Elrich receives Progressive Maryland endorsement
Montgomery County executive candidate Marc Elrich received the endorsement of Progressive Maryland this week.
The nonprofit statewide advocacy group promotes liberal policies such as increasing police transparency, raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour and removing corporate and special interest donors from elections.
Elrich, an at-large County Council member, was a founding member of Progressive Montgomery, a precursor group to Progressive Maryland. The group has also endorsed state Sen. Roger Manno (D-Silver Spring) in the District 6 congressional race and former NAACP President Ben Jealous in the state’s gubernatorial election.
In a statement, Progressive Maryland said it was supporting Elrich for his work to pass the $15 minimum wage bill in Montgomery County, promoting “responsible development” and for efforts to protect Ten Mile Creek in northern Montgomery County.
“Marc Elrich is a candidate with proven progressive legislative victories,” Progressive Maryland Executive Director Larry Stafford said in a statement. “He has worked for the people of Montgomery County by strengthening the job market, improving the public school system and protecting and rebuilding the environment.”
Elrich has also won the endorsement of several employee unions in the region. He’s pursuing the Democratic county executive nomination in the June 26 primary against fellow council members George Leventhal and Roger Berliner as well as Potomac businessman David Blair, former Planning Department deputy director Rose Krasnow and state Del. Bill Frick (D-Bethesda).
District 6 congressional candidate David Trone endorsed by Baker
Rushern Baker, left, with David Trone, right, and his wife, June Trone
In other local endorsement news, District 6 congressional candidate David Trone announced Monday he has received the backing of Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker, who is running for governor.
The announcement noted the two Democratic candidates first connected through their support for increasing federal funding to study Alzheimer’s disease. Trone’s father died from Alzheimer’s while Baker’s wife has been diagnosed with the disease and Baker helps care for her.
“Finding a cure for Alzheimer’s is personal for both David and me,” Baker said in a statement. “I know he will fight every day in Washington to protect funding to eradicate this horrible disease and be a fierce advocate for the values and issues that matter to working families in Maryland.”
In October, Trone donated $6,000 to Baker’s campaign—the maximum allowed for an individual under state campaign finance regulations. Trone’s family members donated a total of $21,000 to Baker’s gubernatorial campaign in October and November, according to campaign finance reports.
Trone, the co-owner of Total Wine & More, is running for the Democratic nomination against opponents including Del. Aruna Miller (D-Darnestown), state Sen. Roger Manno (D-Silver Spring), Potomac pediatrician Nadia Hashimi and Frederick veteran Andrew Duck.
District 6 stretches from Potomac through Frederick County and includes the Western Maryland panhandle. No portion of the district is in Prince George’s County. Incumbent Rep. John Delaney is running for president and not seeking re-election.