Republican

 

Tony Campbell

Where you live: Baltimore

Date of birth: Nov. 29, 1965

Current occupation and employer (may also list up to two other jobs you’ve held); if retired, list your last job and employer: Faculty, Department of Political Science, Towson University

Political experience (public offices held and when, as well as unsuccessful campaigns for office and which years): Candidate for Baltimore County executive, 2014. Current member, Baltimore County School Board Nomination Commission.

Campaign information:

1 – Why are you running for this office? (75 words max)

I am running for the United States Senate because I believe Leadership is the hallmark of public service. As a leader, I will go to the U.S. Senate to fight for individual liberty and smaller, more accountable government. Being a Senator is not a step up or a career change for me. It is past time to have real discussions on how much government should be involved in the lives of its citizens.

2 – What is the most important issue in this race and what specific plans do you have to address it? (100 words max)

Getting the national government out of public education. Common Core and nationally imposed standards should have never been allowed. Parents and teachers across Maryland are frustrated with Common Core and the unnecessary burden which is placed upon teachers and students.

Establish local control of our schools and we should hold our local education officials accountable. Move our public schools back to traditional learning metrics (reading, writing in cursive, and critical thinking). Local schools must be able to discipline children to keep order in the classroom. I would move to rescind Department of Education policies designed to reduce disciplinary action.

3 – What is one major issue the current Senate has handled poorly and what would you have done differently? (100 words max)

Immigration Reform could have been fixed back in 2009-2010. We should have secure borders, which includes better vetting of people who want to come into our country. We should loosen Work Visa Requirements to help Maryland’s Farmers, Watermen and Resort Industries (J-1, H2A, H2B).

The Supreme Court Confirmation process is political theater at its most partisan level. It is one of the reasons why Congress has historically low approval numbers. Congress has given up its sovereignty to the Supreme Court. As your next U.S. Senator, I will fight for my constituents’ liberty, not solely worried about getting re-elected.

4 – What experience (work, political or other) has prepared you to hold this office? (100 words max)

Faculty in the Department of Political Science at Towson University teaching Political Theory, American National Government, Religion and Politics, and a course on Presidential Elections for 15 years. Chaplain (officer), United States Army.

Worked for two members of U.S. House of Representatives, an appointee in the administration of President George W. Bush, state director for two presidential campaigns, and Republican Elector to the Electoral College in 2016. Serves on the board of a charter school in Baltimore, a member of the Baltimore County School Board Nomination Commission, and on the P-20 Leadership Council for Education for the State of Maryland.

 

 

Democrat

 

Ben Cardin (incumbent)

Where you live: Baltimore

Date of birth: Oct. 5, 1943

Current occupation and employer (may also list up to two other jobs you’ve held); if retired, list your last job and employer: U.S. senator. Lawyer.

Political experience (public offices held and when, as well as unsuccessful campaigns for office and which years): U.S. senator since 2007. U.S. representative, Maryland’s 3rd District, 1987-2006. Maryland state delegate, 1967-86, including House speaker from 1979 to 1986.

Campaign information:

1 – Why are you running for this office? (75 words max)

I am running for re-election to the United States Senate to continue my work on behalf of the people of Maryland. I fight every day on behalf of my fellow Marylanders, promoting policies, legislation and programs that help our local and regional economy, encouraging public safety and supporting public health. My seniority in the Senate and on committees has translated into success for Maryland in every corner of our state.

2 – What is the most important issue in this race and what specific plans do you have to address it? (100 words max)

Economic opportunity: I am committed to seeing that Maryland receives the resources needed to grow our regional economy and create well-paying, local jobs for residents. We should modify our tax code to truly target middle-income and working families, help small businesses and make smart investments in infrastructure/green technologies. We should foster programs and investments that allow anyone who wants to work to find opportunities available with the wages and benefits to support a family. A family should be able to afford a child’s college education without going into debt. There still are too many hardworking Americans struggling paycheck to paycheck.

3 – What is one major issue the current Senate has handled poorly and what would you have done differently? (100 words max)

The Republican tax bill was a partisan effort to permanently cut taxes for corporations while the rest of America got temporary relief. It was not focused on helping middle-income and working families and even bumps up their taxes in 10 years. Marylanders were hit with double taxation for state and local taxes. We need meaningful tax reform for every American, not just the privileged few. We should provide incentives to create jobs and help the middle class. We should redirect some of the money from tax reform to infrastructure projects, fund economic development initiatives, and invest in our workforce.

