Notes & Personnel
Quick reads, lateral moves, and news from around the Free State.
Tawes recap lands: Maryland Matters’ William J. Ford reports on Wednesday’s 49th annual J. Millard Tawes Crab and Clam Bake in Crisfield — Gov. Wes Moore, GOP gubernatorial challenger Dan Cox, Rep. Andy Harris, and congressional candidates all worked the crowd with less than six weeks to Election Day. https://marylandmatters.org/2026/09/24/windy-with-outbreaks-of-handshaking-and-backslapping-at-tawes/
Data center order: Gov. Wes Moore signed an executive order creating a seven-agency task force to vet large data center proposals (25 MW+) and pledged to push the General Assembly to repeal the 2020 data center sales/use tax exemption next session. (Christine Condon, Maryland Matters, Sept. 23.) The order drew an immediate rebuke from Republican lawmakers including the Freedom Caucus, making data centers a 2026 issue in the Moore–Dan Cox race. (Delmarva Now, Sept. 24.) https://marylandmatters.org/2026/09/23/data-centers-moore-executive-order/ · https://governor.maryland.gov/news/press-releases/governor-moore-signs-executive-order-codifying-responsible-data-center-development-framework · https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/maryland/2026/09/24/data-centers-injected-into-md-election-with-wes-moore-executive-order/91906743007/
Revenue bump: The Board of Revenue Estimates added $320M to the current-year forecast (now over $27.4B) but warned of slowing wage growth, inflation, and a projected $3B structural gap. (Bryan P. Sears, Maryland Matters, Sept. 25.) https://marylandmatters.org/2026/09/25/state-revenues-get-modest-bump-despite-mixed-economic-indicators/
Blueprint under review: The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Accountability and Implementation Board is weighing legislative recommendations — certification pathways, per-pupil funding studies — as the plan faces cuts amid the $3B shortfall. (William J. Ford, Maryland Matters, Sept. 25.) https://marylandmatters.org/2026/09/25/changes-could-be-coming-to-blueprint-education-plan/
Question 3 poll: A Fight Back Maryland poll puts the redistricting amendment at 40% support, 35% oppose, 25% undecided — with voter confusion over the convoluted wording the biggest hurdle. (Bryan P. Sears, Maryland Matters, Sept. 24.) https://marylandmatters.org/2026/09/24/poll-wording-of-redistricting-amendment-difficult-for-voters-to-understand/
Quantum week: Moore and University of Maryland leaders opened the Microsoft Quantum Research Center in the College Park Discovery District — home to one of the first prototypes of Microsoft’s topological quantum computer, with DARPA access. (Pera Onal, Maryland Matters, Sept. 23.) At the Quantum World Congress, Moore also announced Paladin Capital Group is joining the Capital of Quantum initiative, with Paladin CIO Christopher Steed taking a seat on the advisory board. (Christian Robles, Nextgov, Sept. 24.) https://marylandmatters.org/2026/09/23/state-university-officials-tout-opening-of-new-quantum-research-center/ · https://www.nextgov.com/emerging-tech/2026/09/maryland-governor-touts-new-quantum-partnership-venture-capital-firm/416212/?oref=ng-homepage-river
Digital ad tax appeal: Maryland is appealing Tax Court rulings that struck down the 2021 digital advertising tax; the comptroller’s office said the AG’s office filed the appeal Monday in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court. Apple, Google, and Peacock TV brought the challenges; the state has collected $500M+ since 2022 — unspent, earmarked for the Blueprint. (Tinashe Chingarande, Baltimore Sun, Sept. 23.) https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/09/23/maryland-fight-for-digital-ad-tax-is-not-over-yet/190432/
Bathras v. Moore: The Second Amendment Foundation — joined by the NRA, Firearms Policy Coalition, Atlantic Guns, and two citizens — filed its reply Sept. 22 in support of a preliminary injunction against SB 334’s “Glock ban” (handguns with cruciform trigger bars, effective Jan. 1, 2027). SAF’s Bill Sack and Alan Gottlieb quoted. https://saf.org/saf-files-reply-brief-in-case-challenging-marylands-glock-ban/
