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Moore faces a budget gap, Trump threats and tense relationships in reelection year
Gov. Wes Moore brought in a new budget secretary and a new chief of staff, both veterans of Maryland politics.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore faces myriad challenges in 2026: another budget deficit, threats from the Trump administration, tricky relationships in Annapolis.

Credit: Maansi Srivastava for The Banner
New House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk stresses civility, finding solutions
Maryland’s new speaker of the House of Delegates faces a budget shortfall and thorny debates about immigration enforcement, affordability and redistricting. She says she’s ready for the challenge.
Maryland Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk presided over a one-day legislative session after being elected to the position of speaker in December. Now, she’s about to begin her first full legislative session in the House’s top job.
Governor, state workers union fail to reach deal in pay negotiations for first time
With no agreement by the year-end deadline, the Moore administration will decide what, if any, pay raises or additional perks to include in its budget plan.
State workers who are members of AFSCME Maryland Council 3 hold a news conference in Baltimore in December to lodge concerns about Gov. Wes Moore’s administration. The administration and the union did not reach an agreement over wages for next year.
Underground Charles Street fire caused by gas buildup in crowded conduit, report finds
The report listed a slew of recommendations to prevent future explosions and fires in the city’s underground conduits.
BGE workers continue working on North Charles St., in Baltimore, Monday, September 30, 2024.
State employee union files labor complaints against Moore administration
AFSCME Maryland Council 3 alleges that Maryland is not following its telework policy for employees, not giving required higher pay to employees who work unfavorable shifts and more.
Patrick Moran, president of AFSCME Maryland Council 3, gives remarks during a news conference at the group’s headquarters in Baltimore on Tuesday.
Moore declares Christmas Eve a holiday for Maryland government
State government offices will be closed in Maryland on Wednesday, Christmas Eve.
Homes are decorated in holiday lights at Hampden's Miracle on 34th Street annual display on Sunday, December 8, 2024.
What 2 polls say about how Marylanders feel about redistricting
A new poll from a progressive coalition finds 54% of Marylanders support redrawing the state’s congressional district maps.
A rallygoer holds a Redistrict Now! sign at a gathering of progressive advocates in Annapolis this week.
Moore says staff understands his ‘demand’ for transparency in government
The governor’s comments come after reporting revealed staff set internal chat messages to auto-delete after 24 hours, leaving no trace of the government business discussed.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore delivers remarks to lawmakers and members of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of Greater Washington in Rockville, MD on December 3, 2025.  At the annual JCRC Legislators and Lox breakfast, Moore and other lawmakers attended and gave support to Jewish community members worried about rising anti-semitism.
‘History is off’: Moore administration deletes internal messages after 24 hours
Open government experts and archivists say setting messages to vanish could hinder accountability, dash the public’s right to inspection and keep archivists from reviewing documents for historical value.
Gov. Moore’s redistricting commission moving forward with redrawing of congressional maps
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore’s redistricting advisory commission met in private Thursday to recommend that the state redraw its congressional boundaries.
U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks speaks during a panel discussion in North Bethesda earlier this month. Alsobrooks, as chair of the redistricting advisory commission, recommends Maryland move forward with redrawing of congressional maps.
Moore will step into national spotlight with ‘Things That Matter’ town hall on CBS
A prime-time slot on a major network gives the governor the opportunity to introduce himself to a broad national audience — especially as he has eyes on his 2026 reelection campaign and a future beyond that.
Gov. Wes Moore has signed on to participate in a CBS town hall, a debate series pushed by the network’s new Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss.
Joseline Peña-Melnyk is elected Maryland House speaker
Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk was elected speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates.
Speaker of the House Joseline Peña-Melnyk addresses the chamber after being sworn in.
The Maryland General Assembly will hold a special session. How does that work?
State lawmakers will return to Annapolis on Tuesday to elect a House of Delegates speaker, consider vetoes and maybe take up other matters.
Construction on the Maryland State House in Annapolis began in 1772 and it's the oldest state capital building in the nation still in continuous legislative use. The building's dome is undergoing a rehabilitation project.
Maryland’s top lawmakers say they won’t draw new congressional maps in special session
Senate President Bill Ferguson and House of Delegates Speaker Pro Tempore Dana Stein issued a joint statement emphasizing that the scope of the special session will be “strictly limited.”
When members of the Maryland General Assembly convene in a special session on Tuesday, they won’t consider whether to draw new congressional district boundaries.
Howard County exec candidate Atterbeary to resign from House of Delegates
Atterbeary's resignation takes effect Jan. 14 and comes as there could be a shake-up in House leadership roles.
Howard County executive candidate Vanessa Atterbeary is resigning from her seat in the Maryland House of Delegates to focus more of her time on her campaign.
Gov. Wes Moore calls special legislative session to choose new House speaker
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore is calling a special session of the General Assembly to allow the House of Delegates to elect and swear in a new speaker.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore is calling a special session of the General Assembly, which will begin on Dec. 16.
Who is Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk, front-runner to become Maryland’s next speaker?
“She has the grit that it takes. She has the intelligence that it takes. She has the experience that it takes. She has the empathy that it takes,” said Del. Ben Barnes.
Maryland Delegate Joseline Peña-Melnyk, Dist. 21, speaks as community leaders hold a rally in Silver Spring to support Senator Chris Van Hollen’s trip to El Salvador to check on the well being of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia.
Peña-Melnyk emerges as favorite to become next House of Delegates speaker
The 102-member House Democratic caucus is planning to meet Dec. 16 to vote on a speaker to succeed Adrienne A. Jones.
Delegate Joseline Pena-Melnyk speaks at the Michael E. Busch Annapolis Library announcing the county's pursuit of a Certified Welcoming designation from Welcoming America.
As House speaker steps back, Jones leaves a legacy of policy and leadership
As Adrienne A. Jones steps down from the top position in the Maryland House of Delegates, those who have worked closely with her say she’s left her mark as someone who has quietly built coalitions, nurtured talent and set a high bar for integrity in the sometimes unwieldy House chamber.
Adrienne Jones, House Speaker listens as delegates speak on the house floor at the Maryland State House, in Annapolis, Monday, March 17, 2025.
Who could be Maryland’s next House speaker?
With Maryland House of Delegates Speaker Adrienne A. Jones resigning from her leadership post, delegates will need to elect a new leader to preside over the chamber as they face challenging issues from redistricting to a budget deficit.
The Maryland House of Delegates chamber is in a part of the State House built between 1902 and 1906.
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