With the 2024 General Election coming to a boil, what policies are candidates on all levels of government promising for Marylanders?
Thousands of people gather in front of stages across the country in anticipation, waiting to see one of the two presidential nominees speak: Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.
While Trump’s name and policy are well-known by most, Harris’s is not; while she served as Joe Biden’s Vice President for 4 years, her role and involvement were considered minor by most. The Washington Post noted last year that “Such concerns about Harris’s political strength were repeated often by more than a dozen Democratic leaders in key states… Harris’s tenure has been underwhelming, they said, marked by struggles as a communicator and at times near-invisibility, leaving many rank-and-file Democrats unpersuaded that she has the force, charisma and skill to mount a winning presidential campaign.” On top of the presidential election, numerous state and local positions are up for grabs in November’s election.
Each presidential nominee provides vastly differing positions on key issues around the country. According to the Harris-Walz official website, their policy focuses on points such as cutting taxes for middle class families, lowering real estate prices, growing small businesses, lowering the price of health care, and fighting climate change alongside lowering energy costs. If elected, Harris plans to ensure that “no one earning less than $400,000 a year will pay more in taxes,” “provide a $6,000 tax cut to families with newborn children,” and “provide first-time homebuyers with up to $25,000 to help with their down payments, with more generous support for first-generation homeowners.”
She also promises to expand a tax deduction for new small businesses to assist with getting them off the ground; in other policy spheres, she wishes to reinstate national abortion rights and protect LGBTQ+ citizens, tackle gun violence and crime, secure borders, and lead internationally through ending the war in Gaza and continuing to send aid to Ukraine. Project 2025, a conservative playbook created by former Trump administration officials, is claimed to be dangerous for America throughout her website. The BBC noted how Project 2025 will place the federal bureaucracy under presidential control, overhaul federal agencies, eliminate the Department of Education and Homeland Security, and eliminate “woke propaganda.” Job protections would also be eliminated for “thousands of government employees, who could then be replaced by political appointees.”
Eliminating “woke propaganda” would involve “removing diversity, equity and inclusion programs in schools and government departments,” as stated in the BBC reporting. While Trump himself has said on multiple occasions that he has nothing to do with the project, many of the Republican Party’s platforms reflect certain aspects of Project 2025. For example, the BBC explains that the GOP promises to “declassify government records, root out wrongdoers, and fire corrupt employees,” as well as cut regulation, government spending, and close the Department of Education.
Conversely, the Trump-Vance campaign describes policy that sits on the other side of the political spectrum. Trump clarified how he will “seal the border and stop the migrant invasion,” “defeat inflation and quickly bring down all prices,” and oversee a “return to peace through strength”. He wants to restore border security, deport illegal immigrants, and remove “indoctrination” from schools–among other things.
The debate between Harris and Trump occurred on September 10, providing further insight into each candidate’s policy. Harris reiterated her plans to create an “opportunity economy” that would help families save money. Trump touted his goals for tariffs on foreign countries and deporting migrants; he also reiterated that “I have nothing to do with Project 2025,” when confronted about the project by Harris.
Numerous people were displeased with Kamala’s policy after the debate–particularly with how undescriptive it is and how the campaign’s policy does not cover how her positions would be put into action. 29-year-old Pennsylvania resident, Rohan Vijayan, noted how “This was more an audition for Kamala Harris to just kind of see who she is… she came across pretty rehearsed to me… All of this seemed pretty calculated to me, and that’s not exactly what I was looking for out of her. I was looking for her to be a little more personable, a little more natural,” according to a BBC interview. Voters interviewed by Reuters echoed this notion, as Meredith Marshall from Arkansas stated,”I felt like the whole debate was Kamala Harris telling me why not to vote for Donald Trump instead of why she’s the right candidate.”
Trump’s performance during the debate was widely criticized, with many panning his continued off-topic tangents and touted falsehoods throughout. One Georgian voter, David, who was interviewed by The Washington Post, explained how “…President Trump came forward with his brand of politics and frankly I believe we have all seen enough; I believe the Republican Party can do much better than him at this point.” Toby from Wisconsin agreed with this sentiment, explaining how “…Trump just seems to want to rely on fear-mongering and that doesn’t get real things done in people’s lives.”
On the state level, all 435 House seats, 34 Senate positions, and 11 governorships are up for grabs. In Maryland, Democrat Angela Alsobrooks is running against former Governor and Republican Larry Hogan for the Senate. Alsobrooks will “work to create economic opportunities, build transportation and technology infrastructure and protect women’s reproductive rights,” as stated in an interview with WBAL-TV. Meanwhile, Ballotpedia describes how Hogan aspires to “improve public safety and border security, creating economic opportunities, and improve education and job training.”
Several key state referendums (popular votes on proposed laws) are on the ballot across the country this year, too– access to abortion is on the ballot in numerous states, including Maryland. Throughout the country, issues such as fully ensuring that noncitizens cannot vote, altering local and state electoral systems, hardening criminal justice, and increasing minimum wages have been raised to voters. Legalizing marijuana (and psychedelics in Massachusetts) is also a key question on the table.
In Calvert County, positions for the Board of Education are additionally up for election, with 3 districts electing new members.
Any students that can vote in this election should do their best to get out there and make their voice heard. However, for students unable to vote who want to get personally involved in elections in the future, they can work for the county as an Election Judge. The position involves administering and overseeing local voting, and anyone aged 16 or older can apply. More information on the position, and how to apply, can be found on Calvert County’s official website.