Maryland has a closed primary, so voters must vote in the primary of their registered party. This means that some Democrats received Republican ballots, and some Republicans received Democrat ballots — a violation of state law, whether the voter realizes it or not.

The brilliant solution that the State Board of Elections came up with? Send out 500,000 ballots AGAIN!

This raises some serious concerns:

• How will it be ensured that voters only cast one ballot?

• What happens to the people who have already voted on the wrong ballot?

• How will we ensure that something like this never happens again?

Democrats are silent. Governor Wes Moore is silent, but President Trump was quick to respond:

The Media’s Response: A “Stafu”

The media calls this a “snafu”? It is so much more than that. 565,000 live ballots were mailed by the Maryland State Board of Elections, and they now have to be replaced.

If this had happened under Republican Governor Larry Hogan or President Trump, it would be wall-to-wall coverage, complete with breathless commentary about threats to democracy. The headlines would be relentless: “Election Crisis Unfolds,” “Ballot Catastrophe,” and endless segments questioning whether the integrity of our election system is at threat.

Yet because this unfolded in deep-blue Maryland under Democratic leadership, it’s been quickly dismissed as a simple “administrative hiccup.” The double standard is glaring and corrosive to public confidence.

President Trump is absolutely right to demand full transparency and answers on election integrity. Every voter — regardless of party — deserves to know that their ballot is secure, accurate, and properly handled from start to finish. Questions about the chain of custody, why this error occurred, and what safeguards failed must be addressed openly.

And where is Governor Wes Moore? There has been no press conference, no direct address to anxious Maryland voters, and no accountability. Silence in the face of such a large-scale error is unacceptable.

Demanding Secure Elections

The Maryland Freedom Caucus is demanding that the State Board of Elections fully cooperate with the Department of Justice to resolve these election security matters. If we do not have faith in a fair system, then we cannot have faith in the leaders elected by a flawed system.

Maryland has dramatically expanded mail-in voting in recent years. Convenience matters, but it cannot come at the expense of accuracy and security. When errors like this happen — and the “fix” creates even more problems — it proves the critics right: we need stronger safeguards, not blind trust in vendors and bureaucrats.

Voters should not have to wonder if their ballot will count or whether someone else’s might cancel theirs out through administrative sloppiness.

I will continue fighting in Annapolis and speaking out until we get real answers and real reforms. Our elections must be secure, transparent, and worthy of the public’s trust.

If you received multiple ballots, please contact your local Board of Elections and document everything. And reach out to me — I want to hear from you.

Maryland deserves better than this. Let’s demand it together.

Office Contact

If you have a concern, legislative idea, or constituent issue you need assistance with, please call my office at (410) 841-3698 or email me at kathy.szeliga@house.maryland.gov. Please be sure to follow me on Facebook and X, or visit my website at MarylandKathy.com.

God Bless,
Delegate Kathy Szeliga
Maryland House of Delegates
Vice Chair, Maryland Freedom Caucus

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Between 2014 and 2023, the SPLC secretly funneled more than $3 million in donated funds to individuals who were associated with various violent extremist groups including: Ku Klux Klan, United Klans of America, Unite the Right, National Alliance, National Socialist Movement, Aryan Nations affiliated Sadistic Souls Motorcycle Club, National Socialist Party of America (American Nazi Party), and American Front.

According to the indictment, the objective of the scheme and artifice was to obtain money via donations through materially false representations and omissions about what the donated funds would be used for.

In short, the SPLC - a group dedicated to eliminating racism and extremism - defrauded its donors by promising to root out white supremacy while funding white supremacy. Talk about job security!

The Maryland Freedom Caucus is breaking down what this means for Maryland:

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The SPLC - Maryland Connection

The Southern Poverty Law Center is part of a vast network of NGOs that have been working to entrench their critical race theory/DEI practices into every aspect of society - starting with our public schools. That’s where their Learning for Justice curriculum comes into play.

Learning for Justice is the SPLC’s platform for “offering learning for civic and political action to build an inclusive, multiracial democracy”. It also presents the framework under which the Maryland State Department of Education developed its mandatory anti-bias training for educators and school board members.

The Southern Poverty Law Center and the Maryland Democrats have a lot in common - they both want to make Maryland children more racist in order to fight racism. It brings in the donor dollars and keeps our communities divided.

How do we know? They voted for it - multiple times.

In 2024, the Maryland General Assembly passed HB 1386, mandating anti-bias training for all public school employees. Then, in 2025, that mandate expanded to school board members with SB 293. The purpose of the training is to teach white teachers that they are inherently biased and racist and that they need to identify and address all instances of racial bias with their students and colleagues, or they risk permanent damage.

The stated goal of anti-bias training is to instill the concepts in teachers so that this critical race theory concept is embedded in the classroom environment and in the teacher's teaching style. So, even if it isn’t “in the curriculum,” it is certainly being taught.

In the Maryland training, participants must take a test after the first session to measure their “implicit biases” using the Implicit Association Test, which has been thoroughly dismantled as junk science. Many critics of “anti-bias trainings” come to the same conclusion: they rarely lead to long-term behavior change, but instead increase guilt and shame in employees who become so aware of stereotypes they are supposed to ignore that there is a rebound effect. This is a feature, not a bug.

