Maryland State Report, July 2008
Submitted by Mike Hersh

When PDA launched in 2004, Maryland was in dire need of a progressive resurgence. The Chesapeake Bay—essential to our state economy, and a natural treasure—was dying. Wages failed to keep pace with inflation year after year, and working people kept falling further behind. 100,000s of us lacked access to health care, and more joined that insecure contingent each day. Unreliable Diebold DRE machines marred our voting system. Our overwhelmingly Democratic State had a Republican Governor, and conservatives were on the march. Progressives were divided and ineffective. Our legislature leaned to the right, and our prospects appeared dim. Rather than giving up, progressives in Maryland—led by PDA—dug in and set ourselves to work.

National Advisory Board Member Joe Libertelli was building up PDA Maryland in early 2005 when we met, and I agreed to take over the task of coordinating PDA in our state. Joe spoke at a Montgomery County Progressive Alliance meeting, and the membership voted to work with PDA as a fusion chapter. MCPA began as a Dean for America Meetup, and merged with Montgomery County for Kerry. We had over 1000 members and almost all shared PDA’s commitment to working inside and outside the party.

Throughout 2005 and 2006, Maryland PDA worked for peace, economic and social justice, environmental protection, healthcare for all, clean and fair elections with allies including Maryland’s Democracy for America, Progressive Maryland, Maryland Peace Action, and especially the Maryland State Democratic Party chaired by then-PDA Board Member Terry Lierman. We organized candidate debates, town halls, rallies, and other events. In 2006, we continued our issue organizing and helped elect U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, Governor Martin O’Malley—overcoming strong Republican opposition; former PDA Board Member Jamie Raskin was elected to the Maryland Senate, and fellow activists Tom Hucker, Roger Manno, Heather Mizeur—in the State Legislature; and Marc Elrich and Duchy Trachtenberg to the Montgomery County Council. We came close to winning in the primaries with Donna Edwards and Kweisi Mfume—each lost by just a few percentage points—but still managed an astounding 80% success rate.

In 2007, we went to work with our newly elected legislators and new allies. We hosted Terry Lierman, 7 state legislators, and key PDA national leaders in Wheaton, Maryland in May. State Senators Jamie Raskin (20), Rich Madaleno (18), and Mike Lenett (19) joined Delegates Roger Manno (19), Tom Hucker (20), Jane Lawton (18), and Jeff Waldstreicher (18). Terry recounted successes including increased Democratic voters in every part of the state, Martin O’Malley’s victory over a Republican incumbent, even larger Democratic legislative majorities, protecting an open U.S. senate seat, and more grassroots activism. Terry credited PDA and our allies for making this possible. The lawmakers discussed accomplishments on voting reform, equal rights, the environment, health care, and more.
PDA Field Coordinator Diane Shamis and Board Vice Chair Steven Shaff reported on accomplishments and ongoing activities including our IOTs, diversity efforts, and more. Joe Libertelli capped the evening by inviting activists and elected officials to join with PDA in organizing Maryland. Donna Edwards and Council Member Marc Elrich, as well as representatives from the Greater Silver Spring Democratic Club, DFA, healthcare organizations and the Takoma Park Progressive Neighbors also attended.

We’ve built on our success this year, most notably helping Donna Edwards win her smashing primary and special election, and celebrated her swearing in as a U.S. Congresswoman. PDA National Advisory Board Chair Mimi Kennedy traveled to Maryland to work the precincts, ride the buses, and was joined by Vice Chair Steve Shaff and PDA National Board Member Rev. Lennox Yearwood, and allies including DFA National Chair Jim Dean, SEIU State leaders, and National NOW President Kim Gandy. Donna credits PDA’s early and tireless support for her victory, which confirms PDA’s “inside/outside” strategy works.

We’ve continued holding meetings and events, including town halls with Delegates Ana Sol Gutierrez, Roger Manno, and Jeff Waldstreicher, and with Maryland Senators Jamie Raskin and Rich Madaleno. We’ve launched new chapters in Prince Georges County and Baltimore City.

We’ve worked with allies and progressive legislators to advance our key issues by organizing and cosponsoring town halls, lobbying efforts, and much more. This June, we held an exciting Healthcare NOT Warfare fundraiser with Board Members Mimi Kennedy, Steve Shaff, Joel Segal, Jay “Nightwolf” Winter, and Joe Libertelli; Maryland State Legislators Jamie Raskin, Tom Hucker, and Heather Mizeur; endorsed Congressional Candidate Howard Shanker from Arizona, Virginia PDA leaders Steve Spitz, Howard Jennings and Sarah Stott; PDA Volunteer Director Tom Pallow and Development Director Vin Gopal; Democracy for Montgomery County leaders, and several doctors from the Single Payer movement in Maryland.

We’ve joined with dozens of Maryland organizations launching a new “Working Group” to achieve progress on health care, education, government and voting reform, economic justice, equal rights, the environment, peace, and more. We’re working with the NAACP, NOW, NAARAL, the Sierra Club, Casa of Maryland, teachers’ unions, healthcare groups, election protection groups, the Audobon Society, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Peace Action, Progressive Maryland, Progressive Cheverly, Progressive Neighbors, Democracy for Montgomery County, and many more—and we’re reaching out to other organizations. This working group is already formulating a legislative agenda including prioritizing issues, planning strategies, and coordinating efforts. We’re confident this “Working Group” will lead to expanded and continued success for PDA and progressives in Maryland.

In addition, under the leadership of Steve Shaff and Tom Pallow, national PDA has set up a PDA Activist House in Mt. Rainier to host visitors and provide a home and a home base for ongoing efforts.
We’ve come a long way in 4 years. Although we still have a long way to go, PDA Maryland’s 2700+ members have achieved amazing successes. PDA and progressivism are at the threshold of an incredible ascendancy, in Maryland and across the USA. It’s our time.