Lee O. Sanderlin
enterprise reporter
Lee O. Sanderlin is an enterprise reporter with a focus on power — political and otherwise. Before The Banner, he worked at The Baltimore Sun and newspapers in Mississippi and his native North Carolina.
The latest from Lee O.
The lackluster Democratic campaign to defeat Frederick County’s MAGA sheriff
Polls show Democrats nationwide are fired up and ready to send a message. Karl Bickel, their nominee for sheriff in Frederick County? Less so.
Mother of foster teen who died in hotel sues Gov. Wes Moore, Marriott chain
“Every institution with a hand in Kanaiyah’s care knew what she needed, and every one of them failed her,” the complaint alleges.
Harborplace plans revealed: A luxury hotel and $7,000 rents
A confidential report reveals plans for $7,000 apartments, a luxury hotel and up to $366 million in tax relief for Baltimore's Harborplace redevelopment.
Moore campaign ads shut out Sinclair stations amid feud with David Smith
While it’s normal for politicians and journalists to disagree on coverage in private, this dispute has played out in full view of the public.
Baltimore’s modern mayors ranked, according to Brandon Scott
We asked Mayor Brandon Scott to rank the modern mayors of Baltimore. To our surprise, he did.
Moore administration unveils plans to demolish State Center office complex, redevelop site
The Moore administration wants to tear down State Center in Baltimore and build a mixed-use campus in its place.
If Democrats win back Congress, Jamie Raskin could be DC’s next main character
If Democrats win back the House in November — polling shows they have a good shot — U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland could resume his role as Trump’s No. 1 antagonist.
Harborplace developer never formally applied for downtown tax break
Baltimore’s law department says no applications have been submitted for the city’s downtown property tax break program. Yet the city is poised to award a tax break anyway.
Fact-checking Wes Moore and Dan Cox’s governor debate
Gov. Wes Moore and Dan Cox questioned each other’s relationship with the truth during their first, and likely only, debate ahead of the November election.
Gov. Wes Moore doesn’t commit to full second term if reelected
Moore, a Democrat who has been the subject of speculation about a possible 2028 White House bid, gave a roundabout answer that left the door open for his future plans.
Trump White House bars Moore from speaking at Baltimore County event
Other Democrats were also expected to attend but pulled out after Moore’s removal.
Meet the third-party candidates who weren’t invited to the Maryland governor’s debate
Neither Green Party candidate Andy Ellis nor Working Class Party candidate Cathy White met Maryland Public Television’s requirements for inclusion in the debate.
Ex-Baltimore school commissioner’s groups got millions in taxpayer money
Government funds made up the entirety of KEYS Empowers' $4.7 million in revenue for 2023 and 2024.
Think Harborplace is big? Baltimore developer has an even bigger project in Montgomery County.
Baltimore-based MCB Real Estate has two of the most ambitious real estate projects in Maryland. Now it needs to find the money.
Is Maryland’s big bet on quantum computing paying off?
The world of quantum computing descended on College Park this week for the highest-attended Quantum World Congress to date.
Did Baltimore’s development arm green-light new Harborplace tax breaks in secret? What to know.
The city is considering two kinds of tax breaks for three development projects, including a $900 million redevelopment of Harborplace.
Wes Moore’s campaign is spending millions to cement Democrats’ hold on Maryland
Given the lopsided nature of Moore's race against Republican Dan Cox, why is Moore raising and spending so much money? It's nuanced.
Chris Van Hollen says the Democratic Party needs change. Is he the one to lead it?
Maryland U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen has been positioning himself for a starring role in the future of the Democratic party.
Maryland labor leader Patrick Moran elected president of public employees union AFSCME
Patrick Moran, an influential and longtime Maryland labor leader, was elected Thursday as president of AFSCME International, one of the largest labor unions in the country.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has spent 1 in 5 days of his term in other states
Gov. Wes Moore has spent at least a portion of one in every five days out of state since he took office in 2023 — and that pace of travel has accelerated as his national profile has grown, according to a Banner analysis.
