Del. Gabe Acevero, another self-described “democratic socialist” who represents Montgomery County, called Mamdani’s win “historic” and said it signals growing support for candidates who champion working-class priorities and affordability.

“For me, it symbolizes a turning point that we’re seeing, not just in New York City, but across this country,” Acevero told The Sun. “[Voters] want their public officials to be more in tune to the suffering of poor and working-class people.”

Many Maryland political analysts, however, say Mamdani’s major win, along with the rise of self-described “Democratic socialist” candidates nationwide, reflects voter frustration with the Trump administration and a desire for new leadership — not necessarily a widespread push to implement democratic socialism, a label often criticized as overly progressive and potentially alienating. Sarah Oliver, a political science professor at Towson University, cautioned against overgeneralizing the results. She said Mamdani’s success reflected a unique message that resonated with residents that may not translate elsewhere.

“New York is a heavily Democratic place, and so they have more liberal views,” she said. “Most people wouldn’t use that democratic socialist label, and those policies … would probably not be as popular even in Maryland.”

Oliver said that while Maryland voters likely also crave change, that desire may steer them toward different kinds of Democrats rather than further left.

“I don’t think we necessarily know what that looks like yet,” she said, pointing to Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott as an example of a younger leader who appeals to “young voters, nonwhite voters and those who feel disenfranchised.”

Matthew Crenson, a political scientist at Johns Hopkins University, said the scale of the Democratic wins last week surprised him and likely reflected continued opposition to Trump more than an ideological shift. He also noted that while Republicans may try to tie Mamdani’s socialism to the broader party, most of Tuesday’s victors, including Virginia’s Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger and New Jersey Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill, are moderates.

“Instead of presenting themselves as the party of socialism, Democrats need to respond that, ‘We’re a party of tolerance, political moderation, and cooperation among people with a variety of ideological tendencies,” Crenson said, adding that this approach could apply well to Maryland, where the party already benefits from a majority of Democratic voters and a growing number of independents.

Towson-based conservative professor Richard Vatz argued that Democrats’ victories were likely “short-lived” and driven more by personality than policy.

“It’s hard to generalize what motivated New York voters beyond the tremendous amount of charisma in Mamdani,” Vatz said, adding that Maryland’s strong Democratic tilt and lack of a viable Republican candidate make it difficult for conservatives to mount serious challenges.

Still, he said, “the tremendous presumption afforded to Democratic candidates in Maryland will trump the effects of economic difficulties,” even as Democrats face internal divisions in the long run.

‘People are unhappy and want a change’

The Baltimore Sun reached out to all 188 members of Maryland’s General Assembly, 11 of whom responded by a Nov. 5 deadline to share their reactions. Their responses revealed a sharp partisan divide.

For many Maryland Democratic leaders, Tuesday’s party victories reflected what they described as a broader voter appetite for immediate change, fresh leadership and a “rejection” of Donald Trump and his allies.

Del. Vaught Stewart, a Democrat representing Montgomery County, told The Sun that voters on Tuesday “made it clear they’re done with politics talk about helping working families while quietly catering to the corporate class.” He added that Marylanders share “the same hunger.”

“They want us to double down on putting people before corporate power, and that’s exactly what we intend to do,” Stewart said. “The national rejection of Trump-style, billionaire-friendly politics is a reminder that Maryland can and should keep leading the way.”

Del. Karen Young, a Frederick County Democrat, called the results an unexpected “blue tsunami,” saying they signal that “the ‘No Kings’ movement has replaced the ‘MAGA’ movement.”

“There’s a desire for change from the very onerous actions at the federal level that’re hurting working families,” she said. “People want policy change, and therefore, the candidates that best represent those values will ride the wave of the change we’re seeing.”

Republican Sen. Chris West, who represents parts of Baltimore and Carroll counties, said Democratic candidates outperformed his expectations even in solidly blue areas.

“The high turnouts and strong showing by the Democratic candidates, all of whom made Donald Trump their leading issue, suggest that the American voters are trying to send a message to the President,” he said. “The people are unhappy and want a change, and unless their elected representatives are responsive to their wishes, they will pay a price the next time their names are on the ballot.”

West warned that while this “particularly applies to Republicans,” Democrats should take note as well because “the desire for change” is widespread.

Other Republican lawmakers downplayed the results, noting the partisan lean of the states in play.

House Minority Whip Del. Jesse Pippy, a Frederick County Republican, called it “a rough night for Republican candidates” but said the outcomes were “not terribly surprising” given that Republicans currently control the White House and Congress.

