As we look ahead to November’s elections, Patch is devoted to bringing you the information you need about every race nationally and locally. Here's our start on the candidates and issues we'll be covering as November draws near. Bookmark this page for updates.
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President Barack Obama: Maryland is a reliably Democratic state for presidential candidates. Obama held as well as campaigned in Baltimore with Gov. Martin O'Malley. He for a basketball game in November 2011.
GOP Presidential Nominee Mitt Romney: The former Massachusetts governor . Remember the Etch A Sketch comment? That came on the day . In explaining how the candidate would avoid being pushed too far to the right, spokesperson Eric Fehrnstrom, in a CNN interview, likened Romney's positions to an Etch A Sketch. "You can kind of shake it up, and we start all over again,” he said. Political opponents capitalized on the misstep. Nonetheless, Romney .
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U.S. Senate
Sen. Ben Cardin: The incumbent Democrat is seeking a second term in the U.S. Senate. He has shared many of his views in .
Daniel Bongino: Cardin's Republican opponent is Daniel Bongino of Severna Park. He is a former Secret Service agent.
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Congressional District 2
Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger: The incumbent Democrat was first elected to Congress in 2002 and has previously served two terms as the Baltimore county executive and two more on the Baltimore County Council. If re-elected, Ruppersberger would serve parts of Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Harford and Howard counties, as well as Baltimore City.
Nancy Jacobs: The four-term Maryland Republican from Harford County currently represents Harford and Cecil counties and would not have to give up her seat on the state Senate unless she defeated Ruppersberger.
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Congressional District 7
Rep. Elijah Cummings: The incumbent Democrat has served in the House since 1996 and before that, he served in the House of Delegates for 14 years, according to his website. If re-elected, he would serve parts of Baltimore City as well parts of Baltimore and Howard counties.
Frank Mirabile Jr.: The Republican from Catonsville describes himself as a small business owner and married father of four. He has also ran against Cummings in 2010 for a U.S. House seat.
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Congressional District 3
Rep. John Sarbanes, a Democrat, is seeking a fourth term in Maryland’s 3rd congressional district. If re-elected, the Towson resident will represent parts of Baltimore, Howard, Anne Arundel and Montgomery Counties as well as parts of Baltimore City in the newly reconfigured district. Sarbanes made headlines in May when he announced that would come from small donors. In 2010, he was re-elected with 61 percent of the district’s vote.
Eric Knowles: No one is predicting a close race in Maryland's Congressional 3rd District, but if someone is going to upset Democratic incumbent Rep. John Sarbanes, it's the Republican Knowles. The son of a former Green Beret and police officer, Knowles calls himself a strict constitutionalist who says the nation's economic problems can be solved if the government prints less money.
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Same-sex Marriage: On March 1, in Maryland. Despite celebrations from supporters, in May, in November. Until then, supporters of same-sex marriage, such as Equality Maryland are mobilizing support, canvassing and holding public events. Groups that oppose same-sex marriage, including the Maryland Catholic Conference, are still soliciting support and fundraising.
Dream Act: The Dream Act would allow undocumented immigrant students to pay in-state tuition at institutions in the University System of Maryland if their parents filed to pay state taxes, if they attended a Maryland high school for at least three years and if they graduated. Passed by the General Assembly in 2011, and landed it on the 2012 ballot as a voter referendum.
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In Baltimore County, there are no local races on the ballot.
Here are some important dates to keep in mind:
Voter Registration Deadline: October 16 at 9 p.m. The office remains open until 9 p.m. for the registration deadline.
Early voting for Presidential General Election: October 27 through November 1.
Presidential General: November 6. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
For more information, visit the Baltimore County Board of Elections website.
Need to find out where your polling place is? Whether or not you're registered to vote? Need to request an absentee ballot? Visit the Maryland State Board of Elections online for answers to those and a host of other election-related questions.
Comment - opponents of same sex marriage will have a victory in November. This comes from someone who believes same sex couples should have many of the same benefits of other couples with respect to many things. But - how this became law with respect to O'Malley and the tactics by those working to keep this off of the ballot have left Marylanders in a foul mood and they will show that in November. Had O'Malley done the right thing and pushed it on the ballot without signing it into law, it would have won by 60/40 - and it would have helpled O'Malley.