That’s because in the anti-bias training, there is an overt emphasis on WHITE students being the root of the problems with other students. In the MSDE anti-bias training manual, six out of nine sample scenarios for discussion identify white students as the perpetrators of “systemic racism”, “microaggressions”, and “religious discrimination” - even as young as 7 years old.

What are they up to now?

For the past two legislative sessions, 2025 and 2026, the Maryland Democrats have brought forth a bill that looks innocuous, but the Senate has rightly killed it both years because of what it is hiding.

Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day (HB4386) passed the House of Delegates again this year with overwhelming bipartisan support.

But the bill is more of this “Southern Poverty Law Center agenda” disguised as history and advocacy for walking. Inside the bill contains this line:

This kind of bill language is the biggest tell that the special interest behind the bill has a curriculum or agenda they are ready to sell to MSDE immediately upon implementation. That’s how the SPLC's anti-bias training framework became the basis for Maryland’s mandatory training so quickly.

It is no secret that Ruby Bridges is central to SPLC’s platform and curriculum:

A search of “Ruby Bridges” inside SPLC’s Learning for Justice platform returns a wealth of resources for pitting young minority children against their white classmates to teach them the classic Marxist “oppressor versus oppressed” complex. Like this gem:

“Coming to terms with the understanding that “you are not racist, but your identity is inextricably linked to privilege and racism in this country” is tricky for white children.” - From the article, “When a First Grader is Called a Racist”

I joined the Maryland Freedom Caucus in voting NO on the Ruby Bridges Bill this year and last. We will remain a no vote every time it is introduced, because we are sending the clear message that SPLC does not belong in the institutions that influence our children.

Office Contact

If you have a concern, legislative idea, or constituent issue you need assistance with, please call my office at (410) 841-3698 or email me at kathy.szeliga@house.maryland.gov. Please be sure to follow me on Facebook and X, or visit my website at MarylandKathy.com.

God Bless,
Delegate Kathy Szeliga
Maryland House of Delegates
Vice Chair, Maryland Freedom Caucus

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We see too often people celebrating and supporting political violence. When leaders and media spend years labeling opponents as existential threats to democracy, it shouldn’t shock us when unstable individuals take that rhetoric literally. This recent assassination attempt, involving anti-Christian and anti-Trump sentiments with ties to the No Kings protests, is another reminder of how dangerous the media can be.

Stop the violence. Stop the insanity. Political disagreement is healthy, but encouraging death upon enemies is wrong in every sense of the word.

Maryland Families Deserve Better: The High Cost of One-Party Rule

A recent report highlighted a painful truth: Maryland is now the second most expensive state in the nation to raise a child. Taxes, fees, housing, childcare, and everyday costs are squeezing parents dry. Many are wondering if they can afford to stay here or are even thinking about leaving. This shouldn’t surprise anyone. Decades of Democrat control in Annapolis have piled on regulations, spending, and mandates that drive up the cost of everything while delivering worse results.

Marylanders can no longer afford to raise children or comfortably retire. The American Dream feels out of reach for too many here. The solution isn’t more government programs or higher taxes — it’s a new direction. Democrats got us into this mess with their tax-and-spend approach. Maryland families can vote for change by supporting Republican candidates who will prioritize fiscal responsibility, cut unnecessary costs, and make our state affordable again.

A Culture in Decline: Juvenile Violence and Failed Leadership

This moral and cultural decay shows up in heartbreaking ways on our streets. Just this week in Towson, a group of 10 juveniles swarmed a young girl near a bus stop in broad daylight. They repeatedly stomped on her stomach and head while others cheered. Police identified nine of them, ages 11 to 14, with five now facing second-degree assault charges.

I hope that the young girl is physically and emotionally okay. This is a sad testimony to the state of our culture, parenting, and the moral rot setting in across Maryland. When kids this young commit such brutal violence without apparent remorse, something has gone terribly wrong with how we’re raising the next generation.

Instead of making it easier to hold these juveniles accountable, Governor Wes Moore and the Annapolis Democrats have pushed policies that make it harder. This past session, Democrats rammed through the Youth Charging Reform Act which ends automatic adult charging for most crimes committed by juveniles. How will these young people ever learn personal responsibility and respect for others if the system excuses violent behavior against another child? We need real accountability, stronger consequences for serious juvenile crime, and a return to supporting strong families and moral clarity — not more experiments that endanger our communities.

Protecting Girls and Women: Common Sense on Sports and Fairness

While Maryland Democrats rejected my legislation to keep biological boys out of girls’ sports, other states are standing up. Across the country, states are finally pushing back against the idea that biological males should compete in girls’ and women’s sports.

In Pennsylvania, the State Senate just passed a bill banning males from participating in female sports in schools, with four Democrats joining Republicans. This is common-sense legislation rooted in biology and fairness. Girls deserve equal opportunity in athletics without being displaced by biological males who have inherent physical advantages in strength, speed, and endurance.

Title IX was meant to protect women’s sports, not erase them. We shouldn’t need legislation to state the obvious, but here we are. Maryland should follow Pennsylvania’s lead and pass similar protections. Our daughters and granddaughters should not have to lose scholarships, podium spots, or safety in locker rooms because politicians refuse to acknowledge basic biological differences. Every girl deserves to compete in sports safely and fairly.

Office Contact

If you have a concern, legislative idea, or constituent issue you need assistance with, please call my office at (410) 841-3698 or email me at kathy.szeliga@house.maryland.gov. Please be sure to follow me on Facebook and X, or visit my website at MarylandKathy.com.