“When one party holds power, the other tends to be more motivated to turn out,” Pippy said. “This was the natural pendulum swing.”

Del. Wayne Hartman, a Republican representing Wicomico and Worcester counties, said the results “weren’t a surprise” and may reflect voter frustration with the ongoing government shutdown, adding that it’s “unfortunate to see folks putting the blame on Republicans.”

Del. LeToya Nkongolo, a Republican from Anne Arundel County, said the results show that the GOP must “remind people that we care about them, and that the dysfunction in Washington is a terrible thing for all of us.”

Have a news tip? Contact  Mennatalla Ibrahim at mibrahim@baltsun.com.

During a Public Health and Environment Committee hearing, council members discussed a bill that would allow Baltimore City paramedics to carry and immediately administer buprenorphine, a medication that reduces withdrawal symptoms, in certain circumstances, such as overdose.

Mark Conway, the bill’s sponsor who launched his congressional campaign in Penn North last month, stressed the urgency of the measure and warned against letting “politics” interfere.

“The fight for buprenorphine is about saving lives … every delay in expanding treatment means another Baltimorean lost to overdose,” Conway said. “The science supports buprenorphine. State law supports buprenorphine. The moral imperative supports buprenorphine. What stands in the way is politics.”

The measure drew strong support from council members, including Councilman James Torrence, who recently criticized Conway for launching his congressional campaign at the site of Baltimore’s last three overdoses, as well as Baltimore residents and public health professionals. But the discussion highlighted legal tensions over the council’s authority.

Michelle Toth, representing the Law Department, said the state has “preemptive” power over emergency medical services, limiting what local legislation can do.

“The state has control over all aspects of emergency medical services,” she said. “This may be the best policy ever, but the local council can’t pass a law that affects emergency medical services.”

Conway pushed back, saying, “Michelle, I love you, but I am afraid that we’re letting politics get in the way of good decisions.” He added, “The fire department is an extension of the mayor and city council. This is where I don’t agree, and I’m having trouble understanding the logic here. The bill operates within the confines of state law.”

After some back-and-forth, Chairman Phylicia Porter suggested taking the discussion “offline” for further legal review.

Councilwoman Odette Ramos compared the council’s limited authority in this case to frustrations over tax laws and police oversight.

“I’ve been in that fight for a lot of years, and it was frustrating that we couldn’t change it here, but we’re making progress,” she said. “It’s probably one of the frustrating things about being in the city council is that we can’t do all of this. I think buprenorphine is really, really important, and it’s got to be done, and it’s got to be part of our protocols that we’re working on, full stop.”

In the same hearing, the committee unanimously advanced a separate bill requiring city officials to assess Baltimore’s readiness to comply with state law mandating naloxone, the drug used to reverse overdoses, in public buildings.

The measure passed 5–0, with Councilmembers Conway, Ramos, Porter, Torrence, and Mark Parker voting in favor. Councilmembers John Bullock and Ryan Dorsey were absent. It will move to a second reading at the full council meeting on Nov. 10.

The move comes just two days after Mayor Brandon Scott announced that Baltimore metro stations will serve as distribution points for naloxone and a few months after Baltimore County Public Libraries began distributing naloxone at all of their branch locations.

Have a news tip? Contact  Mennatalla Ibrahim at mibrahim@baltsun.com.

The poll, conducted by the UMBC Institute of Politics, surveyed 810 Maryland adults Oct. 21-25 and found that 49% of registered Marylanders would re-elect Moore, while 29% would support the Republican candidate. Another 12% said they would choose another candidate, and 10% were undecided.

Moore, a Democrat, retained overwhelming support from voters in his party, while only 7% of Republicans said they would cross party lines to vote for him. Independents were split evenly: 31% backing Moore and 31% favoring a Republican.

UMBC Institute of Politics Director Mileah Kromer, who oversaw the poll, said these findings reflect the state’s partisan tilt. “The path to victory in Maryland for a Democrat is through strong party support,” she said. “Some independent voters will put you over the top. And that’s where [Moore’s] at right now.”

Kromer and Towson-based conservative professor Richard Vatz, who is backing Republican Ed Hale Sr. for 2026 governor, said Moore’s early advantage may owe less to his own performance and more to the absence of a strong Republican challenger.

“A Republican candidate is going to have to be able to fundraise, and they’re going to have to be the type of Republican who can build a coalition like Larry Hogan did in 2018,” Kromer said. “The only way Republicans can win is if they have to chip away enough Democrats … to cross party lines and vote for them. And in American politics today, that is a big ask.”

