🧭 Maryland Wire Editorial
Title: DeSLATEification in District 39: Can Nancy King Unseat Gabriel Acevero, or Will the Progressive Base Hold?
Byline: Maryland Wire Staff | October 2025
Visible Link: https://marylandwire.substack.com
🧨 The Setup: A Slate War in Montgomery County
District 39 is no stranger to ideological friction, but this cycle, the tension has crystallized into a full-blown slate war. Senator Nancy King—once a quiet power broker in Annapolis—is now leading a coordinated effort to remove Delegate Gabriel Acevero, the most outspoken progressive in the Maryland House of Delegates.
King has filed for re-election alongside Delegates Lesley Lopez and Greg Wims, forming a unified slate dubbed Team 39. Their chosen fourth? Robert Wu, a Gaithersburg City Councilmember with establishment backing and a reputation for pragmatic governance.
The goal is clear: deflate Acevero and reclaim control of the district’s messaging. Insiders are calling it deSLATEification—a term that’s not in the dictionary but is rapidly gaining traction in political circles and editorial inboxes.
🧠 Why Acevero Is a Target
Acevero’s brand is unapologetically leftist. He’s taken bold stances on Gaza, taxation, and police reform, often clashing with colleagues and party leadership. His critics cite:
- Past controversies, including lawsuits over unpaid rent and a physical altercation with a former opponent.
- A strained relationship with MCGEO, the union that once employed him.
- Weak fundraising, which leaves him vulnerable to coordinated opposition.
Despite this, Acevero survived a similar slate challenge in 2022, finishing second in a four-way primary. His Afro-Caribbean and Latino heritage gives him cross-cultural appeal in a district that values representation.
🧩 Identity Politics and the Lopez Factor
Delegate Lesley Lopez, also on the slate, has faced quiet criticism for her perceived lack of authentic Hispanic identity. Her surname comes via marriage, not heritage—a fact that some progressive voters have flagged, especially in contrast to Acevero’s lived experience.
While this isn’t a formal campaign issue, it’s part of the whispered narrative among activists and insiders. In a district where identity and authenticity matter, this dynamic could shape turnout and loyalty.
🏛️ The Power Shift: Post–Mike Miller Era
Senators once ruled Maryland politics with an iron grip. Under Mike Miller, slates were kingmakers. But today, senatorial influence has waned, and King’s attempt to revive the old model may backfire.
If Acevero survives again, it will signal a grassroots resilience that defies top-down control. If King’s slate succeeds, it could mark a return to disciplined messaging and establishment unity.
🗳️ Who’s Running?
Here’s the current lineup:
| Candidate | Role | Slate Affiliation |
| Nancy King | Senator | Team 39 |
| Lesley Lopez | Delegate | Team 39 |
| Greg Wims | Delegate | Team 39 |
| Robert Wu | Challenger | Team 39 |
| Gabriel Acevero | Incumbent Delegate | Independent |
| Amar Mukunda | Challenger | Independent |
Mukunda, a 32-year-old engineer and entrepreneur, is positioning himself as a generational change agent. His campaign critiques establishment Democrats and calls for new blood.
📎 Additional Reading
- https://www.marylandmatters.org/2024/01/18/acevero-faces-challenges-in-district-39/
- https://www.gazette.net/news/robert-wu-joins-team-39-slate/
- https://www.moco360.media/2022/07/20/acevero-survives-primary-slate-challenge/
Well that’s rich. Nancy King is a member of the Commerce Department’s Maryland Tourism Development Board - a body in statutory breach since 2021. The MTDB created in statute - TPA2008.
Commerce Department confirmed in writing the MTDB has not filed a statutorily mandated 5-year strategic plan since 2015–the last covered 2016-2020.
Yet? The General Assembly has allocated the Board’s annual budget now totaling upwards of 50 million with no strategic plan guiding the Commerce Department’s spending.
The MTDB has been reported to the Office of Legislative Audits (OLA) for investigation.