God Bless,
Delegate Kathy Szeliga
Maryland House of Delegates
Vice Chair, Maryland Freedom Caucus

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On April 15th, Tax Day, my husband Mark and I sat down and wrote the checks — just like so many of you did. Every year, the burden grows heavier. Families are tightening their belts while politicians in Annapolis have imposed more than 300 tax and fee hikes in just the last four years. We are fighting every single day to lower taxes, cut wasteful spending, and restore fiscal sanity so that Maryland remains a place where families can afford to stay. Seniors can afford to retire, not a state they feel forced to flee.

Governor Moore keeps celebrating what he calls a landmark budget — the largest, most bloated in state history — while the rest of us watched energy prices soar and businesses shutter. He offered Marylanders a meager $12-a-month discount on their energy tax as if it were some grand victory. It was nothing more than window dressing on a failed energy policy driven by climate hysteria. Just look at what happened over the weekend: a hotel in Maryland now shuts off its air conditioning at night because of these same “Green New Deal” mandates. Electricity prices are already punishingly high, and now tourism and conferences — engines of our local economy — are next in line to suffer. This is not progress. This is a self-inflicted economic decline.

I joined Pennsylvania State Senator Kristin Phillips-Hill to discuss Maryland’s energy crisis and its impact on neighboring states. Listen on Spotify below or on your preferred podcast app.

SPOTIFY: Chat with Senator Phillips-Hill

The human cost is even more heartbreaking. While Governor Moore parades children as campaign props, 84 percent of Baltimore City eighth-graders remain functionally illiterate. That is not compassion — that is malpractice. At the same time, juvenile crime has exploded, turning once-thriving places like Towson Town Center into no-go zones. When an Apple Store — a flagship retailer that was always busy — announces it is leaving because of rampant shoplifting, link-up robberies, assaults, and slow police response, the message is unmistakable: radical policies have consequences. Stores close. Jobs disappear. Communities crumble. Democrats destroy cities; we have seen it in Baltimore, and now it is spreading.

This is not the Maryland I know or the America I love. Marxist ideology has infected too many of our schools and universities, teaching our young people that they are either oppressors or the oppressed. Yet we are blessed to live in the greatest nation on earth, where opportunity is unlimited for anyone willing to work hard and play by the rules. We must return to first principles: respect for each other, respect for our country, and unapologetic belief in American exceptionalism.

The choice before us is clear. We can continue down the path of higher taxes, bloated budgets, crime without consequence, failing schools, and energy poverty — or we can choose limited government, personal responsibility, law and order, and economic growth. The radical left has had its turn. The results are in, and they are disastrous.

Office Contact

If you have a concern, legislative idea, or constituent issue you need assistance with, please call my office at (410) 841-3698 or email me at kathy.szeliga@house.maryland.gov. Please be sure to follow me on Facebook and X, or visit my website at MarylandKathy.com.

God Bless,
Delegate Kathy Szeliga
Maryland House of Delegates
Vice Chair, Maryland Freedom Caucus

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This past week, I voted NO on a bill that would allow the state to sue private and religious schools for “discrimination” if they refuse to embrace the radical gender ideology du jour. Let me be crystal clear: The Maryland legislature will go to extremes to indoctrinate children — even those in non-public schools that parents deliberately chose to escape the public system.

Then there’s the fiscal insanity.

Maryland’s state budget is nearly $71 billion for just 6.3 million people, about $11,300 per resident. Compare that to South Carolina, which has a similar population but spends only $41 billion, roughly $7,300 per resident. Are Maryland families happier because of that massive difference? Of course not.

Our so-called “Blueprint for Education” was passed with great fanfare and zero dedicated funding. We in the Freedom Caucus warned this would lead to administrative bloat and stagnant results. Sure enough, administrators are up 25%, but student performance remains flat or worse. It’s exactly the disaster we predicted.

Energy bills are through the roof. The Key Bridge remains a pile of rubble years after the collapse, with costs exploding. Juvenile crime is rising. Taxes keep climbing. And what’s the Democrat response to all of it?

Blame Donald Trump. Every single day.

As Governor Bob Ehrlich rightly pointed out, the daily Trump-bashing in Annapolis is a masterclass in blame-shifting. When their policies fail, when costs skyrocket, when priorities collapse, they never look in the mirror. They just point fingers at the president. Donald Trump isn’t responsible for your unaffordable BGE bills, your crushing tax burden, your high medical costs, or the breakdown in juvenile justice.

While all this is happening here at home, I can’t help but notice what real leadership looks like elsewhere.

In Argentina, Javier Milei took a chainsaw to government spending, slashed regulations, and cut taxes—and in record time, he’s dramatically reduced extreme poverty. That’s what happens when you choose freedom over bureaucracy.

Here’s what I believe with all my heart:

Maryland is not doomed. But we are currently governed by people who think the answer to every problem is more government, more indoctrination, and more scapegoating. They attack parental rights, ignore biological reality, balloon the budget, and then wonder why families are struggling.

The Maryland Freedom Caucus exists to fight back. We believe in lower taxes, real school choice, parental authority, safe streets, biological truth in sports and bathrooms, and a government that lives within its means.

This fight isn’t just about Maryland. What the radicals in Annapolis are trying to do today is what the national left wants to impose on every state in the country.