4 – What experience (work, political or other) has prepared you to hold this office? (100 words max)

I am proud of my record of accomplishment on behalf of Marylanders. I defend our American values while working with Senate colleagues to preserve funding for priorities like clean water and the Chesapeake Bay, small business, public health and federal facilities. I have spent time in all parts of our state, establishing positive relationships with local elected officials. I have met with community leaders and concerned citizens, toured thriving Maryland businesses, met with veterans, seniors and young people. We need leaders who, like myself, can be effective from Day One and have a concrete record of bipartisan success for Maryland.

 

 

Libertarian

 

Arvin Vohra

Where you live: Bethesda

Date of birth: May 9, 1979

Current occupation and employer (may also list up to two other jobs you’ve held); if retired, list your last job and employer: Founder, Vohra Method, which offers educational programs

Political experience (public offices held and when, as well as unsuccessful campaigns for office and which years): Vice chair, Libertarian National Committee, 2012-2016

Campaign information:

1 – Why are you running for this office? (75 words max)

I am running to abolish the entire welfare state, including welfare, government schools, Medicare, and Medicaid, and abolish the income tax. I additionally want to massively downsize the military, eliminate most federal departments, and give individuals more choice over themselves and their finances. Finally, I want to cease military involvement in other countries, end the war on drugs, and repeal the “Patriot” Act.

2 – What is the most important issue in this race and what specific plans do you have to address it? (100 words max)

Ending the income tax, ending the welfare state, and ending the cycle of perpetual war will come from sponsoring legislation to scale back and abolish them.

3 – What is one major issue the current Senate has handled poorly and what would you have done differently? (100 words max)

The Senate has continued to waste our money on counterproductive policies. If elected, I will sponsor legislation to abolish federal departments, fire federal “workers,” and eliminate the income tax.

4 – What experience (work, political or other) has prepared you to hold this office? (100 words max)

I have served 2 terms as the Vice Chair of the Libertarian National Committee. I have run my own private educational company since 2001.

 

 

Unaffiliated

 

Neal Simon

Where you live: Potomac

Date of birth: May 1, 1968

Current occupation and employer (may also list up to two other jobs you’ve held); if retired, list your last job and employer: Candidate for U.S. Senate. Previously: CEO, Bronfman Rothschild; Founder/CEO, Highline Wealth Management

Political experience (public offices held and when, as well as unsuccessful campaigns for office and which years): First-time candidate for office

Campaign information:

1 – Why are you running for this office? (75 words max)

I am running for the U.S. Senate for three reasons. One, I am running to help people across the state of Maryland get ahead by lowering our health care costs and bringing high-paying jobs to Maryland. Second, I am running to try and bring our state and our country together. Finally, I am running to change the way Washington works — by representing Maryland rather than a party boss and by putting people over politics.

2 – What is the most important issue in this race and what specific plans do you have to address it? (100 words max)

Our political system is broken, and the tragic result is that Marylanders and Americans have overwhelmingly lost faith in their government to act in their interests. As the only person in this race unaffiliated with any political party, I will serve the people of Maryland everyday rather than the interests of party leaders or special interests.

We need to change the way Washington works, and the parties will never lead that change. I will work to end gerrymandering, introduce term limits, reform our campaign finance system, open primaries, and change the arcane Senate rules that prevent progress on key issues.

3 – What is one major issue the current Senate has handled poorly and what would you have done differently? (100 words max)

Health care in the U.S. is treated like a political football, where one party tries to force legislation through without consensus. Republican Party leaders have tried to repeal the ACA without an alternative, while Democratic Party leaders are embracing Medicare-for-All, which is socialized health care.

I believe the answer is to fix the ACA and enact reform that incentivizes the wellness of patients instead of treatments and doctors visits. We also need to use innovation, harness the private sector, and increase transparency so that people know what they are paying for and how much they are paying.

4 – What experience (work, political or other) has prepared you to hold this office? (100 words max)

I have run four professional services companies, including an investment business I founded in 2002 and sold in 2015. I am active in my community through nonprofits where my family and I have volunteered and I served in leadership roles, including Board Chair of the Montgomery County Community Foundation and the Greater Washington Community Foundation, and Board Director of Interfaith Works and the Capital Area Food Bank. In my business and nonprofit work, I have brought people with different ideas together and found common ground to get things done. I will bring this approach and experience to the Senate.