Politics

Alright. It’s 2026 and Baltimore County’s Black community is six months away from making history or making excuses. A note first: BMORENews.com has covered Baltimore politics independently for 23 years. We speak to our community without asking permission. We will continue to do so. (RANDALLSTOWN – January 8, 2026) – Now, the rules for Black folks: It is 2026. Cooning, buck-dancing, whispering “white people” like you’re on somebody’s plantation, head-bowing – as esteemed Attorney William “Billy” Murphy says – all of that is outlawed. Stay tuned to BMORENews.com. We will provide instructions as Liberty Road takes a historic swing at…

 GBUL: Upcoming Virtual Event: Baltimore County Redistricting, Aug. 17th

Greetings Guilders, Partners, and Friends! Upcoming Virtual EventThe Legislative and Policy Reform Committee of the GBUL Guild invites you to an important information session on Baltimore County Redistricting Efforts. Date: Sunday, August 17, 2025 Time: 5:00 PM EST Location: Virtual (registration required) Speakers:• The Honorable Charles E. Sydnor III, Maryland State Senator – 44th District• Sharonda Dillard-Huffman, President of the Blue and Gold Democratic Club Scan the QR code to register and join the conversation, or register in advance at the link below:https://us06web.zoom.us/…/reg…/WN_Y0-6kj01T3OT1PVOel5q0w What’s Redistricting About?Following a 2024 ballot initiative, Baltimore County is expanding its Council from 7 to 9 districts. The proposed map aims to:• Reflect…

Message to the World: We Are Not Trump

(BALTIMORE – August 2, 2025) – Greetings. 你好. Namaste. Hola. Bonjour. Salaam alaikum. Nomoshkar. Olá. Shalom. Здравствуйте. I write to you today with humility and respect — and with deep concern. Because despite what you may see on your screens, most of the people I know are nothing like President Donald Trump. I imagine the world watches with disbelief as this man — and those who follow him — dismantle civil rights, slash programs like Medicaid, and insult allies without a second thought. It’s disturbing. It’s disgraceful. And it’s dangerous. And yet… here we are. Despite years of warnings, despite his…

BMORENews Exclusive: Aaron Maybin Talks CLEP, Culture, and Community Power

(BALTIMORE – July 31, 2025) – Last week, Walter P. Carter Institute for Leadership & Service announced the official launch of the Community Leadership and Empowerment Program (CLEP) , a free, nonpartisan initiative designed to grow civic understanding, build local leadership, and connect Baltimore residents to the tools of power. Baltimore has long been home to powerful civic movements and neighborhood-based leadership. From tenant unions to cultural institutions, the city has always produced people who organize, resist, and reimagine. What sets CLEP apart, aside from its nonpartisan, no-cost structure, is its founding team: Kristerfer Burnett, former Baltimore City Councilman and longtime…

TGR: Power Shift: What’s at Stake in Baltimore County’s 2026 Executive Race

BlackUSA.News’ POLITICS ’26, Wednesdays at 6pmStreaming LIVE on Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube (RANDALLSTOWN – July 31, 2025) – Now that Johnny Olszewski is a Congressman, Baltimore County braces for what may be one of the most consequential County Executive elections in recent memory. The June 2026 Democratic Primary is shaping up to be even more competitive than 2018, when Olszewski eked out a 17-vote win over political heavyweights Sen. Jim Brochin and Councilwoman Vicki Almond. I was there for the recount, watching as the results came back exactly the same. Unbelievable. Especially coming off the 2016 Baltimore City mayoral race, where…

BMORENews Exclusive: Aaron Maybin Talks CLEP, Culture, and Community Power

(BALTIMORE – July 23, 2025) – Last week, Walter P. Carter Institute for Leadership & Service announced the official launch of the Community Leadership and Empowerment Program (CLEP) , a free, nonpartisan initiative designed to grow civic understanding, build local leadership, and connect Baltimore residents to the tools of power. Baltimore has long been home to powerful civic movements and neighborhood-based leadership. From tenant unions to cultural institutions, the city has always produced people who organize, resist, and reimagine. What sets CLEP apart, aside from its nonpartisan, no-cost structure, is its founding team: Kristerfer Burnett, former Baltimore City Councilman and longtime…

Maryland Commission on Civil Rights & Office of the Attorney General Publish Know Your Rights: A Guide to Understanding and Protecting Your Rights

BALTIMORE, MD – Maryland Commission on Civil Rights Executive Director Cleveland L. Horton II and Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announce the publication of Know Your Rights: A Guide to Understanding and Protecting Your Rights (available in both English and Spanish). This 37-page resource is designed to give Marylanders critical information about how Maryland law protects their civil rights in a number of different areas: Protections against discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, health services, and education; The rights of persons with disabilities, immigrants, persons with limited English proficiency, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community; and Freedom from hate crimes, and other acts of hate…

TGR: The New Baltimore Needs Both Boardrooms and Bullhorns

(BALTIMORE – July 23, 2025) – If we’re serious about building a New Baltimore—one that is just, sustainable, and genuinely inclusive—we must commit to a vision that marries economic development with grassroots political power. That means understanding a critical truth: business innovation and community activism are not opposites—they are allies. We often praise the developers, CEOs, and institutional leaders who are shaping the skyline and economy of our city. Names like Otis Rolley, Mark Anthony Thomas, Shelonda Stokes, and David Bramble are rightly applauded for their leadership and bold business moves. They are the dealmakers ushering in the future. But there’s…

Politics ’26 on BlackUSA.News, Wednesdays at 6pm

 Politics ’26 – Where the Campaign Trail Meets the Community Wednesdays at 6PM | Only on BlackUSA.News Join host Doni Glover and guest co-host John Rydell, veteran political journalist, for Politics ’26 — your front-row seat to the people shaping our future. From city hall to the statehouse, we spotlight both seasoned elected officials and rising candidates who are changing the political landscape.  This week’s lineup features: Sharonda Huffman, candidate for Baltimore County Council Braxton Street, running for the House of Delegates in Maryland’s 40th District Special guest Doug Blacksher reporting in from Oakland with a crucial update on Mayor Barbara Lee and other West Coast developments. Don’t miss the conversations that matter. Politics ‘26 –…

LEGISLATOR SPOTLIGHT: Delegate Joseline Peña-Melnyk – A Champion for Justice, Health Equity & Reparations

(BALTIMORE – July 2025) — Delegate Joseline A. Peña-Melnyk is no stranger to fighting the tough battles in Annapolis. As Chair of the Maryland House Health and Government Operations Committee, she’s spent her career advocating for those too often left out of the conversation — the working poor, the undocumented, the sick, the voiceless. On April 1, 2025, Peña-Melnyk again showed that resolve as she fiercely defended an amendment to Senate Bill 587, the Maryland Reparations Commission legislation. Her leadership helped the bill pass its second reader on the House floor — a vital step toward historical accountability and repair.…

This African Leader Survived Assassination Attempts Several Times

(OUAGADOUGOU, BURKINA FASO – July 21, 2025) – MEET Ibrahim Traoré, President of Burkina Faso.In Office Since: September 30, 2022Rank: Transitional Military Leader Profile: Captain Ibrahim Traoré is the transitional president of Burkina Faso, having come to power through a military coup on September 30, 2022. At the time, he was just 34 years old, making him the world’s youngest head of state. His rise followed the ousting of Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, amid growing public anger over the government’s failure to contain jihadist violence destabilizing the Sahel region. Since assuming leadership, Traoré has embraced a strong anti-imperialist stance,…