I will keep speaking out, keep voting no when it’s the right thing to do, and keep fighting for Maryland families.

READ: A State At A Crossroads

Office Contact

If you have a concern, legislative idea, or constituent issue you need assistance with, please call my office at (410) 841-3698 or email me at kathy.szeliga@house.maryland.gov. Please be sure to follow me on Facebook and X, or visit my website at MarylandKathy.com.

God Bless,
Delegate Kathy Szeliga
Maryland House of Delegates
Vice Chair, Maryland Freedom Caucus

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These are conversations polite people didn’t use to have. Unfortunately, we had to talk about it in Annapolis.

What problem is this trying to solve? Men don’t need feminine hygiene products. I questioned the floor leader about the bill language that requires the products to be “appropriately sized.”

This bill is anti-science and a huge waste of money.

The Democrats don’t even know how much this would cost. The bill’s fiscal note said that the cost is “potentially significant.” When we face a looming structural deficit with no more tax dollars to spare, putting feminine hygiene products in men’s bathrooms would be a huge waste of money.

This bill made the headlines. Fox News, NEWSMAX, Breitbart, and the Daily Caller all called out this ridiculous bill.

Democrats in Annapolis have misplaced priorities. When families are struggling to afford to live in this state, Democrats have shown their true colors. They have no problem wasting your hard-earned tax dollars.

I long for the days when everyone could define “man” and “woman” without acting like there is any blurred area. If men think they need feminine hygiene products, the tax dollar should not be paying for their delusions.

It feels like year after year, the bills just get sillier, but thanks to people like you who expressed their outrage with this dumb idea, the bill has lost its momentum. We stopped it in its tracks — preventing this dumb idea from becoming law.

I will always defend common sense in Annapolis, and defeating this bill is a huge victory.

Office Contact

If you have a concern, legislative idea, or constituent issue you need assistance with, please call my office at (410) 841-3698 or email me at kathy.szeliga@house.maryland.gov. Please be sure to follow me on Facebook and X, or visit my website at MarylandKathy.com.

God Bless,

Kathy Szeliga

Maryland House of Delegates, District 7A

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Here’s the truth: they’re not lowering your bill—they’re shaving down a fee you already pay. You’re still paying, just slightly less. That’s not real reform. That’s not relief. That’s political window dressing while Maryland families continue to struggle under sky-high energy costs.

This winter, Marylanders saw exactly what happens when ideology replaces common sense. Electricity prices spiked during extreme cold, our grid was pushed to the limit, and families were left choosing between keeping the heat on and keeping food on the table. This crisis did not appear overnight. It is the product of years of policies that weakened Maryland’s ability to generate dependable, affordable energy here at home.

Now, at the 11th hour, the same people who helped create this mess want credit for a 75-page legislative package rushed out with almost no time for meaningful review. The bill’s supporters say it will provide $150 in annual savings. But what they don’t tell you is that they are actually just letting you keep a small portion of the fee you pay every month for the EmPOWER Program. And even supporters frame that saving as an average estimate, not the kind of structural reform families, seniors, and small businesses really need.

Maryland should be producing the reliable energy it needs and uses. Instead, we have tied our own hands and import 40% of the power we use. The liberals in Annapolis, fueled by radical environmentalists, have shut down or squeezed dependable generation, blocked practical solutions, and then turned around and imported power from other states. That is not good energy policy.

If Maryland is serious about lowering bills, then we need real reform: more in-state generation, more natural gas, serious consideration of expanding nuclear capacity, and an end to the costly policies that punish reliability in the name of political virtue signaling.

Marylanders do not need a feel-good bill that fails to deliver real results. We all need affordable, dependable energy. A $12.50-a-month headline is not real relief. Real relief means fixing the system that caused this crisis in the first place.

House Bill 1532, passing the House this week, adopts one of the Maryland Freedom Caucus’ priorities by reducing the EmPOWER Maryland fees. It’s an inch in the right direction, but the reduction is inadequate. I supported a full repeal of the fee on energy bills, which would have delivered relief averaging $33 a month. Unfortunately, Democrats decided that additional energy relief was unnecessary.

As we enter the summer months, when air conditioners run to keep people cool amid the excessive heat, bills will rise once again. This cycle will only be broken with serious energy reform that boosts production and eliminates excessive fees. Marylanders need real relief, and they need it now.

Marylanders Leaving for More Affordable States

Residents across the state have felt the pain of Governor Wes Moore’s hundreds of new and increased taxes and fees. Nearly 70,000 Marylanders have fled to Florida — a state with fiscal order, no estate tax, and no income tax.

This data, provided by www.votewithyourfeet.net, compiles redacted IRS data to show the moving numbers from 2012 to 2022. When the 2025 data is available, it will reflect just how disastrous Wes Moore has been for our state. Tax after tax, fee after fee, Moore’s spending problem is driving families and businesses out of Maryland.

The data is clear. People are moving to more affordable states — Florida, Texas, Idaho, Tennessee, the Carolinas — because paying more for less just doesn’t make sense. Annapolis has to curb its spending addiction so that Marylanders do not have to flee the state for a more affordable life elsewhere.

We will keep fighting for you — because Marylanders deserve to live in a state that is safe, free, and prosperous.

Office Contact

If you have a concern, legislative idea, or constituent issue you need assistance with, please call my office at (410) 841-3698 or email me at kathy.szeliga@house.maryland.gov. Please be sure to follow me on Facebook and X, or visit my website at MarylandKathy.com.