When asked which party they want to control Congress, 58% of Marylanders chose Democrats compared to 32% for Republicans – nearly identical to results from a similar UMBC poll conducted before the 2024 election.

Across nearly every issue area, Marylanders said they trust Democrats more than Republicans, including in health care, public education, transportation, and infrastructure. Republicans edge out Democrats only on crime and public safety.

Sarah Oliver, a Towson University political science professor, said those gaps largely reflect the state’s Democratic makeup and the country’s polarization.

“The biggest predictor of whether you trust Democrats is whether you are one,”  Oliver said. “I wouldn’t think much of those numbers unless we start seeing independents or Republicans moving toward Democrats at the state level more than the national level.”

On personal traits, voters described Democrats as more caring and responsive. 46% said the Democratic Party “cares about ordinary people,” compared with 22% for Republicans. Democrats also led on qualities like being “focused on issues I care about” and “capable of handling a crisis.”

Still, the poll suggests limited desire for political crossover. Only 46% of voters said they are likely to consider a candidate from another party, while half said they are unlikely to do so. More than half – 52% – said they vote primarily to support a candidate they like, rather than to oppose one they dislike.

Matthew Crenson, professor emeritus of political science at Johns Hopkins University, said the poll shows “clear polarization” but also a recognition that state politics operate on a different plane than federal disputes.

“Maryland residents don’t blame the governor for [the ongoing government shutdown],” Crenson said, referring to the heightened economic anxiety across Maryland that the first part of the UMBC poll indicated. “Otherwise, his approval rating would be declining sharply.”

Still, Oliver and Crenson argued that Marylanders’ heightened economic anxiety and worries regarding the direction of the state during the shutdown may trickle into the 2026 legislative session and the general election.

“Since most of the dissatisfaction seems to come to rest as the level of federal government, the state legislators may feel that it’s their role to try to fix things as much as they can,” Crenson said.

Vatz, however, said that while he expects some lingering, he doesn’t see it impacting support for the Democratic Party in Maryland.

“I support the Republicans, but I really don’t think that Democrats are in much danger,” he said, adding that he thinks they should be.

The poll also found that most Marylanders are consistent voters: 63% say they vote in every election and another 31% vote in almost every election, though turnout in the 2022 midterms was just under half of eligible voters.

The poll’s sample was weighted to reflect Maryland’s population by gender, race, age, geography and educational attainment based on U.S. Census data, a Tuesday news release said.

About half of the respondents identified as white and 29% as Black, with the largest shares coming from Montgomery, Prince George’s and Baltimore counties, according to UMBC respondent data. Roughly half identified as Democrats, about a quarter as Republicans, and another quarter as unaffiliated.

The UMBC Institute of Politics plans to release the final part of the survey on Thursday.

Have a news tip? Contact Mennatalla Ibrahim at mibrahim@baltsun.com.

The poll, conducted by the UMBC Institute of Politics, surveyed 810 Maryland adults and found that 52% approve of the job that Moore, a Democrat, is doing as governor, while 44% disapprove and 4% are unsure — nearly identical to his ratings in February.

UMBC Institute of Politics Director Mileah Kromer, who oversaw the poll, said the consistency suggests “the majority of the population is satisfied or in approval” of Moore’s recent actions, but it also reflects how national political dynamics shape even state-level views.

“Moore is not immune to some of the forces that we see nationwide,” Kromer said. “Democrats support Democrats, and not Republicans. Republicans support Republicans, and not Democrats.”

The divide across party lines is stark in Maryland, too: 78% of Democrats approve of Moore’s performance, compared with just 8% of Republicans and 42% of independents.

Kromer and political analyst Todd Eberly noted that Moore’s predecessor, former Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, was a “rare politician” who was able to draw bipartisan support. Hogan’s approval ratings regularly exceeded 60% during his two terms, according to previous media reports.

“I just don’t think Moore is any different from most elected Republicans and Democrats across the country — this hyperpolarization is the new age we live in,” Kromer said.

The poll also shows that nearly half of Marylanders — 48% — say the state is on the wrong track, while 40% believe it’s headed in the right direction, a reversal from the October 2024 poll results. Kromer attributed much of that pessimism to economic anxiety and the ongoing federal government shutdown, which on Tuesday tied the record for the longest shutdown in U.S. history.