Smith v. Moore: The Maryland AG’s office is representing Gov. Moore in the defamation suit filed July 31 in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court by Sun co-owner David Smith over Moore’s June 16 MS NOW claim that Smith “was invested in by Jeffrey Epstein.” Smith’s lawyers argue Moore was acting as a private citizen and shouldn’t get state-funded defense; Moore’s office says the AG’s office makes that call. (Baltimore Sun, Sept. 23.) https://facebook.com/100064935542026/posts/pfbid02dAEose5JSHubEXeSEeFACCZsb7mCFYbPCA9GPDXucLXR5LX1zwdzMBFiN3Wv3TwZl/
New fire marshal: Maryland State Police Col. Michael A. Jackson appointed Caroll H. Spriggs II as state fire marshal for a six-year term — the first African American in the office’s 132-year history. Spriggs, 53, was a Prince George’s County deputy fire chief (formerly Annapolis deputy chief and ATF task force officer); he succeeds acting marshal Jason Mowbray, who moves to MDSP senior management. (Announced Sept. 16.) https://mdsp.maryland.gov/about-us/newsroom/maryland-welcomes-new-state-fire-marshal
Goorevitz takes USLAW gavel: Tamara B. Goorevitz, a principal with Baltimore’s Franklin & Prokopik, has been named chair of the USLAW NETWORK for 2026–2027, succeeding Jennifer D. Tricker. (Announced Sept. 24.) https://www.uslaw.org/news/tamara-goorevitz-named-chair-of-uslaw-network/
Sphere at National Harbor: At a packed county council listening session, Prince George’s County residents pressed concerns about labor protections, traffic, and taxpayer costs for the proposed $1.4B Sphere entertainment venue at National Harbor; a council vote is expected in October. (Jimmy Alexander, WTOP via Maryland Matters, Sept. 24.) https://marylandmatters.org/2026/09/24/prince-georges-county-residents-speak-out-on-proposed-1-billion-sphere/
Delegate Dana C. Jones (Should Have been Senator)
Maryland House of Delegates (District 30A – Annapolis & Anne Arundel County)
Overview
Delegate Dana Celeste Jones is a Democratic member of the Maryland House of Delegates representing District 30A, which encompasses Annapolis and parts of Anne Arundel County. First appointed to the chamber in May 2020 to complete the unexpired term of former Delegate Alice J. Cain, Jones won election to a full four-year term in 2022. In 2026, she was named Deputy Speaker Pro Tem.
Dana Jones would have been selected for the State Senate to succeed Sarah Elfreth, were it not for an ineligible former member of the Anne Arundel County Democratic Central Committee who illegally cast a ballot after moving to Ohio.
Legislative Leadership & Committee Assignments
Deputy Speaker Pro Tem (2026).
House Appropriations Committee:
Vice Chair, Health and Social Services Subcommittee.
Member, Oversight Committee on Pensions.
Anne Arundel County House Delegation: Chair, Capital Budget Subcommittee.
Women Legislators of Maryland: Served a two-year term as President of the Maryland Legislative Women’s Caucus.
Joint Committee Assignments: Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive, and Legislative Review.
Key Legislative Initiatives & Focus Areas
Education & Intellectual Freedom: Served as the lead sponsor of the Freedom to Read Act, a piece of state legislation protecting public and school libraries from book bans and safeguarding literature access across Maryland.
Emergency & Community Recovery: Sponsored legislation creating the State Disaster Recovery Fund to deliver state resources to local communities following natural disasters.
Public Health & Safety: Advanced policies expanding telehealth access for students, expanding mental health coverage for youth, and supporting emergency service personnel.
Professional & Civic Background
Professional Experience: Worked over two decades in public policy and political strategy. Early career highlights include serving as a Legislative Assistant to U.S. Representative Ben Cardin on Capitol Hill, as a Senior Researcher for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), and with EMILY's List.
Education: B.S. in Sociology from Towson University (1998).
Community Leadership: Formerly served as Communications Vice President for the Junior League of Annapolis. Recipient of the Maryland Library Association Distinguished Service Award (2023) and the Fannie Lou
Hamer Award (2022).
