By Steve Crane | Editor-in-chief
“Anduril chose Sparrows Point, in part, because of what this waterfront has done for this country. Bethlehem Steel Mill here became the largest steel producer in the world. During the Second World War, hull after hull of Liberty ships were built at the shipyard on this site. That legacy doesn’t need to stay in the past. In the years ahead, Arsenal-2 will bring thousands of skilled manufacturing jobs back to the site and return Sparrows Point to shipbuilding.” - Brian Schimpf, co-founder and CEO of Anduril Industries, announcing the company’s plans for Baltimore County shipyard that could employ 3,100 workers.
A multibillion-dollar investment that will bring thousands of jobs, a testy candidate debate and a new poll on a hot-button issue on the ballot. Good morning on a busy Wednesday.
Federal and state officials hailed the announcement of a new shipyard by Anduril Industries on Sparrows Point that will employ thousands making components for nuclear submarines, as Danielle J. Brown reports. One dignitary who was not there was Gov. Wes Moore (D), in the latest fallout from his running feud with President Donald Trump. Pera Onal has that story.
Pera and Bryan P. Sears report on what will likely be the only debate between Moore and his Republican challenger, Dan Cox, in the governor’s race this fall. It was testy at times and each stuck to his talking points — and each more or less declared victory after.
Bryan also has the story on the latest poll on Question 3, the proposed constitutional amendment that would change the way the state draws congressional boundaries. It showed, as other polls have, that the issue faces an uphill climb.
Those stories, and headlines from the week are below to help you over Hump Day. Enjoy!
President Donald Trump at Tradepoint Atlantic in Sparrows Point. (Photo by Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters)
By Danielle J. Brown
President Donald Trump joined state and local leaders Tuesday to welcome a huge new shipyard that will bring billions of dollars of investment and thousands of jobs to Sparrows Point in Baltimore County.
Anduril Industries is set to invest $3.7 billion to construct a new shipbuilding facility at the Tradepoint Atlantic terminal on the site of the former Bethlehem Steel plant. The Arsenal-2 facility will manufacture components for Virginia-class nuclear submarines, reinvigorating the area’s historical manufacturing industry.
Arsenal-2 will be a 2-million-square-foot “software-defined shipyard” on Sparrows Point. State officials say it is expected to bring a total of 14,000 jobs to Maryland, including 3,100 permanent jobs. Additionally, the shipyard is expected to generate $2 billion in annual economic output, and deliver more than $300 million in wages each year, according to state estimates. Production could begin as early as 2030.
A new poll finds a majority of voters opposes Question 3, a proposed constitutional amendment that changes the way Maryland congressional districts are drawn, after it is described to them in plain language. (Photo Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters)
By Bryan P. Sears
A proposed amendment to the Maryland Constitution that would change the way congressional districts are drawn faces stiff voter opposition, a new poll shows.
The poll, released Tuesday by the Institute of Politics at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, found 53% of those surveyed said they would vote against ballot Question 3, a proposed amendment to the Maryland Constitution that would lift many of the restrictions on how congressional districts are drawn in the state. Another 25% supported it and 19% were undecided. Mileah Kromer, director of the poll, said she's not convinced the ballot question won't pass, despite the numbers. There is time for supporters to mount a full-court campaign for the question.
Opposition to the question is driven by 74% of Republicans and 59% of unaffiliated voters. They were joined by 42% of Democrats. The UMBC poll follows two others in recent weeks that showed mixed support for the ballot question, but no clear majorities.
Republican gubernatorial nominee Dan Cox, right, and Gov. Wes Moore (D) meet for a debate Tuesday at the Maryland Public Television studios in Owings Mills. (Photo by Larry Canner Photography/Courtesy of MPT)
By Bryan P. Sears and Pera Onal
The lone televised debate between the two leading contenders for governor looked very similar to their debate four years ago.
Gov. Wes Moore (D) and his Republican challenger Dan Cox each presented their vision of a state under their leadership. But the hour-long debate in Owings Mills quickly showcased the expected lines of attack and the animosity between the two candidates.
Cox, who lost to Moore four years ago, painted the governor as a tax-and-spend liberal and at times accused his opponent of lying. Moore at every turn tied Cox to President Donald Trump and portrayed his opponent as a MAGA acolyte, quoting a former governor who once called Cox a "Q-Anon whack job."
And, to the surprise of none, both Cox and Moore left the Maryland Public Television studios saying they felt good about their performance.
IN OTHER NEWS
Moore frozen out at Anduril event: Gov. Wes Moore planned to be at Tuesday's announcement of a massive economic development project at Sparrows Point, but said he was uninvited by the White House after President Donald Trump said he was coming.
Fort Meade suicides prompt action: After a string of suicide deaths at Fort Meade this summer, Rep. Sarah Elfreth is pushing for language in the defense policy bill to require that the Pentagon collect data on civilian suicides, as it does for service members.
Trump has second thoughts on mail-in voting: President Donald Trump wants to curtail mail ballots, but with Republicans falling behind in the polls, the president is now urging his supporters to vote in the midterm elections any way they can, including by mail.
MATTERS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED
Second thoughts on multiyear rate-setting: Maryland regulators say their test of a rate-setting practice that let electric utilities project future spending and set customers' rates accordingly has failed, but they aren’t ready to abandon it altogether.
Orphans’ Court judge removed from bench: The Maryland Supreme Court ordered the removal Monday of Anne Arundel County Orphans' Court Chief Judge Vickie Gipson for what it called "egregious ... misconduct" in office, the second such order in months.
Poll gives Moore commanding lead in reelection bid: A poll released Tuesday finds Gov. Wes Moore (D) with a comfortable lead over Republican challenger Dan Cox, with Moore getting 51% of the vote to Cox's 24% in their rematch.
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