Thank You

Heather Mizeur • November 22, 2022

Dearest friends,

This is a long message but one I have written directly from my heart and it would mean so much to me if you would take a moment to give yourself to these words.

I have had many aspects of my life — from my faith to my patriotism — shaped by a dedication to core values and principles. Our campaign has been no different. From the beginning of this race, I was upfront with you about the set of beliefs and values that would always guide our action. Exactly one year ago, I shared with you a framework for what our collective mission statement would always be:

My campaign for Congress is about more than winning an election.

It is about building a community where everyone belongs.
It is guided by honesty, integrity, wisdom, and truth.
It is driven by service and served by purpose.
It is infused with courage, compassion, and resolute strength.
It is dedicated to the principles of freedom, equality, justice, and humanity.
It is people-powered.
We are bold, fearless, and dignified.
We walk with honor and humility.
We put our values into deliberate action.
We choose love over fear; connection over division.
We believe in the goodness of the human spirit and the magnitude of the human heart.
We rise above partisanship to forge consensus, to make progress, and to deliver results for the common good.
#WeAreOne

I am so proud that we lived into this way of being for the entirety of our campaign.

Our Mizeur Volunteer Corps partnered with charities and non-profit organizations to participate in meaningful community service projects throughout the First District.

Our “Heather in the Hot Seat” house parties with Republicans and independents invited dialogue that helped us transcend partisanship to find the heart of humanity again.

Our EconomyFirst and Agri-Climate plans were forged through consensus from stakeholder engagement and written with your ideas, dreams, desires, and vision at the table.

Our grassroots army of donors and volunteers lifted the mission of our work to the front doors, living rooms, computers screens, and mailboxes of voters in every corner of our district.

We raised great money, had amazing ads, wrote the best policy plans, won both debates, and had some of the most excited and energized volunteers I have ever known in politics.

And still, we came up short. But not by as much as the current vote tally indicates — about a quarter of votes cast in our race (most of them mail-in ballots and many expected to be Democratic) have not yet been counted (ed. note: all votes are now counted). But though our percentage of overall votes won is expected to improve, it will not be by enough to win this election.

It’s never easy to lose after putting so much of yourself on the line. But I was never driven only by the outcome. I always held on to the purpose of the journey. Traitors to our country must be held accountable. Lazy representation must be challenged. Extreme, radical, and dangerous ideology must be met with the clarity of truth and the strength of integrity. Division and fear must be countered by love and connection.

Some might say that in losing, we achieved none of these goals.

I see a different ending to our story.

Winning an election was only one of our goals. Living into this mission statement — and thereby changing the culture of how we interact with each other— was an equally important calling.

And our work there has only begun.

I have shared with you a small number of stories that have exemplified the seeds we planted over this campaign. A few are worth repeating:

I met Shawn at a blues festival on Betterton Beach. Shawn’s a proud veteran and former intelligence analyst who had pretty much given up on the system he once fought to defend. He hadn’t voted in more than 15 years, because he was so discouraged by politicians who don’t listen and a system that seems not to care. I shared with Shawn my vision of a better way of doing politics, and this inspired him. He told me that my authentic and genuine desire to serve him and his family was restoring his faith. He told me: “You know what? I think it’s time to get engaged again.”

And then there was Brenda, a Trump supporter who stopped me to talk in a feed store parking lot. Brenda had a lot on her mind, and we didn’t agree on too much when it came to politics. But after we’d spoken for ten minutes, she started crying – and then asked me for a hug, saying, “I don’t think anyone’s ever listened to me like this.”

One of the most impactful stories of this campaign was meeting Robert, who lives outside Salisbury in Hebron. He’s a former military man who didn’t like a mailer we sent him, criticizing Andy Harris for voting against health care for veterans. Robert reached out to me on Facebook, boiling mad and calling me a liar. In fact, he was so angry at politicians and the system in general, he could imagine “burning down D.C.” I responded to Robert with an open heart and a willingness to listen – and let me tell you, that’s not what he was expecting. And then something happened that surprised us both. Before long we were chatting away like old pals, about everything from gardening and cooking tips to the need for more providers at VA medical facilities. Robert ended up with a “Republicans for Mizeur” sign on his lawn, and I’m proud to call him a new friend.

I want you to hear what Robert wrote about why he decided to back my campaign, after being a loyal conservative supporter of Andy Harris for many years. He said this: “I don’t see a Democrat but a fellow American who wants to make it work together. I hope we can really start a chain reaction and make things better than when we found it.” I find more wisdom in that than most of what comes out of Congress these days. In fact, in just 35 words, Robert somehow captured everything I’ve been talking about for the past 21 months. “I don’t see a Democrat” recognizes our insistence on getting past the partisanship that’s poisoning us. “Make it work together” reflects the spirit of collaboration and bridge-building at the center of our campaign’s unity coalition. And Robert’s closing words, “make things better than when we found it,” just about says it all. It’s the main reason to get up in the morning. It’s why we keep going even when the work is hard, the hours are long, and we are not guaranteed the outcome we desire.

