July 15, 2026

Ready Report: Gerrymandering Special Session Called, GOP Primary Wrap-Up, Stop MPRP Webinar & More…

I’ve got a lot to update you on this week – from Annapolis’ Democratic Supermajority giving in to Governor Moore’s redistricting push to help him run for President, to finalizing the Republican primary results to BGE rate pushback and Stop MPRP opportunities and a quick campaign update. We’ll get into it here->

Special Session Called in Annapolis for Redistricting Fight

Governor Moore, Senate President Ferguson, and House Speaker Peña-Melnyk recently announced that they will call a special session of the General Assembly during the first week in August – the sole purpose of which would be to rewrite the state constitution and eliminate the guardrails that currently govern how congressional districts are drawn, clearing the way to eliminate Maryland’s only Republican voice in Congress.

This comes after the Democrat Leadership in the Maryland Senate, including Senate President Ferguson, chose not to pursue this redistricting battle during just months ago during the 2026 Legislative Session. Below is a press release from the Senate Republican Caucus:

Republican Primary Wrap-Up

The 2026 Maryland Republican Primary has concluded. Below is a list of state-wide, state legislative and local winners who will be on the ballot in November in Carroll County. Congratulations to the following nominees:

Governor & Lt. Governor: Dan Cox & Rob Krop

Comptroller: Sonya Dunn

Attorney General: James B. Rutledge, III

Congressional District 2: Dave Wallace

Congressional District 3: Berney Flowers

MD State Senate District 5: Justin Ready

MD House of Delegates District 5: April R. Rose, Chris Tomlinson & Steve Whisler

MD State Senate District 42: Kevin Ford

MD House of Delegates District 42C: Steve Patten

Carroll County Commissioners:

            D1 Joe Vigliotti

D2 Kenneth A. Kiler

D3 Tom Gordon

D4 Michael R. Guerin

D5 Susan W. Krebs

Frederick County Council – District 2 (includes Mt. Airy): Dan Iampieri

State’s Attorney: George Psoras

Sheriff: Jim DeWees

Clerk of the Circuit Court: Heather DeWees

Register of Wills: Paul G. Zimmermann

Judges of the Orphan’s Court: Margaret Peggy Bair, Charles M. Coles Jr. & Tina Mawhinney

Republican Central Committee (Party office, will not appear on November ballot): Tara Battaglia, Mike Cassell, Rich Collins, Scott Hollenbeck, Sam Jones, Karen Leatherwood, Kelley McIver, Krista Schultz & Jennifer Whisler

Again, I congratulate all Republican candidates who won their primary and look forward to working together on a united front to win in November.

I’ll have more on the non-partisan School Board races in Carroll and Frederick Counties in a future update.

Stop MPRP Webinar Update – Monday July 20th

Join Stop MPRP, Inc. on Monday, July 20th for their community webinar;

The fight to protect Maryland’s families, farms, and private lands continues, and there’s real momentum behind it. From the federal courts to the Maryland PSC, key decisions are taking shape that could define what happens next. We’ll break it all down and talk about what’s ahead.

The call aims to cover:

  • Where things stand with the Maryland PSC proceedings, including the pending decision on the case schedule
  • The latest on the federal court appeal
  • Other transmission projects impacting the region
  • How developments elsewhere in the U.S. and at the federal level may continue to shape our fight
  • How community voices continue to make a difference, and how you can help

You can register and find more information by clicking here.

As always, they plan to leave plenty of time for questions!

Board of Commissioners Urge Residents to Submit Comment About BGE Rate Increases

Earlier this week, the Maryland Public Service Commission (MPSC) issued a press release announcing that BGE has filed a rate case with MPSC, seeking an increase of $156 million based on a Return on Equity (ROE) of 10.4%. The utility says the additional revenue is needed to ensure it can maintain the integrity of its electrical system and continue providing safe, reliable service to its customers in Maryland.

According to the press release, MPSC’s next step is to work with the parties to set a procedural schedule for the case, which will include public comment hearings in BGE service territory and evidentiary hearings in MPSC offices in Baltimore.

The Carroll County Board of Commissioners urges residents to submit public comments about the increases and how the rates will affect their households and communities. The application has been docketed as Case No. 9888, where testimony and other filings by the parties in the case may be viewed. Members of the public may click here to submit comments online.

Comments may also be sent by mail and should be addressed to: Jamie Bergin, Chief Clerk, Maryland Public Service Commission, William Donald Schaefer Tower, 6 St. Paul Street, 16th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202. So that they are noted in the proper case file, all comments should reference Case No. 9888.

“During the Public Service Commission’s evaluation of BGE’s request, our focus will continue to be on delivering a decision that is both just and reasonable, while safeguarding the affordability of vital electric services for ratepayers,” stated Commission Chair Kumar Barve.

A decision on BGE’s application is expected in January 2027. Until a decision is reached, the current rates for BGE’s customers are frozen and will not change.

It is an honor to represent you in the Maryland Senate. As always, feel free to reach out to my office anytime with questions or concerns. Please be sure to follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter/X for the most up-to-date information.

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