“The Maryland government and our Maryland economy are tied very closely to the state of the federal government,” Kromer said. “We were about a month into the shutdown when we did our poll, so there’s some widespread frustration with that.”

Nearly 70% of Marylanders rated the state’s economic conditions as “poor” or “fair,” with more than half of those surveyed expecting conditions to worsen next year. A large majority also expressed concern about rising costs for food, health care, housing, and utilities.

Kromer said Moore’s steady approval amid negative attitudes “does say something about him as a leader,” especially since “people, oftentimes, will hold every elected official accountable when everything is not going well, particularly the most high-profile elected official in the state.” Still, she said, “There has to be a pickup of these numbers.”

Towson-based conservative professor Richard Vatz, however, attributed Moore’s stability to his personal charisma and the lack of a strong Republican alternative.

“Moore has the rhetoric, and we always look at charisma as a powerful motivator,” said Vatz, who is backing Republican Ed Hale Sr. for 2026 governor. “If you went up to Republicans, I doubt they’d be able to give you a single person who is Republican who could be a better governor.”

The survey also found that Marylanders largely blame Republicans and President Donald Trump for the shutdown: 61% said congressional Republicans are “very” or “completely” responsible, and 59% said the same of Trump, compared with 41% who blame Democrats in Congress.

Eberly, a political science and public policy professor at St. Mary’s College, said he found these results unsurprising. He added that he thinks Moore “greatly benefits” from Trump’s lack of popularity in Maryland.

“We are right in the DC media market. Folks are seeing, on a regular basis, the news that comes out of DC. There’s been a lot of sort of economic chaos,” he said. “There’s a recognition that this is not something that is unique to Maryland.”

Blaming the Democrats for the shutdown, Vatz criticized Marylanders’ tendency to side with the Democratic Party, even in difficult times.

“The reaction of people to blame the shutdown on the Republicans is, in my view, ridiculous,” Vatz said, though he added that it “demonstrates the fact that Democrats in Maryland have a tremendous presumption with the public.”

The poll’s sample was weighted to reflect Maryland’s population by gender, race, age, geography and educational attainment based on U.S. Census data, a Tuesday press release said.

About half of the respondents identified as white and 29% as Black, with the largest shares coming from Montgomery, Prince George’s and Baltimore counties, according to UMBC respondent data. Roughly half identified as Democrats, about a quarter as Republicans, and another quarter as unaffiliated.

The UMBC Institute of Politics plans to release further parts of the survey on Wednesday and Thursday.

Have a news tip? Contact Mennatalla Ibrahim at mibrahim@baltsun.com.

“One of the first and most basic priorities of governing is to ensure that families do not go hungry,” Moore said in a Monday statement. “We will continue to do everything in our power to protect our people in these difficult times.”

Late last month, Maryland joined a coalition of states in suing the Trump administration after it threatened to suspend SNAP benefits amid the shutdown. On Oct. 31, two federal judges ruled that withholding the funds violated the law. While the administration has signaled compliance, it indicated it would cover up to 50% of benefits and has not confirmed whether states will be reimbursed for covering the remainder.

The $62 million will supplement $10 million emergency assistance investment previously allocated to food banks, faith-based organizations, school pantries and mobile food units to support Maryland families. Funding for both investments will come from the State’s Fiscal Responsibility Fund.

Maryland Department of Human Services Secretary Rafael López said in a statement that the action is meant to prevent families from going hungry during the shutdown. “We will move urgently to get Marylanders the SNAP benefits their families depend on to put food on the table,” he said.

The new investment amounts to nearly $93 allocated for each of Maryland’s 668,162 SNAP recipients, or about half of the state’s typical monthly benefit, which averages $184 per person, according to an Oct. 29 report from the Maryland Department of Legislative Services.

Before Moore’s Monday announcement, analysts and lawmakers were divided over Moore’s $10 million emergency assistance investment. Supporters said the funding, which will go entirely toward food banks and not individuals, was a necessary short-term fix. Critics argue it doesn’t go far enough — and, in some cases, said it is politically motivated.

Anirban Basu, an economist and CEO of the Sage Policy Group, told The Baltimore Sun that the funding reflects the limits of state action.

Basu also questioned Moore’s fiscal management and political motives, arguing that the governor overspent early in his tenure and is now “clawing back” spending, leaving the state in a “difficult condition.”

​​Sarah Oliver, a political science professor at Towson University, said the state’s funding for food banks “shows there is some effort toward helping those in need,” but acknowledged it would “be completely insufficient to meet actual needs.”