But as a farmer, I know a thing or two about sowing seeds. It takes a while for them to be ready for the harvest. We must tend them, offer the right soil conditions, water them, and get enough light for them to grow.

Democracy, like everything, will die without the right conditions. If too many stray from engaging in a contest of ideas and putting themselves into the process, then our entire experiment dedicated to “of the people, by the people, for the people” will perish. It’s foolhardy to tell yourself a story that any one candidate is the reason for democracy to thrive or that any one election will determine its fate. Democracy isn’t what happens inside the Congress. Democracy is what happens inside our conversations, with each other. We must own it. We cannot give our power and engagement away. We must be inspired to put ourselves into the messy and beautiful task of staying connected to each other. Democracy is a practice of waking up every day and being willing to talk to your neighbors with curiosity, compassion, and non-judgmental love to keep this country and all we love about it connected to the goodness of who we all are deep inside the wisdom of our hearts.

If I opened that for you in any way along this path, then the tears I have cried this morning are only about what we have created and what is to come rather than what could have been.

Our seeds were planted on this journey. I hope you will shine your light on them to make sure they grow. I will be there with you for the harvest.

With all of my love and gratitude,

Heather

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Common Sense for the Eastern Shore

Megan Outten Launches Campaign for Wicomico County Council, District 7

By Friends of Megan Outten • July 29, 2025

Megan Outten, a lifelong Wicomico County resident and former Salisbury City Councilwoman, officially announced her candidacy recently for Wicomico County Council, District 7. At 33, Outten brings the energy of a new generation combined with a proven record of public service and results-driven leadership. “I’m running because Wicomico deserves better,” Outten said. “Too often, our communities are expected to do more with less. We’re facing underfunded schools, limited economic opportunities, and years of neglected infrastructure. I believe Wicomico deserves leadership that listens, plans ahead, and delivers real, measurable results.” A Record of Action and A Vision for the Future On Salisbury’s City Council, Outten earned a reputation for her proactive, hands-on approach — working directly with residents to close infrastructure gaps, support first responders, and ensure everyday voices were heard. Now she’s bringing that same focus to the County Council, with priorities centered on affordability, public safety, and stronger, more resilient communities. Key Priorities for District 7: Fully fund public schools so every child has the opportunity to succeed. Fix aging infrastructure and county services through proactive investment. Keep Wicomico affordable with smarter planning and pathways to homeownership. Support first responders and safer neighborhoods through better tools, training, and prevention. Expand resources for seniors, youth, and underserved communities. Outten’s platform is rooted in real data and shaped by direct community engagement. With Wicomico now the fastest-growing school system on Maryland’s Eastern Shore — and 85% of students relying on extra resources — she points to the county’s lagging investment as a key area for action. “Strong schools lead to strong jobs, thriving industries, and healthier communities,” Outten said. “Our schools and infrastructure are at a tipping point. We need leadership that stops reacting after things break — and starts investing before they do.” A Commitment to Home and Service Born and raised in Wicomico, Megan Outten sees this campaign as a continuation of her lifelong service to her community. Her vision reflects what she’s hearing from neighbors across the county: a demand for fairness, opportunity, and accountability in local government. “Wicomico is my home; it’s where I grew up, built my life, and where I want to raise my family,” Outten said. “Our county is full of potential. We just need leaders who will listen, work hard, and get things done. That’s what I’ve always done, and that’s exactly what I’ll continue to do on the County Council.” Outten will be meeting with residents across District 7 in the months ahead and unveiling more details of her platform. For more information or to get involved, contact info@meganoutten.com

“Turtles All The Way Down”

