ANNAPOLIS — Hundreds of candidates are vying to be their party’s nominee for a seat in the Maryland General Assembly during this summer’s primary elections. For some residents, learning about the background and priorities of their district’s candidates can be a daunting task.
That’s why the University of Maryland’s Capital News Service and the Local News Network are asking nearly 250 candidates where they stand on key issues.
The Local News Network, which produces in-depth reporting projects on local issues in Maryland and is published through the Capital News Service, sent a questionnaire to candidates Thursday. Responses are due April 3.
“So many primaries in the General Assembly are important, and voters across the state should have as much information about the candidates as possible,” said Local News Network Director Jerry Zremski. “It’s a big effort.”
The questionnaire includes questions on candidates’ positions on several issues, including Maryland’s state finances, agreements between local sheriff’s offices and ICE, economic development and housing affordability.
The results will be used to create a voter guide and LNN stories on candidates’ stances on key issues. The guide will be shared with and published in news outlets across Maryland.
In addition to the questionnaire, LNN reporters will conduct background checks on each candidate. In past voter guides, these searches have revealed candidates tied to prior legal troubles. LNN’s reporters previously compiled voter guides for all county school board candidates during Maryland’s 2022 and 2024 elections.
Zremski said there is typically about a 90% response rate from candidates.
All of Maryland’s 47 Senate seats and 141 House of Delegates seats are up for election.
Primary election day is June 23 with early voting June 11-18.
Voters head to the polls Nov. 3 for the general election, where they can also vote for governor, their U.S. representative, attorney general, comptroller and a slew of local and municipal positions.
If you are a candidate for a seat in the Maryland General Assembly and have not received a link to the poll, contact LNN Director Jerry Zremski at jzremski@umd.edu.