God Bless,

Kathy Szeliga

Maryland House of Delegates, District 7A

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HB409: Getting Softer on Juvenile Crime

The Maryland Senate's passage of the so-called Youth Charging Reform Act is a classic example of liberal elites in Annapolis deliberately choosing ideology over the safety of everyday Marylanders. This is not juvenile justice reform. It's a dangerous retreat from responsibility, a surrender to the very forces tearing at the fabric of our communities.

This latest bill eliminates automatic adult court charges for 14- and 15-year-olds committing grave offenses: abduction, kidnapping, robbery and attempted robbery, first-degree assault, third-degree sex offenses, certain firearm violations, and drug trafficking. It narrows the path to adult prosecution for older teens as well. At precisely the moment when Maryland families are pleading for stronger measures against rising crime, the Annapolis crowd decides to weaken the very tools needed to protect them.

It's time for Annapolis to stop the dangerous experiments, stand with victims and communities, and return to the proven principle that serious crime demands serious consequences. Anything less is a betrayal of the people we serve.

HB486: Trojan Horse for Social Justice Education Mandates

Last week, a bill passed the House that would designate the “Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day”. It might sound well-intended, but this is a Trojan horse for social justice education in public schools. The bill says it “shall include resources to assist teachers to engage students in discussions about civil rights and social justice.” What is social justice? It’s equity, DEI, restorative discipline practices that are very soft on discipline, and grade changing to make failing students feel better.

As a former educator, I am dismayed by the failures of our public school system. There are 23 schools across the state where ZERO kids are proficient in math. Let that sink in. If you send your child to one of those schools, you are guaranteed that they will not succeed. Only 26% of all Maryland public school children are proficient in math, and Baltimore County is below the state average at 20.7% proficiency.

Only a handful of my colleagues and I voted against this bill.

The Budget: Facts and Fiction

Under Governor Wes Moore, we have seen record levels of spending, hundreds of new taxes and fees, and the depletion of the surplus left by Governor Hogan. Half-truths and flat-out lies have made their way into budget discussions, and we need to set the record straight. While he may try to hide from the facts, his record speaks for itself.

While Maryland's budget continues to balloon year after year, our population growth has remained stagnant. Marylanders can’t afford Governor Moore’s out-of-control spending habits. You can count on me to keep fighting for a safer, freer, and more affordable Maryland.

Office Contact

If you have a concern, legislative idea, or constituent issue you need assistance with, please call my office at (410) 841-3698 or email me at kathy.szeliga@house.maryland.gov. Please be sure to follow me on Facebook and X, or visit my website at MarylandKathy.com.

God Bless,

Kathy Szeliga

Maryland House of Delegates, District 7A

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There is a saying around Annapolis that no Marylander’s wallet is safe while the legislature is in session. Sadly, this could not be truer. This session has been one filled with too many unnecessary discussions that avoid debate of the larger, more important issues. Instead of addressing affordability issues and sky-high electric bills, Democrats have wasted time debating useless issues.

Update: Gerrymandering Scam FAILED

Gov. Wes Moore waged war against Republicans and independents in the fall when he announced the formation of a redistricting commission that drafted a map to ensure that every Maryland congressman would be a Democrat. The map passed the House after Gov. Moore testified briefly in the Rules Committee, but quickly left to avoid questions from legislators. Some critics of the governor’s proposal knew that taking the map to court would end poorly for Democrats. Despite the overwhelming 72% opposition to the bill, the governor pushed it through the House.

Gov. Moore even invited Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to Annapolis to try to persuade Senate Democrats to get on board with Washington’s gerrymandering scheme. Luckily, the Senate held the line and never took the proposal to a vote. The deadline to file to run for Congress recently passed. Effectively, Gov. Moore’s plan is dead.

Fairness in Girls’ Sports Act

In February, my bill to protect girls’ sports was before the Ways & Means Committee. Women and girls deserve to compete in school sports with safety and fairness, and I have been proud to introduce legislation for the fifth year in a row to designate girls’ sports exclusively for girls. The committee has not yet voted on whether my legislation will advance, but I will always fight for women and girls everywhere who deserve to compete with athletes of their same gender.

Sky-High Energy Bills

The Maryland Freedom Caucus has been sounding the alarm on the astronomical cost of your BGE bill. Unfortunately, the only thing that has passed the House is a feel-good bill that will not make a dent in your electricity rates. The bill they approved caps bonuses for energy company employees and could unintentionally limit pay for linemen called out of town for 24/7 storm recovery efforts. Gov. Moore continues to push for more expensive solar while maintaining the same energy taxes and fees that have been crushing Marylanders. We continue to advocate for the Maryland Freedom Caucus’ four-point energy plan that will lower your bill today, next summer, and for years to come.

Public Safety

In addition to skyrocketing costs, many communities are in a public safety crisis. We have lost too many Marylanders at the hands of violent criminals who have entered our country illegally. Da’Cara Johnson, Kayla Hamilton, Rachel Morin, and, most recently, Jefferson Amaya-Ayala were taken too soon because of the protections for illegal immigrants in our state. Despite these murders, Democrats are shutting down cooperation with ICE. Legislation (H.B. 444) was passed that ended jail-based cooperation with ICE. Gov. Moore signed the bill on Feb. 17. Instead of working with ICE to remove criminals and keep Marylanders safe, they are ending the partnerships the agency needs to get violent offenders out of our communities. Maryland ICE continues to lead the nation in sex offender apprehensions and deportations.

