Government and Politics
October 14, 2024
In a first for the State Party, Maryland Democrats invest resources in school board races to counter influence of radical right-wing groups Moms for Liberty, 1776 Project
Annapolis, MD – In an unprecedented move amid a competitive election year, the Maryland Democratic Party (MDP) is directly investing in school board races across the state for the first time in modern Party history. The investments are aimed at countering the far-right agenda being championed by extremist and hate-group aligned candidates running in non-partisan school board races around the state.
This cycle, the Maryland Democratic Party has built the largest coordinated campaign in Maryland history, and, in addition to leveraging the organization to deploy canvassers in targeted school board races, the Party is directly investing in candidates and local organizations. In a number of races, these investments will close the gap for candidates trailing in fundraising against their right-wing opponents and other races will help extend candidates’ cash on hand lead.
“The Maryland Democratic Party is committed to defending our students from the dangerous fringe agenda that extremist candidates and the far-right groups are hoping to bring to our state,” said MDP Chair Ken Ulman. “We won’t allow radical activists dedicated to banning books and discriminating against students to take over our schools.”
Moms for Liberty, which was recently officially designated as an extremist group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, has taken an active role in promoting school board candidates in Maryland who seek to undermine public education. Their hate and anti-freedom agenda includes book bans, targeting LGBTQ+ youth, and rewriting our history. Following their lead is the 1776 Project, a far-right-funded group that has established a PAC to target school board races with the same hate-filled agenda. This is the same organization that received the largest fine in Maryland history for violating election disclosure laws last fall.
“In Maryland, we commit to leaving no one behind, especially our children. Democrats won’t stand by and let well-funded right-wing bullies target marginalized students and give them the false impression they don’t have a place in our schools,” said Dr. Charlene Dukes, Vice Chair of the Maryland Democratic Party. “Radical groups like Moms for Liberty have no place in shaping our children’s education, and we’re confident Marylanders will send them that message clearly and loudly at the ballot box this fall.”
We will not allow candidates to “sane wash” their extremism, especially as candidates attempt to soften their extremist edges.
Meet just ***SOME*** of the extreme candidates around the state.
What does Moms for Liberty stand for?
Moms for Liberty is an extremist political organization at the forefront of the far-right’s attack on public education. Since its founding in 2021, the group has advanced book bans, pushed conspiracy theories, fueled anti-LGBTQ sentiments, and coordinated fierce opposition to diversity initiatives in schools. Moms for Liberty is notorious for targeting and pushing out educators and officials who don’t agree with their hateful agenda. Closely affiliated with Donald Trump as well as other hate-groups like the Proud Boys, Moms for Liberty is now targeting Maryland schools with their hateful agenda.