From the frontlines

Leah Paley, CEO of the Anne Arundel Food Bank, told The Sun on Monday that demand for food assistance sharply increased across the county in the second half of October as residents affected by the federal shutdown went without pay.

“In the first half of October, we didn’t see an uptick in pantry visits,” Paley said. “But in the last week of October, we heard from at least half a dozen [food pantry partners] running out of food in the middle of their distribution … and our mobile pantry units, where we normally see only 40 to 60 [households], were serving almost 90.”

Paley said details of Moore’s food bank investment remain unclear, including whether any funding will reach the Anne Arundel Food Bank directly. She hopes that, no matter how the money is distributed across the state, it is deployed quickly.

“As far as whether $10 million is enough? I’m confident that it’s not … but anything is better than nothing,” she said. “You could meet the need for one month, but what happens if this shutdown continues?”

Lawmakers weigh in

Some Republican lawmakers criticized Moore’s decision to use money from Maryland’s Fiscal Responsibility Fund, which will be tapped for both investments, and to initially route aid through food banks rather than through SNAP.

“Utilizing the funds through food banks rather than the SNAP system will likely create confusion and barriers, especially in smaller communities,” House Minority Leader Jason Buckel said prior to the announcement of additional funds Monday afternoon. More than 20% of residents in his Allegany County district rely on SNAP, according to state data.

Michael Bader, faculty director of the 21st Century Cities Initiative at Johns Hopkins University, said limited transportation and fewer distribution sites worsen food insecurity in rural areas.

“If you’re in the city, you could walk five or 10 blocks and find food,” he said. “That’s much less likely in the counties.”

Buckel urged the Moore administration to use the state’s $3.5 billion rainy day fund, as other states have done. But Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman called that an overreaction.

“This investment sets us up so that if the president complies with the court order, we won’t have overcommitted,” Pittman said.

Basu added that whether the state taps the rainy day fund or uses the general budget may not make “an enormous difference.”

“Money is fungible,” he said. just over a week, maybe $10 million is, at some level, approaching what is adequate.””]

In addition to the state funding announced by Moore, individual counties have rolled out their own plans to assist in food distribution, including a $1.7 million pledge from Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott and a $4 million allocation from Baltimore County Executive Kathy Klausmeier and the Baltimore County Council.

While SNAP recipients make up a relatively small percentage of Anne Arundel’s population, they still account for over 40,000 of the county’s residents, for whom Pittman said the county’s Office of Emergency Management is preparing an assistance plan that will be announced soon.

Have a news tip? Contact Mennatalla Ibrahim at mibrahim@baltsun.com, or Mathew Schumer at mschumer@baltsun.com, 443-890-7423 and on X as @mmmschumer.

But Maryland law allows vehicles that are model year 1999 or older to apply for the designation, which some say is being used as a way to evade the state’s Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program (VEIP) biennial requirements and insurance fees, because such vehicles are exempt.

“There is a lot of anecdotal evidence that many drivers with historic tags are using their vehicles for daily travel — which is improper under the law,” said Del. Marc Korman, a Montgomery County Democrat and Chair of the House Environment and Transportation Committee.

A Baltimore Sun analysis of Motor Vehicle Administration data of 255,000 vehicles registered with historic plates found that vehicles, including minivans such as 43 Ford Windstars — not normally used for parades — have been approved for the historic plate distinction.

John Lazarou, the MVA’s director of media relations, acknowledged misuse concerns, noting that “while the MVA is not the enforcing authority for historic plate misuse, customers who register their vehicles for reasons other than its intended purposes diminish the program’s value for the customers that properly maintain their vehicles for exhibitions and club activities.”

Historic plate registrations had been steadily rising in recent years. The MVA data shows that between 2021 and 2024, the number of cars using the standard modern historic plate increased from about 39,600 to nearly 55,000, while other historic categories also grew slowly but steadily.

Lazarou said registrations for vehicles from those model years fell by more than 6,700 between June and mid-September. A new law went into effect in July, preventing cars model year 2000-2005 from being eligible for historic plates; previously, the cutoff was for cars less than 20 years old.

Lazarou cautioned against attributing the decline in registrations solely to the new law.

“It’s too soon to say the drop is only because of the new law, since registration numbers can change for many reasons, like normal renewals or vehicles being sold or taken off the road,” Lazarou said.

The MVA could not provide updated data for cars from model year 1999 or older by The Sun’s deadline.