Fighting for Sanity

The focal point of the session thus far has been President Donald Trump. While Trump is working to lower Americans’ cost of living, Marylanders cannot reap the benefits. Our high taxes and fees make us one of the most unaffordable states in the country. The budget continues to balloon, and the fiscal cliff is here. As state spending increases every year, our population is not. That means higher taxes for everyone. Democrats are quick to blame President Trump for problems they created, but Marylanders know who is really at fault.

Gov. Moore has been too busy auditioning to be president of the United States, leaving Marylanders behind in the process. For the last three years, Gov. Moore’s administration has faced waste, fraud, and abuse uncovered by numerous departmental audits. The state’s credit rating was downgraded, many of its Cabinet secretaries have resigned, and affordability has become a thing of the past. For the sake of all Marylanders who desperately want to make Maryland a better place to live, work, raise a family, and retire, we will fight for you until the legislature adjourns at midnight on April 13.

Office Contact

If you have a concern, legislative idea, or constituent issue you need assistance with, please call my office at (410) 841-3698 or email me at kathy.szeliga@house.maryland.gov. Please be sure to follow me on Facebook and X, or visit my website at MarylandKathy.com.

God Bless,

Kathy Szeliga

Maryland House of Delegates, District 7A

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Wes Moore’s energy plan is making Maryland unaffordable. Green new scams like solar and wind are not reliable energy sources, and they are expensive to mass produce.

We are grateful for Congressman Andy Harris and President Trump, who are working to lower the cost of energy for all Americans. Unfortunately, Maryland cannot see those benefits because taxes and fees are driving up the cost.

The Maryland Freedom Caucus has a plan for relief. Our legislation will:

• Pause all state taxes and fees on energy bills

• Eliminate the EmPOWER fee

• Build more fossil fuel power generation for reliability and affordability

• Withdraw Maryland from RGGI, a massive tax on power generators.

  

While Marylanders struggled to pay their bills, Governor Moore supported a bill to cap executive pay, but it did nothing to lower energy costs for Marylanders. As usual, he is sitting back while Marylanders suffer. Families deserve immediate relief.

Marylanders across the state are getting crushed by their energy bills. A local grocery store received its monthly bill for nearly $60,000. Families are seeing bills from $500-1000, and sometimes higher. These prices are driven up by the costly taxes and fees imposed by Democrats in Annapolis. Their green energy scam is making Maryland unaffordable, but relief is possible.

Sign our petition to show your support for halting ALL Taxes and Fees and for realistic measures that reduce energy costs and ensure a stable power supply for Maryland families.

HALT Energy Taxes & Fees

We need your help sending the message to Annapolis Democrats that Marylanders are fed up with unaffordable energy bills. Your signature will help amplify our voice as we advocate for real solutions to strengthen the power grid and immediately alleviate rising energy costs.

God Bless,

Kathy Szeliga

Maryland House of Delegates, District 7A

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The Radical Green Energy policies in Annapolis have driven up energy costs in Maryland. About 28.5% of your electricity bill is made up of extra charges from Annapolis, and Marylanders have had enough.

While Governor Wes Moore offers false promises and legislation that does nothing to lower costs, the state continues to collect taxes and fees that drive up your bill. If leaders are serious about affordability, they must start by cutting the costs within their control.

Immediate help is possible. That’s why we are calling on leaders to offer the relief Marylanders so desperately need.

Sign the Maryland Freedom Caucus petition to HALT taxes and fees on energy bills.

Sign the petition

Every voice matters. With your help, we can send the message to Maryland Democrats that we’ve had enough of their green energy scam.

Kathy Szeliga

Maryland House of Delegates, District 7A

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On February 5th, the Fairness in Girls Sports Act (HB63) was heard in the Ways & Means Committee. For over an hour, I answered questions from committee members after the Chair ruled that in-person testimony was not allowed. Despite this, many Marylanders submitted written testimony and emailed their legislators, urging a favorable report of HB63. My legislation protects girls in high school JV and Varsity sports by ensuring they feel safe in the locker room and during competition.

Prior to the hearing, we held a press conference with fencer Stephanie Turner, Jonathan Alexandre of the Maryland Family Institute, and a collegiate athlete, who all shared their support for fairness in girls’ sports.

For the fairness and safety of young girls in Maryland, this legislation is crucial. I will not stop fighting for safety and fairness in girls’ sports. Every girl deserves to feel safe in the locker room and in competition.

One of the questions I received came from a delegate who stated that she holds a master’s degree in biology. She said that the term “biological” boys was offensive, but the terminology changes too often. First, we were told we are biological women, then we were called cisgender women, and now she suggests athletes be grouped as transgender female or “other female”. So being a girl is “other” now?

If we do not act, Democrats will continue to erode what it means to be a woman.

Mayor Scott’s “Sweet Ride”

Taxpayers shouldn’t be paying for the Baltimore City Mayor to drive around in luxury vehicles. His sweet ride is a waste of money.

Not only is Mayor Scott driving a $165k Jeep Grand Wagoneer, but his wife is affiliated with a nonprofit that ceased operations after receiving $100k in Baltimore City tax dollars.

