Why I Am Running as an Independent — And What I Learned Running Under a Party Label

I have run for this seat before. I know how the system works from the inside. What those experiences taught me is why District 9A deserves a delegate who…

From Party Candidate to Independent I ran for Howard County Board of Education in 2018 and 2020. I ran for this same District 9A delegate seat in 2022 under a party label. This November I am on the ballot as Unaffiliated. Those experiences showed me exactly how party structures in Annapolis work — and exactly who they are built to serve. It is not you. What I Learned Party structures prioritize party leadership over district needs. Caucus meetings matter more than community meetings. The system is designed to maintain itself, not to serve the families who live in District 9A. I watched bills get introduced or killed based on what was good for the caucus in an election year — not what was good for families paying higher BGE bills, higher car registration fees, and auto insurance among the three most expensive in the country. The BGE cost limitation bill — HB0001, the very first bill of the 2026 session — is a perfect example. BGE's gas delivery rates have more than tripled since 2010, and its profits went from $147 million in 2010 to $527 million in 2024. Where was that bill in 2023? Where was it in 2024? It appeared when it was politically useful. Not when families needed it. Why Independent Changes Everything Running unaffiliated means I answer only to the people of District 9A. No caucus. No party leadership calls. No bundled donor expectations. No one telling me how to vote. It also means I can work with anyone — across the aisle, across party lines — on the issues that matter here. Affordability. Education accountability. Fiscal responsibility. These are not partisan issues. They are kitchen table issues that every family in Ellicott City, Damascus, Clarksburg, Clarksville, Woodbine, and Glenwood is dealing with right now. The Two Vote Reality District 9A elects two…