Albert Presto, a mechanical engineering director at Carnegie Mellon University, and Peter DeCarlo, an environmental health and engineering professor at Johns Hopkins University, said that historic plate exemptions can pose serious environmental and health risks if applied broadly, adding that older cars generally emit more pollutants per mile than newer cars.

DeCarlo argued that not all older vehicles deserve historic designation.

“People are rightfully pointing out that these older cars, which, when they have a historic license plate, can be exempt from emissions testing. As an air quality scientist, I’m not a huge fan of that,” he said. “Any car from 1999? I don’t know that I would necessarily call all of them historic in the sense that we want to preserve them in history. I think there could be some rethinking about how we designate things as historic.”

Presto said the main factor should be how often cars with historic distinction are driven.

“If lots of people are driving these really old cars, and then they get the classic car plate, and then they’re not getting inspected, that would make air pollution worse,” Presto said. “But it would really depend on how much and how many people are actually doing that.”

Have a news tip? Contact Mennatalla Ibrahim at mibrahim@baltsun.com.

“Vehicle emission testing is really important for vehicles that burn gasoline or diesel. We just need to know what’s coming out of them,” Peter DeCarlo, an environmental health and engineering professor at Johns Hopkins University, told The Baltimore Sun. “There will be health burdens if we eliminate that testing.”

VEIP requires most gas-powered vehicles to undergo emissions testing every two years to reduce air pollution, according to the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA). The program, managed in partnership with the Maryland Department of the Environment, began in the 1980s as part of the state’s compliance with the federal Clean Air Act. The fee increased from $14 to $30 in July, which is estimated to generate about $31 million annually.

Bouchat, who represents Carroll County, criticized the program, saying it is overly costly to taxpayers and has “outlived its usefulness” because cars are now built cleaner.

DeCarlo and Albert Presto, a mechanical engineering director at Carnegie Mellon University, agreed that while emission technology has improved, inspections remain critical.

“The inspection is the time where those failures or those breakages can get caught and repaired,” Presto said. “It’s reasonable to assume that not inspecting vehicles could lead to worse air pollution.”

DeCarlo said that most cars will pass the inspection, but those that do not must be urgently addressed.

“Those are the ones that typically are the highest polluters,” he said. “The benefit of an inspection program is that it identifies those vehicles and requires them to improve their emissions before they can get back on the road. [Eliminating the program] will certainly impact Maryland’s air quality.”

Bouchat countered by noting that the inspection program “does not improve the output of the vehicle — it’s the manufacturing that does that.” He added, “They’ll want to keep it in perpetuity, even though we’re never going to reach 100 percent. All the new cars are passing, so the overwhelming majority of cars are passing and will continue to.”

Ready added, “I don’t believe the emissions testing is about air and emissions testing anymore,” Ready said. “It may have been at one point — I’m sure it was well intentioned. At this point, it’s become a cash grab for the state.”

John Lazarou, the MVA’s director of media relations, defended the program following Bouchat’s announcement.

Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program

“Over the past three decades, the Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program (VEIP) has been a cornerstone program to enforce emissions compliance, reduce harmful air pollutants, and improve air quality.  As vehicle technology has improved, the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration and Maryland Department of Environment have modernized the program for the benefit of Marylanders,” Lazarou said in a statement to The Sun, adding that this includes self-service kiosks, delayed new vehicle testing, and a new contract that assists customers whose vehicles fail initial testing.

However, DeCarlo said the greatest environmental and health risks from eliminating VEIP would occur in urban areas.

“We have a higher density of people and roads in urban areas. And so if we do get an increase in pollution from vehicles because we got rid of testing, those effects are going to be felt the most by people who live near major roadways,” he said.

Have a news tip? Contact Mennatalla Ibrahim at mibrahim@baltsun.com.

The executive order comes as the Trump administration seeks to halt Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits on Saturday, potentially affecting about 680,000 Marylanders — roughly 1 in 9 residents — who rely on the program, commonly known as food stamps.

“I hate the fact that we are here. But the reality in Maryland is that we are here,” Moore, a Democrat, said at the Anne Arundel County Food Bank, where he helped staff package perishable items before making his announcement. “We need to move quickly to make sure we’re getting the most support to those most in need.”

During a hearing Thursday with 25 Democratic-led states seeking to keep SNAP funded, a federal judge in Boston signaled she would require that the government use emergency funds rather than cut all benefits and leave recipients without aid, though some delays or reductions in benefits may still occur under that scenario.