I joined Matt Gaetz on One America News Network to discuss this misuse of tax dollars in Baltimore City.

School Walkouts

Baltimore County Public Schools now seems fine with students skipping class to protest ICE during instructional time.

This is the same district facing record absenteeism, declining test scores, and falling graduation rates, as reported by Project Baltimore and Chris Papst. Yet instead of getting kids back in the classroom, they’re normalizing walkouts.

We support and encourage students to exercise their First Amendment right to protest. If civic engagement is the goal, why not after-school? Or on the weekend? Taxpayer-funded classrooms are becoming staging grounds for activism while academics slide.

Schools are places for learning, and students have missed an entire week of classroom instruction due to snow. It distracts from instruction when students leave the classroom, alienates students who don’t want to protest, and becomes a public safety issue when they leave the building.

When schools teach slogans before knowledge, students repeat ideology instead of history. Baltimore County needs to get serious and return to basics.

Annapolis continues to debate energy, ICE, and redistricting, and the Maryland Freedom Caucus is fighting for common sense every step of the way.

Kathy Szeliga

Maryland House of Delegates, District 7A

Shutting down public participation is wrong. Silencing supporters of this important issue will not stop us.

Advocates, press, and the public are invited to attend a virtual press conference:

WHEN: 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 5, hosted on its website at:

http://mdfreedom.org/zoom-meetings/fairness-in-girls-sports-live-press-event/

We will have amazing speakers like Collegiate Fencer Stephanie Turner, Jonathan Alexandre, Esq. of the Maryland Family Institute, and a student-athlete to express their support for HB63.

HB 63, The Fairness in Girls’ Sports bill, will guarantee that JV and Varsity girls’ sports are for biological girls. Additionally, locker rooms will be safe spaces for girls to change into and out of their uniforms and to shower afterward.

Public opinion on this issue has shifted considerably over the past five years. There is now broad bipartisan support for protecting fairness in girls’ sports and privacy in locker rooms. Notably, a growing number of feminist groups, LGB national leaders, and organizations have spoken out in favor of maintaining safe, sex based spaces for females when they are undressing. That focus on safety and privacy is the central new element of this bill.

Please join us in the fight to protect girls’ sports!

Kathy Szeliga

Maryland House of Delegates, District 7A

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My bill protects fairness, safety, and competitiveness in JV and Varsity girls’ sports. The House Ways and Means Committee will hear the bill on Thursday, February 5th.

The Committee Chair has chosen not to allow public testimony. Although in-person testimony is not allowed, you can still make your voice heard. We need you to submit written testimony by TONIGHT, February 3rd at 6PM!

Here are the steps to submit testimony:

1. Maryland General Assembly website

2. If you don’t already have a MyMGA website, please register for one. The MyMGA icon is in the upper right corner.

3. Click here for a Video Tutorial on setting up a MyMGA account.

4. Click on Witness Signup (on the left), and the bills for every committee will be displayed. Either scroll down to HB 63 or use the drop-down and pick the Ways & Means committee.

5. Click on HB 63

6. In “Position” drop-down to Favorable

7. In “Testimony” either select Written, or if you just want to register support, select None

For written, click Upload Testimony. Your testimony must be in PDF format.

8. IMPORTANT – You then scroll to the top of the page and click SAVE under Witness Signup

   

Tune into the Ways and Means Committee hearing on Thursday at 1pm. Let’s protect girls’ sports!

Kathy Szeliga

Maryland House of Delegates, District 7A

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In the Rules Committee hearing on Tuesday, Marylanders showed up to oppose Governor Moore’s efforts to gerrymander Republicans out of the congressional delegation.

Thank you to everyone who signed up to testify on HB488. There were 532 testifiers, which is one of the highest numbers I’ve seen since I have been in Annapolis. Of those 532 testifiers, 76% spoke against the redistricting sham that Democrats are trying to ram through the legislature.

HB 488 will not only redraw the congressional maps but also change the rules for all future maps. Governor Moore said this was a “fair” process, but the map and process are anything but fair.

The Democrats made their intentions very clear; this sham process is driven by their visceral hate for President Donald Trump and their goals of eliminating every single Republican voice in Washington, D.C.

Watch some of my comments below:

In 2002, Maryland had 4 Republican members of Congress. In 2010, there were 2. Now, CD1 (Eastern Shore, Cecil County, Harford County, and part of Baltimore County) is the last bastion for Republicans. It is not because Maryland has gotten more blue, but rather blatant gerrymandering by the Democrats who will not stop until they have FULL control of the congressional delegation.

I will not stop fighting for Maryland Republicans who have earned their voice to be represented in Congress.

ICE and the 287(g) Program Protects Marylanders

The Maryland General Assembly is back in session, and public safety is already under attack.

While the federal government works to secure the southern border and remove dangerous criminals, leaders in Annapolis are moving in the opposite direction, pushing legislation that undermines cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities, putting Maryland communities at risk.

Two bills illustrate this troubling direction. Both bills were heard in the Senate last week.

Senate Bill 1 would prohibit law enforcement officers in Maryland from wearing face coverings except in limited undercover situations. Violations could result in up to two years in prison, a $2,000 fine, and the loss of civil immunity.

Although supporters claim the bill targets federal immigration agents, the reality is clear: Maryland lawmakers have no authority to dictate how federal officers conduct their duties. More importantly, law-enforcement leaders warn that the bill ignores real and growing safety threats.

