Delaney will participate in second debate in Detroit
Former U.S. Representative and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate John Delaney, a Potomac resident, has qualified for the second round of presidential debates, which will be held July 30 and 31 in Detroit.
The Democratic National Committee announced in a joint press release with CNN late Wednesday afternoon that Delaney would be one of 20 candidates to participate in the second round of debates. CNN is scheduled to hold a live drawing Thursday night to determine which candidates will participate on each night.
Under the rules set by the DNC, candidates qualifying for the second debate must have polled at 1% in three separate polls. Candidates may also qualify for the debate if they have raised money from 65,000 individuals scattered across 20 states. Delaney, according to the press release, polled high enough to qualify for the debate, but did not also meet the fundraising threshold.
According to RealClear Politics, Delaney was polling at 1% in a New Hampshire primary poll conducted by CNN and the University of New Hampshire between July 8 and July 15. Leading that poll was former Vice President Joe Biden with 24%, followed by U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren, of Massachusetts, and Bernie Sanders, of Vermont, with 19% each. Five other candidates were tied with Delaney with 1% each.
Delaney also polled at 1% in a Fox News poll of South Carolina voters conducted between July 7 and July 10.
The third presidential debate, which will be held Sept. 12 and 13 in Houston, will contain stricter requirements, with candidates being required to poll at 2% or higher, or to have received donations from 130,000 unique donors scattered across 20 states.
Raskin, Ocasio-Cortez will hold benefit rally in Silver Spring
U.S. Reps. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) are co-hosting a rally in Silver Spring Thursday night. Based on a media advisory, the rally is fundraiser for Raskin’s Democracy Summer program — an unpaid fellowship for high school and college students who are interested in politics and public policy. Raskin, a Takoma Park resident, started the program in 2006 when he was running for a state senate seat.
Ocasio-Cortez, who was elected to Congress last fall, has gained national prominence for her progressive politics, frequent clashes over policy with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and recent Twitter feud with President Donald Trump. Thursday’s rally, which begins at 7 p.m. comes less than one week after Trump tweeted that several “progressive Democratic congresswomen” should “go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came,” with national media and politicians speculating that Ocasio-Cortez was one of four Democratic congresswomen of color targeted by the president. Ocasio-Cortez is an American citizen who is of Puerto Rican descent.
Figueredo tapped as new deputy director for Montgomery Parks
Montgomery Parks, a division of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, has selected Miti Figueredo to serve as the agency’s deputy director of administration, according to a press release sent Monday. Figueredo will oversee the areas of park planning, development, management services and public affairs. Her responsibilities will also include overseeing a $100 million operating budget and $220 million capital budget for the department.
Figueredo has spent the last two years as a senior advisor to Planning Board Chair Casey Anderson, and previously was the spokesperson for the Purple Line Transit Partners — a public-private partnership that is working to build the 16-mile light rail line that will connect Montgomery and Prince George’s counties. Figueredo has also worked at the mixed-use development firm Chevy Chase Land Company, and has held several staff positions within the County Council.
Dan Schere can be reached at Daniel.schere@moco360.media