By John Christie • July 29, 2025

Way back in 1935, the Supreme Court determined that independent agencies like the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) do not violate the Constitution’s separation of powers. Humphrey’s Executor v. United States (1935). Congress provided that the CPSC, like the NLRB and MSPB, would operate as an independent agency — a multi-member, bipartisan commission whose members serve staggered terms and could be removed only “for neglect of duty or malfeasance in office but for no other cause.” Rejecting a claim that the removal restriction interferes with the “executive power,” the Humphrey’s Court held that Congress has the authority to “forbid their [members’] removal except for cause” when creating such “quasi-legislative or quasi-judicial” bodies. As a result, these agencies have operated as independent agencies for many decades under many different presidencies. Shortly after assuming office in his second term, Donald Trump began to fire, without cause, the Democratic members of several of these agencies. The lower courts determined to reinstate the discharged members pending the ultimate outcome of the litigation, relying on Humphrey’s , resulting in yet another emergency appeal to the Supreme Court by the administration. In the first such case, a majority of the Court allowed President Trump to discharge the Democratic members of the NLRB and the MSPB while the litigation over the legality of the discharges continued. Trump v. Wilcox (May 22, 2025). The majority claimed that they do not now decide whether Humphrey’s should be overruled because “that question is better left for resolution after full briefing and argument.” However, hinting that these agency members have “considerable” executive power and suggesting that “the Government” faces greater “risk of harm” from an order allowing a removed officer to continue exercising the executive power than a wrongfully removed officer faces from being unable to perform her statutory duty,” the majority gave the President the green light to proceed. Justice Kagan, joined by Justices Sotomayor and Jackson, dissented, asserting that Humphrey’s remains good law until overturned and forecloses both the President’s firings and the Court’s decision to award emergency relief.” Our emergency docket, while fit for some things, should not be used to “overrule or revise existing law.” Moreover, the dissenters contend that the majority’s effort to explain their decision “hardly rises to the occasion.” Maybe by saying that the Commissioners exercise “considerable” executive power, the majority is suggesting that Humphrey’s is no longer good law but if that is what the majority means, then it has foretold a “massive change” in the law and done so on the emergency docket, “with little time, scant briefing, and no argument.” And, the “greater risk of harm” in fact is that Congress provided for these discharged members to serve their full terms, protected from a President’s desire to substitute his political allies. More recently, in the latest shadow docket ruling in the administration’s favor, the same majority of the Court again permitted President Trump to fire, without cause, the Democratic members of another independent agency, this time the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Trump v. Boyle (July 23, 2025). The same three justices dissented, once more objecting to the use of the Court’s emergency docket to destroy the independence of an independent agency as established by Congress. The CPSC, like the NLRB and MSPB, was designed to operate as “a classic independent agency.” In Congress’s view, that structure would better enable the CPSC to achieve its mission — ensuring the safety of consumer products, from toys to appliances — than would a single-party agency under the full control of a single President. “By allowing the President to remove Commissioners for no reason other than their party affiliation, the majority has negated Congress’s choice of agency bipartisanship and independence.” The dissenters also assert that the majority’s sole professed basis for the more recent order in Boyle was its prior order in Wilcox . But in their opinion, Wilcox itself was minimally explained. So, the dissenters claim, the majority rejects the design of Congress for a whole class of agencies by “layering nothing on nothing.” “Next time, though, the majority will have two (if still under-reasoned) orders to cite. Truly, this is ‘turtles all the way down.’” Rapanos v. United States (2006). * ***** *In Rapanos , in a footnote to his plurality opinion, former Supreme Court Justice Scalia explained that this allusion is to a classic story told in different forms and attributed to various authors. His favorite version: An Eastern guru affirms that the earth is supported on the back of a tiger. When asked what supports the tiger, he says it stands upon an elephant; and when asked what supports the elephant, he says it is a giant turtle. When asked, finally, what supports the giant turtle, he is briefly taken aback, but quickly replies "Ah, after that it is turtles all the way down." John Christie was for many years a senior partner in a large Washington, D.C. law firm. He specialized in anti-trust litigation and developed a keen interest in the U.S. Supreme Court about which he lectures and writes.

“Andy Harris Just Made the Most Dangerous Vote of His Career”

By Shore Progress, Progessive Maryland, Progressive Harford Co • July 15, 2025

Marylanders will not forget this vote.

How Many Will Be Kicked Off Medicaid in MD-01 Because of Andy Harris?

By Jan Plotczyk • July 9, 2025

More than 30,000 of our neighbors in Maryland’s first congressional district will lose their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid because of provisions in the GOP’s heartless tax cut and spending bill passed last week.

Six Reasons Why the House Budget Bill Will Hurt Rural America

By Michael Chameides, Barn Raiser • May 21, 2025

Right now, Congress is working on a fast-track bill that would make historic cuts to basic needs programs in order to finance another round of tax breaks for the wealthy and big corporations.

Who Will SNAP Cuts Affect in Maryland? On the Eastern Shore?

By Catlin Nchako, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities • May 21, 2025

The House Agriculture Committee recently voted, along party lines, to advance legislation that would cut as much as $300 million from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. SNAP is the nation’s most important anti-hunger program, helping more than 41 million people in the U.S. pay for food. With potential cuts this large, it helps to know who benefits from this program in Maryland, and who would lose this assistance. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities compiled data on SNAP beneficiaries by congressional district, cited below, and produced the Maryland state datasheet , shown below. In Maryland, in 2023-24, 1 in 9 people lived in a household with SNAP benefits. In Maryland’s First Congressional District, in 2023-24: Almost 34,000 households used SNAP benefits. Of those households, 43% had at least one senior (over age 60). 29% of SNAP recipients were people of color. 15% were Black, non-Hispanic, higher than 11.8% nationally. 6% were Hispanic (19.4% nationally). There were 24,700 total veterans (ages 18-64). Of those, 2,200 lived in households that used SNAP benefits (9%). The CBPP SNAP datasheet for Maryland is below. See data from all the states and download factsheets here.