In recent years, radical anti-police activists and criminal organizations, including the narco-terrorists and gangs, have used facial-recognition technology to identify officers, harass their families, and threaten them at their homes. Some officers now wear face coverings not to avoid accountability, but to protect their families and themselves.

Accountability already exists. Officers display badges, wear name tags when in uniform, and operate under body-camera requirements that allow footage to be released to the public. Forcing officers to choose between their safety and their jobs is reckless public policy.

At the same time, the Senate President is sponsoring Senate Bill 245, which would cancel Maryland’s participation in the 287(g) program, one of the most effective tools available to get violent criminals off our streets.

There has been widespread misinformation about 287(g). Only nine of Maryland’s 24 jurisdictions currently participate in the program, and those nine have some of the state’s lowest crime rates. All nine jurisdictions adamantly want to keep the program.

Maryland uses only the 287(g) Jail Enforcement Model. This model applies exclusively to individuals who are already under arrest and already in jail for serious offenses. It allows trained corrections officers to run background checks to determine whether a detainee has outstanding warrants or serious immigration violations. If so, ICE is notified and can assume custody directly from the jail.

Without 287(g), dangerous criminals are released back into the community, forcing ICE to locate rapists, child predators, gang members, and drug traffickers after they are already free. That is not safer for the public or for law enforcement.

There is a renewed effort in Maryland to discredit law enforcement and dismantle effective public-safety tools. That effort ignores the victims whose lives were cut short by preventable crimes.

Public safety must come before politics. I will continue fighting disinformation and standing with law enforcement to keep Maryland communities safe.

Kathy Szeliga

House of Delegates, District 7A

HB 488 will not only redraw the congressional redistricting maps but also change the rules for all future maps.

They plan to hold a bill hearing on Tuesday, January 26, 2026, and then immediately vote the bill through. (Monday’s bill hearing was postponed because of the weather.)

The only way to stop this partisan power grab is overwhelming public opposition.

Here’s how to make your voice heard (takes just a few minutes):

Step 1: Create a MyMGA Account

Go to the Maryland General Assembly website

Create a MyMGA Tracking Account (or log in if you already have one)

Step 2: Sign Up to Testify (TIME-SENSITIVE)

⚠️ Must be completed by Sunday, January 25 at 8:00 PM

Inside MyMGA, go to Witness Signup and enter the following exactly:

Committee: Rules and Executive Nominations

Bill: HB488

Organization: Leave blank (unless testifying on behalf of an organization)

Position: Unfavorable

Testimony:

If you plan to speak, select “Both” and upload written remarks as a PDF

If you do not want to speak or submit written testimony, select “None” — your unfavorable position will still be officially recorded

🔴 VERY IMPORTANT: Click “Save” at the TOP of the page, or your submission will NOT be counted.

Step 3: Watch Your Email

If you selected oral testimony, you’ll receive instructions by email on how to participate in the virtual hearing.

Our Top Priorities This Session

🔌 Lowering Energy Costs

Runaway energy prices are crushing Maryland families and seniors. Energy affordability remains a top Freedom Caucus priority, and we will be introducing several bills to advance the four-point energy plan we laid out in February.

🏅 Saving Girls’ Sports

Once again, I will introduce legislation to ensure that high school varsity and junior varsity sports are reserved for biological girls. This year’s bill also protects girls’ locker rooms, ensuring privacy and fairness.

💰 Fighting All Tax and Fee Increases

With Maryland facing massive budget problems, we will oppose any attempt to balance the books on the backs of taxpayers.

📊 Accountability for Nonprofits Receiving Taxpayer Dollars

We are introducing three bills to ensure that nonprofits receiving taxpayer funds are legitimate, compliant with the law, and have paid all required taxes before being eligible for government funding.

🔍 Demanding Accountability for Waste, Fraud, and Abuse

Legislative audits last year uncovered widespread waste, fraud, and abuse across state agencies. We will not allow these findings to be ignored—we are demanding real accountability.

📍 Freedom Caucus Fundraiser — Tonight!

Please join us tonight in Chevy Chase for a special briefing featuring Congressman Andy Harris, Chair of the National Freedom Caucus, with an update from Washington, D.C.

The Maryland Freedom Caucus will also share our outlook and predictions for the legislative session that begins the very next day.

👉 If you cannot attend, please consider making a contribution. We cannot continue this fight without your support.

⚡ Mid-Atlantic Energy Hearing — Friday in Annapolis

The public is invited to attend a Mid-Atlantic Energy Hearing this Friday in Annapolis, hosted by legislators from Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

Maryland now has the most expensive electricity in the nation, while Pennsylvania is increasingly frustrated with exporting large amounts of energy to a state that continues to shut down its own power generation.

Panelists will include energy experts and a senior official from PJM, the regional grid operator supplying electricity to 13 states from Illinois to Virginia, including Maryland.

This is an important conversation about reliability, affordability, and the future of our regional energy supply.

Thank you for your support and encouragement throughout 2025. I’m transitioning my emails to Substack and hope you’ll continue to stay informed through my newsletter—and even share it with family and friends. As we close out the campaign fundraising cycle, I ask you to consider a contribution to my campaign. Every dollar goes toward fighting for affordability and common-sense policies that make Maryland a better place to live, work, raise a family, run a small business, and eventually retire.

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