Responding to the potential ruling, a senior administration official in Moore’s office told The Baltimore Sun in an email: “We have need beyond the need that will be created by SNAP in terms of our federal workers — so we will move forward regardless, but it is one of the reasons that we’re taking this approach of focusing on food bank assistance. We’re hopeful that [the] court will follow the law and order the TRO.”

The emergency funding, drawn from the state’s Fiscal Responsibility Fund, will be distributed through food banks, faith-based organizations, school pantries and mobile food units, Moore said. The Maryland Department of Human Services, assisted by the Maryland Department of Emergency Management, is reviewing organizations to receive aid, according to a press release from the Governor’s office.

Moore called the order one of the state’s “most aggressive” responses to the federal shutdown, which he said is inflicting “permanent economic damage” on Maryland’s workforce, which includes nearly 270,000 federal employees and 225,000 federal contractors.

Moore emphasized that he did not make the decision to declare an emergency lightly, and that his administration and its legislative partners will continue to “take this week by week.”

“I understand the weight of what it means to put this state under a state of emergency, particularly when the state of emergency is not a natural disaster — when it is a human-made one,” he said. “We are barreling towards the longest federal government shutdown in the history of the United States, and no state can fill the gap.”

The governor and Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman sharply criticized the Trump administration for “refusing to release contingency funds that Congress already appropriated” to sustain SNAP during the shutdown. “The money is there. They are choosing not to allocate it,” Moore said. “This is heartless, cruel and unforgivable.”

Some attendees questioned Moore’s decision to use the emergency fund instead of the state’s $3.5 billion rainy day fund, which is typically used for smaller, short-term needs, noting that other states, including Virginia, New Mexico, and New York, have tapped similar reserves to extend SNAP benefits through November.

Moore defended his choice, saying the shutdown’s toll is too great for any state to absorb.

“We are going to consistently monitor and make whatever decisions are necessary to ensure that our people are okay,” he said. “But to ask any state to cover a quarter of a billion dollars a month because the federal government is breaking the law is not a fair ask for any governor or any state inside this country.”

Senate Minority Leader Steve Hershey criticized Moore’s handling of the crisis, arguing that Maryland “deserved better than confusion and headlines.”

“Instead of restoring SNAP benefits through a program Marylanders already understand and rely on, the governor once again passed on the opportunity to lead,” Hershey said. “Other governors found a way to do this the right way — directly and transparently. Governor Moore chose the harder, less effective path, handing responsibility off to nonprofits despite his administration’s poor track record of accountability in that space.”

In a news release before Moore’s announcement, House Minority Leader Jason Buckel urged the governor to use state reserves to cover SNAP benefits temporarily, while House Minority Whip Jesse Pippy urged the governor to pressure Democrats in the U.S. Senate to end the shutdown.

State delegation members supported Moore’s decision in an emailed statement Thursday. “With prices on the rise and the uncertainty created by the Republican government shutdown, many Marylanders are struggling to make ends meet. Meanwhile, the Trump Administration has failed to ensure those in need will have access to nutrition assistance — refusing to keep SNAP benefits flowing. That’s why we’re glad to see Governor Moore take action to protect vulnerable Maryland families. We stand with the Governor and support this decision to help Marylanders put food on the table, as we continue fighting to reopen the government and end this shameful Republican shutdown.”

The state of emergency declaration and investment in food aid are the latest efforts the Moore administration has undertaken in relation to the shutdown.  On Oct. 17, the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) began offering free MARC and commuter bus service to all Maryland federal workers during the government shutdown. On Oct. 6, the Maryland Department of Labor began accepting $700 loan applications for furloughed workers. The first 100 payments were issued on Oct. 17, and Maryland Labor Secretary Portia Wu told The Sun at the time that she expected hundreds more to be sent out in the coming weeks.

When the shutdown first began, the governor also directed state agencies to deploy “contingency plans” to keep federally funded programs — like Medicaid, SNAP and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) — continually operating.

Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul also declared states of emergency on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.

Have a news tip? Contact Mennatalla Ibrahim at mibrahim@baltsun.com.

“I know things are tight — they’re tight here too — but we feel that the government workers are very, very, very important to everyday life for people,” theater owner Michael Johnson told The Baltimore Sun on Wednesday. “This is an opportunity for them to get out with their family.”

The theater, located in Pikesville at 921 Reisterstown Road, will show six films in pairs throughout the day — at 3, 6 and 9 p.m. — including “Young Frankenstein,” “J.D.’s Revenge,” “Blacula,” “Vampire in Brooklyn,” “A Nightmare on Elm Street” and “Sinners.”

