepted a position in the Wes Moore administration. Although Glassman begins the campaign with more than $30,000 in campaign funds and will run as the incumbent, the district — with a +7 advantage for Democrats — is considered a top pickup opportunity for House Democrats in Annapolis. Having grown up on Maryland’s first certified organic poultry farm in Mardela Springs, Hastings has built a career at the intersection of agriculture, environmental sustainability, and land use. Before gaining elected office, he spent 15 years in state and local policy and nonprofit leadership positions, including as executive director of Forever Maryland, a statewide nonprofit focused on conserving farms, forests, parks, and critical habitats. Since joining the County Council, Hastings has established himself as a productive legislator, and is credited with: Converting Pirate’s Wharf into a public park. Securing $200 million in county budget commitments for Salisbury firefighters. Advancing a countywide water and sewer master plan. Ensuring consistent above-maintenance-of-effort funding for Wicomico public schools. Championing major upgrades to parks and recreation facilities. He has also worked to: Expand pickleball opportunities at Harmon Field Park. Secure a new middle and high school in Mardela Springs. Address invasive species management. Public safety and quality of life have been recurring themes in his tenure, with Hastings backing investments in first responders and cleaner, healthier communities. Colleagues often note his ability to foster civil, thoughtful debate on complex issues. Hastings is no stranger to Annapolis. Earlier in his career, he served as an aide to Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee Chair Joan Carter Conway, where he wrote and helped to pass legislation reduce concussions in youth sports. On the campaign trail, Hastings emphasizes a platform focused on opportunity, affordability, and quality of life on the Shore. His priorities include: Creating more well-paying jobs that build on the region’s strengths while opening doors in growing industries Strengthening public schools with smaller class sizes and stronger pathways from arts to trades to higher education Tackling the housing shortage with more options for residents of all ages and abilities He also pledges to lower the cost of living by advocating for fair wages and more affordable essentials, such as food, energy, and housing. Hastings emphasizes community health and safety as central to his vision, with a focus on increasing access to health care, broadband, transportation, and recreational spaces. His platform stresses the need to protect the Shore’s clean water and healthy land while supporting farmers and a resource-based economy. At the heart of his message is a call for fairness and opportunity, and a government that works for everyday people rather than the few. His announcement also came with personal news: Hastings and his wife Alyssa are expecting their first child in April. With deep local roots, a track record of legislative success, and a competitive district in play, Hastings’ campaign launch signals that Democrats view District 38B as a pivotal race in the 2026 election cycle.

Gov. Wes Moore and Housing Sec. Jacob Day Celebrate Smith Island’s New High-Speed Internet

By CSES Staff • October 1, 2025
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Housing and Community Development Sec. Jacob Day were on Smith Island Sept. 24 to mark completion of an infrastructure milestone, the island’s first connection to high-speed internet. Funded by state grants, the $2 million broadband project was completed two months ahead of schedule, and will provide reliable internet access to residents, businesses, and schools on the island, where less than full connectivity has been a long-standing problem. Moore is the first governor to visit Smith Island since 1999, underscoring the administration’s focus on reaching often-overlooked communities. Residents welcomed the infrastructure improvement, noting that high-speed internet can enhance education, healthcare access, small business growth, and overall quality of life. Moore, a Democrat, has made broadband access a central part of his infrastructure agenda, with similar projects underway in other rural parts of the state. For Smith Island, this connection represents a long-awaited lifeline to the wider world, and a signal that Maryland’s leaders are paying attention.

Wicomico Councilman James Winn’s Religious Remarks Spark Controversy at Sept. 16 Meeting

By CSES Staff • October 1, 2025
Wicomico County Councilman James Winn (R-At Large) drew criticism at the Sept. 16 council meeting because of his extended religious rant that included pulling out a Bible and declaring he would “pray for non-Christians” in the wake of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk’s shooting death. During the meeting’s public remarks portion, Winn shifted from county business to a sermon-like address. He held up a Bible, quoted passages, and suggested that residents who do not identify as Christians need his prayers and guidance. Winn tied his comments to the recent death of Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA, framing it as a moment for Wicomico residents to recommit to Christian values. Several attendees called the outburst inappropriate for a public governmental meeting, noting that Winn blurred the line between his own religious faith and his role as an elected official. Critics argued the comments excluded non-Christian residents and showed a lack of respect for the county’s religious diversity. The council meeting continued after Winn’s remarks. Still, the episode has drawn sharp reactions on social media, with some residents calling the behavior “embarrassing” and “unbecoming of an elected leader.” Others are defending Winn, saying he was exercising his free speech and sharing a message of faith in a difficult moment. Council leadership did not formally intercede during the meeting. However, community members are suggesting that the county ought to adopt clear standards to prevent religious proselytizing during official sessions. The controversy arises as Wicomico County confronts pressing local issues, including land use debates and the fallout from its immigration enforcement partnership with ICE. For some residents, Winn’s comments were perceived as a distraction from the county's real work of governance.
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