Josh Kurtz, Maryland Matters

CHICAGO — During his first campaign for public office in 2006, when he ousted a 32-year state senator in the Democratic primary, U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-8th) called his scores of youthful volunteers “the democracy corps.”

That loose amalgamation of youthful energy has morphed through the years into the Democracy Summer, a robust program sponsored by Raskin and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee that dispatches young people across the country to work for progressive candidates and causes.

But “Democracy Summer” could also describe part of the campaign Democrats are waging against former President Donald Trump and his political allies. ...

The heat was suffocating when 70 Democratic politicians and activists gathered on a Frederick parking lot the other day for a rally organized by a national Democratic youth group. But the Democrats saw a hopeful metaphor.

“Are we on fire?” April McLain Delaney, the Democratic nominee in the 6th Congressional District, asked the crowd.

Even with the withering early afternoon sun, the energy was palpable — and most of the Democrats there attributed it to the recent change at the top of the ticket, with Vice President Kamala Harris poised to replace President Biden as the party’s White House nominee. Several people said they expect that momentum to accrue to Delaney in the open-seat 6th District race, and especially to Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D) in her battle against former Gov. Larry Hogan (R) for the state’s open U.S. Senate seat. ...

Former Gov. Larry Hogan (R), who for years disavowed any interest in serving in the U.S. Senate, has had a change of heart and announced a last-minute bid for Maryland's vacant Senate seat on Friday afternoon — hours before the filing deadline for candidates to enter the May 14 primary.

In an announcement video that lasted 2 minutes and 48 seconds, with Hogan directly addressing the camera, he cast his decision to run as a crusade to bring common sense and courtesy to the broken politics of Capitol Hill.

"Like a vast majority of Marylanders, I’m completely fed up with politics as usual," Hogan said. "Politicians in Washington seem more interested in arguing than in getting anything done for the people they represent. Enough is enough. We can do so much better — but not if we keep electing the same kind of partisan politicians. Look, I don’t come from the performative art school of politics. I come from the get to work and get things done school. And I’ll work with anyone who wants to work on the people’s business."...

A Republican member of the Maryland State Board of Elections was arrested by federal authorities this week and charged for his alleged role in the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, the U.S. Department of Justice has announced.

Carlos Ayala, 52, of Salisbury, was charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with civil disorder, a felony. Ayala has also been charged with related misdemeanor offenses.

Ayala, who as confirmed to the state board last May, was arrested Tuesday by the FBI in Maryland and made an initial appearance in the District of Columbia, according to court records. He was released on personal recognizance and must ask for permission to leave the state of Maryland pending trial. He cannot possess firearms while out on bail....

Former Del. Dan Cox, the 2022 Republican nominee for governor in Maryland, appears to have filed to run for Congress in the 6th District on Monday.

But in a brief interview, Cox, who is contemplating the 6th District race to replace U.S. Rep. David Trone (D-6th), said it wasn't him.

Someone filed electronic paperwork with the Federal Election Commission on Monday, entering Cox into the 6th District race. But Cox said he and his wife Valerie are still discussing the possibility of him running for Congress next year and haven't made any definitive plans....