By Christine Condon | Reporter
“There's just really no contest to speak of. Anthony Brown will cruise to reelection,” — St. Mary’s College political science professor Todd Eberly, on the Maryland attorney general’s race this November.
The holiday weekend (and all that rain) is over, and all eyes are turning toward election season. But in Maryland, the races for some of the state’s top political offices aren’t exactly nail-biters.
For instance, the Republican challenging longtime Maryland political figure Anthony Brown (D) for the attorney general’s office sees a path to victory. But Maryland political experts say the challenge will be far too steep for James Rutledge (R), reports William J. Ford.
And it’s another rare moment of consensus for Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) and President Donald Trump (R), who both moved last week to expand the allowable uses of tax-exempt diesel fuel for farmers amid soaring fuel costs. Maryland let trucks transporting farm goods and timber products use the fuel starting this past Friday. But the federal rollout is less clear, Christine Condon reports.
Check out these stories and more, including updates on sports betting and data centers, below!
Republican attorney general nominee James Rutledge, left, is challenging first-term Attorney General Anthony Brown, a Democrat, in November. (Photos courtesy Rutledge campaign; Danielle Gaines/Maryland Matters)
By William J. Ford
He's outnumbered in voter registration, likely outraised and outspent in campaign donations and is running in a race that's getting little exposure against an incumbent with decades of name recognition.
But Republican attorney general nominee Jim Rutledge still sees a path to victory in his bid to unseat Attorney General Anthony Brown.
“We believe that the independent vote and the Republican vote, and the Democrats that are disappointed with his [Brown’s] record on basic law enforcement, like the Fraternal Order of Police, will not back Anthony Brown this time,” Rutledge said in an interview Friday. “That is our analysis, and we’ve taken our case to the people.”
But Brown is counting on his record.
“We speak through our actions — the lawsuits we file or defend. The comments we propose. Marylanders, they hear us and they’re listening,” Brown said Friday.
Maryland Democratic Gov. Wes Moore announces a new executive order on data center projects on Sept. 23, 2026. (Photo by Christine Condon/Maryland Matters)
By Christine Condon
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore is allowing farmers and loggers to use tax-exempt diesel fuel in their on-road trucks, amid high fuel prices during the United States’ war with Iran.
In an executive order that took effect on Friday, Moore took an unprecedented step in Maryland, allowing truck drivers hauling products from timber to live poultry to fill their vehicles with “red-dyed” diesel, which is exempt from the state’s motor fuel tax of 47.45 cents per gallon, and the federal excise tax of 24.40 cents per gallon.
“Our agricultural and forestry sectors are the bedrock of our state’s economy, and our administration is dedicated to supporting these vital industries as rising fuel prices put a squeeze on the industry nationwide,” Moore said in a statement issued Friday.
IN OTHER NEWS
Betting on college students: As sports betting has grown, so too have bets on individual players, stoking abuse against athletes, including college students.
Russian diesel stokes anger: The Trump administration’s order to allow import of Russian diesel violates a 2022 law banning Russian energy imports while the country’s war with Ukraine is ongoing, according to a bipartisan group of U.S. senators.
A very data center midterm: The backlash against data centers has grown from an issue at local planning commission and city council meetings to become a flashpoint in state and federal races across the country.
TODAY'S COMMENTARY
Kindergarten absences: Maryland’s chronic absenteeism rate for kindergartners is nearly 27%, compared to 23% for all state students. Something has to change.
MATTERS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED
Food assistance and non-citizens: A court ruling blocked the Trump administration from withholding SNAP payments from certain non-citizens, but advocates still worry the situation could make immigrant families fearful of requesting aid.
Airport security and the private sector: The Transportation Security Administration has scrapped the Gold+ privatization concept, but TSA leaders are still exploring how to expand privatized airport screening.
‘What are we actually voting for this year?’: College students across Maryland are educating their peers about the upcoming election, and helping them register to vote.
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