Profiles of Endorsed Candidates
Primary day is September 12!
Last day to register to vote in the primary is August 20!
There’s no denying we’re interested in the upcoming election—more than 500 seats are up for grabs across the state. We know there’s more than education at stake, though. Issues like the environment, health care, public safety, electricity rates and the economy are of deep concern to Maryland residents.
A look at the candidates will show that MSTA’s endorsements support and protect Maryland’s future—from pre-K through senior high school students to their families and their communities.
Local Associations from across the state studied the issues and the candidates. Read below to find the education candidates in your county.
Download the Senate and Congressional Endorsements >>
Endorsed federal candidate profiles: Federal law prohibits federal election endorsements to appear on public access websites. Click here to log in to MSTA MembersOnly to view Federal Endorsements.
Martin O'Malley for Governor
“As members of MSTA, you are on the front lines, you know what works best in your schools. My decision to make MSTA a full partner is not a gift to you. It is an essential part of my goal of shaping education policy in the future. I need you.”
Martin O’Malley has worked hard for our support and has a vision for strengthening public education in Maryland. O’Malley’s education plan addresses the issues Maryland educators know are crucial to student achievement. He is committed to fully funding Thornton, building more schools and reducing class size, fortifying educator pensions and keeping college tuition affordable.
O’Malley has pledged to work closely with MSTA to be sure every ESP earns a living wage, state and local school board appointments are well-considered and workload issues become a mandatory subject of collective bargaining.
O’Malley’s plans as governor also include investing more money in early childhood education, providing more and better vocational and technical training, and increasing accountability to make sure education dollars are spent in the classroom.
Anthony Brown, O’Malley’s running mate, is majority whip in the Maryland House of Delegates, a Harvard Law School graduate, an Iraq War veteran and a recipient of the Bronze Star Medal. He championed successful efforts to raise Maryland’s minimum wage, expand health care access and led efforts on medical malpractice reform.
Peter Franchot for Comptroller
“I support new school construction, lowering class sizes and improving teacher pay. Initial steps are to fully fund all components of the Thornton legislation, and to begin to address our school construction needs.”
Peter Franchot, a five-term delegate serving Montgomery County, is a strong advocate for public education, gun safety and responsible environmental policy. In addition, he has fought to raise Maryland’s minimum wage, increase health care for all residents and helped pass legislation that returned over $500 million to homeowners through tax rebates. He is the chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and the Environment.
Franchot was an early and strong backer of pension improvement, saying, “I will oppose any effort to replace our defined benefit plan to a defined contribution plan. A fair and adequate defined pension benefit plan is the foundation of retirement security.”
Pat Foerster for State Senate
District 7, Baltimore County
Pat Foerster, immediate past president of MSTA, is running for Maryland Senate in her home district in Baltimore County. As an MSTA leader for 13 years Foerster lead the fight for pension improvement, Thornton funding and helped secure collective bargaining rights for education support professionals on the Eastern Shore.
Foerster faces an opponent whose voting record with MSTA is one of the very worst of all members of the General Assembly. As state senator, Foerster will continue working for better schools, stronger families and a better Maryland by focusing on education funding, safer communities and a strong economy.