Johnson said patrons won’t need to show proof of government employment or furloughed status. “If somebody comes in and says, ‘I’m a government worker, I’m not going to be asking for their badge or anything,’” he said, adding that the staff will be going on the “the strength of people’s honesty.”

Pikes Cinema, a historically Black-owned theater that reopened under a new name and ownership in May, has seen a “noticeable” 10% to 15% drop in attendance since the shutdown began Oct. 1, Johnson said.

“When the economy takes a hit, like unemployed people or things of that sort, the first people affected are the entertainment sectors and restaurants because people will tend to stay in instead of going out to save money,” Johnson said. “Instead of eating out, they’re cooking. Instead of watching movies on the big screen, they’re watching movies at home.”

Johnson said he feels passionate about offering furloughed workers an outlet from the shutdown’s “financial and emotional toll.”

“I’ve had a few friends of mine, people I know, who aren’t working right now … [they’ve] got a car full of gas and nowhere to go,” he said. “So we just thought that it would be a good offer to go out — and to let people know that it’s free for them if they decide to come.”

Have a news tip? Contact Mennatalla Ibrahim at mibrahim@baltsun.com.

“The catastrophic storm and the fact that this is the worst in the nation’s history is just extremely concerning,” Wilkins, a Kingston-born Democrat who represents Montgomery County, told The Baltimore Sun. “I feel very worried for the entire island and also for my family.”

Hurricane Melissa slammed into Jamaica’s southwestern coast as a Category 5 storm — one of the most powerful in Atlantic history. The storm flattened homes, uprooted trees and left hundreds of thousands without power, according to media reports. Its slow movement has brought hours of torrential rain and flash flooding, with officials warning that recovery will take weeks.

By Wednesday, Melissa had left dozens dead and widespread destruction across Jamaica, Cuba and Haiti. Haiti’s Civil Protection Agency said at least 23 people are dead and 13 others are missing. In Cuba, officials reported that about 735,000 people remained in shelters, with the worst damage concentrated in the island’s southwest and northwest. The storm is now moving toward the central Bahamas, and forecasters say it has already begun affecting the southeastern islands.

For Jamaicans in Maryland, the destruction has felt both distant and deeply personal. The state is home to more than 82,000 Caribbeans — one of the largest Caribbean populations in the mid-Atlantic, according to the latest reports from the Migration Policy Institute.

“It’s scary, and for me as a legislator, at the same time, we have so much going on in the community here with the shutdown, our furloughed workers,” Wilkins said. “Both at home and abroad, several crises are going on, and trying to make sure that everyone is taken care of.”

Organizing from afar

As Wilkins checked in with her father and siblings in Kingston and Montego Bay, others in Maryland’s Jamaican community were busy mobilizing.

BJ Dawkins, a leader in the Maryland Black Chamber of Commerce and a community advocate in Montgomery County, said she spent the night on WhatsApp with friends and family in Jamaica, including her 86-year-old mother in Montego Bay — many of whom were struggling with intermittent power and spotty internet connections.

On Monday night, Dawkins helped coordinate a Zoom meeting hosted by Jamaica’s ambassador to the United States, Antony Anderson. More than 500 people, including Wilkins and Howard University professor Goulda Downer, logged on to hear updates, identify immediate needs and plan relief efforts.

Downer, who has trained with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and worked with Jamaica’s disaster preparedness agency, said the storm highlights the region’s growing vulnerability to climate change.

“Latin America and the Caribbean region is considered the second most disaster-prone area in the world … one in six natural disasters occur in the Caribbean — that’s about 16 percent,” she said, adding that the region’s ability to withstand storms has decreased significantly since she was a child living in Jamaica as the nature of the storms themselves have changed due to climate change.

Downer emphasized that disaster response is about more than rebuilding roads and houses — it’s about long-term planning, communication and mental health.

She added that diaspora communities play a crucial role in relief and recovery. “When it comes to boots on the ground, that’s what we do. We get together. It doesn’t matter what our political affiliation is. The bottom line is Jamaica is Jamaica. That’s home,” she said.

Wilkins said she hopes the United States provides robust support as Jamaica begins rebuilding.

“Recent actions around the international support have not been strong in recent months,” she said. “But I am hopeful, and I will be urging that help from the United States …. and the many Jamaicans living here in the United States, I know, will want to see that support take place.”

The Associated Press contributed to this story. Have a news tip? Contact Mennatalla Ibrahim at mibrahim@baltsun.com.