The Choice is Clear — Vote for Heather Mizeur
Jan Plotczyk • October 11, 2022
Voters have a clear-cut choice for House representative in Maryland’s 1st Congressional District race (Eastern Shore + Harford County + a slice of Baltimore County).
The incumbent, Republican Rep. Andrew P. Harris, is a do-nothing, ultra-MAGA, election-denying, obstructionist extremist.
His opponent, Democrat Heather Mizeur, is a thoughtful and qualified leader with experience in listening to people’s concerns, building consensus, creating the connections needed to solve today’s problems, and getting things done.
Harris is running for his seventh term in Congress — reneging on his promise to bow out of public life gracefully after six.
Harris has not updated his campaign website for the 2022 race, but one can get a good idea of what his priorities for his next two years in office would be by looking at his last 12 years in office.
Here are some of Harris’s major accomplishments:
Harris played a major role in promoting President Trump’s Big Lie that the election was stolen from him. He:
- Attempted to overturn the results of a free and fair election by illegal means
- Voted against certification of Biden electors from Arizona and Pennsylvania on Jan. 6
- Objected to the attack on the U.S. Capitol being called an insurrection
- Was one of 10 Republican lawmakers who attended a White House meeting in December 2020 to plot Trump’s desperate attempt to stay in power after losing the election
- Voted NO on the resolution to honor the Capitol Police and others for heroic work on Jan. 6
- Attempted to bring a concealed firearm onto the House floor
During his 12 years in office, what has Harris done? He:
- Sponsored a single piece of legislation to rename a post office
- Opposed the Affordable Care Act and voted numerous times for its repeal
- Supports a federal abortion ban
- Takes credit for federal money coming to the 1st District after voting NO on the bills authorizing that money
He earned the following ratings for his legislative record:
- 92% from the NRA and 0% from the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence
- 0% from the American Civil Liberties Union and other civil and human rights organizations
- 0% from most major labor unions
- 0% from all major elementary, secondary, and postsecondary education organizations and unions
- 0% rating from the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare
He Voted NO on these recent bills that were ultimately signed into law:
- Inflation Reduction Act of 2022
- Assault Weapons Ban of 2022
- Right to Contraception Act
- Active Shooter Alert Act
- Respect for Marriage Act
- Women’s Health Protection Act of 2022 and 2021
- Ensuring Access to Abortion Act of 2022
- LGBTQI+ Data Inclusion Act
- Honoring our PACT Act (for veterans exposed to toxic substances)
- Federal ERPO Act of 2021 (red flag gun law)
- Restaurant Revitalization Fund Replenishment
- John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act
- Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
- Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2021
- For the People Act of 2021 (voting rights)
- American Rescue Plan of 2021 (covid relief)
He has earned his nickname, “Dr. No,” by voting against just about every piece of legislation proposed by Democrats. He is a member of the House Freedom Caucus, the furthest-right bloc in Congress.
As a practicing anesthesiologist, Harris would be expected to value a scientific approach to medicine. However, on covid he:
- Opposed vaccine and mask mandates
- Prescribed ivermectin — an anti-parasite drug — as a covid-19 treatment, even though it was not authorized or approved by FDA for that use. A complaint was filed against him with a physicians’ board.
- Advocated the use of hydroxychloroquine — a malaria treatment — as a covid-19 treatment, even after the FDA revoked emergency use authorization of that drug for that purpose
Heather Mizeur is campaigning on a platform of working together — for bipartisan solutions — with the people of the 1st District, and with Republican and Democratic legislators alike. She promises she will listen.
Mizeur has advanced detailed and well thought-out plans that address the economy, climate change, and healthcare.
She has a 10-point plan to boost the 1st District economy:
- Rein in inflation and lower costs
- Provide tax relief for small businesses and support for the middle class
- Make more on the shore: manufacturing and construction
- Invest in workforce training and education for 21st Century skills
- Provide access to quality and affordable housing in safe and healthy communities
- Invest in infrastructure: broadband, ports, roads, bridges, freight rail, public transit, airports, wastewater treatment, and utilities
- Partner with agricultural innovators
- Strengthen commercial fishing and aquaculture
- Recognize the role arts and humanities play in tourism, job creation, and regional economic growth
- Provide support for growing defense technologies and create new defense and cybersecurity jobs in the 1st District
Mizeur advocates a collaborative approach to addressing climate change — one that recognizes that farmers need to play a major role if we’re to combat the threats of saltwater intrusion, coastal flooding, and severe weather events. As a farmer and conservationist herself, she has talked with farmers across the district to gain support for her approach; her Agri-Climate Plan puts farmers in the center of our environmental protection strategies.
Mizeur has always been interested in the welfare and wellbeing of children, women, and families. She has spent much of her career in public service dedicated to increasing the availability of affordable health care. She aims to continue to work to expand healthcare access, lower costs, and improve coverage.
Mizeur also has a legislative record that illustrates her priorities and shows what kind of congress person she will be. She has extensive legislative and policy experience; she was elected to the Takoma Park Council in 2003 and then served in the Maryland Legislature from 2007-2015.
As a legislator, she:
- Sponsored and passed the first-in-the-nation Kids First Act, putting Maryland on the road to universal health coverage for children
- Sponsored and passed the Family Planning Works Act to expand Medicaid family planning services to more low-income women
- Sponsored and passed the Family Coverage Expansion Act, allowing young adults to stay on their family's insurance plans until they turn 25
While in the legislature, Mizeur voted YES on the following legislation that was ultimately signed into law:
- Labor: Increasing the minimum wage (co-sponsor) and the state living wage; extending unemployment insurance benefits to part-time employees
- Marijuana: Authorizing medical marijuana (sponsor); reducing penalties for possession of marijuana
- Gun Safety: Expanding firearms regulations, including a ban on assault weapons and requiring background checks for gun purchasers; allowing judges to confiscate firearms from domestic abuse suspects
- Healthcare: Implementing the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange; increasing the tobacco tax to expand state health coverage (co-sponsor); banning smoking in bars, restaurants, and other public places (co-sponsor)
- Civil Rights: Authorizing same sex marriage (sponsor); prohibiting sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination (sponsor)
- Environment: Establishing offshore wind renewable energy credits (sponsor); establishing a greenhouse gas reduction plan; establishing a fund for the environmental cleanup and protection of the Chesapeake and Atlantic bay areas (co-sponsor); establishing strict vehicle emissions standards for vehicles sold in Maryland (co-sponsor)
- Voting Rights: Including Maryland in an agreement among various states to award their electoral votes to the winner of the national popular election
- Voting Rights: Proposing a constitutional amendment that allows Maryland voters to vote before election day (co-sponsor)
As Emily’s List stated in its endorsement of Mizeur, “Marylanders deserve a leader who will fight for their needs, not for the needs of a disgraced former president.”
The choice is clear.
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
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
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.
Marylanders will not forget this vote.
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.
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.
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.
