Prepare for the Primary
Spread the Word!
A Note from Our Executive Director
Dear Friends and Changemakers,
Have you noticed a shift in energy around social and civic engagement lately? More and more Americans are standing up and speaking out: at government hearings, at protests, and at the voting booth. People like you and me are organizing to take back their power and challenge elected leaders who are failing their communities. Here in Maryland, we get to make our voices heard in the June 23rd Primary Election. Nearly every level of government is on the ballot , from judges and sheriffs to State Senators, the Comptroller, Governor, and Congress.
Few issues have united Marylanders across the political spectrum like opposition to data centers. Whether in rural Western Maryland, West Baltimore or the Washington, DC suburbs, communities are forcing their leaders to implement moratoriums on new facilities. According to datacentermap.com, Maryland already hosts 53 data centers, and families are feeling the impact through lower air quality and skyrocketing utility bills.
The good news is that ordinary people across the country are coming together to push back and winning. The power of the people is mightier than the power of the purse. At Step Up Maryland, we’re committed to helping Marylanders reclaim and use their collective power.
In solidarity,
Charly Carter
Executive Director, Step Up Maryland
Primary Day is Coming June 23rd
The mission of Step Up Maryland is connecting citizens with their power, their voice, and their vote to make lasting change. Elections are when we decide whether we have lawmakers that prioritize big business or those that prioritize your family.
From school board to Governor to Congress, your vote has a direct impact on your daily life. If you don’t like the direction things are going, the June 23rd Primary Election is a chance to make a change in Maryland. The Primary determines who faces off in November ,and in many Maryland races, the Primary winner is the General Election winner. Your vote on June 23rd matters.
Right now, communities across Maryland are standing up against data centers that threaten air quality and rising utility bills that strain household budgets. Who you elect to County Council will decide whether a new data center goes up in your neighborhood. Who you send to the State Legislature will decide whether utility rates keep climbing or get reined in.
Unfortunately, too many Marylanders still don’t realize the power of their vote or their voice. So it’s up to you to spread the word.
If you want more information on your polling place, mail-in ballots, or early voting, visit vote.md.gov/vote2026. Not registered to vote? No problem. In Maryland you can register and vote on the same day during the Early Voting period (June 11-June 18) or on Primary Day, June 23rd.
Are You an Informed Voter or an Infatuated Voter?
Now more than ever, it’s important that we understand who we are electing and what they intend to do with the power we lend to them. Think of it like loaning your car: before handing over the keys, you’d want to know the driver’s qualifications, their track record, and whether they follow the rules of the road. You wouldn’t hand them over just because someone had a nice smile, a great speech, or more yard signs than the competition — even if a mutual friend vouched for them.
Well, the same is true of candidates. Before entrusting someone with your vote, make sure they uphold your values, represent your interests, and respect your power. That’s what it means to be an informed voter.
Before you cast your ballot, research where candidates stand on the issues that matter most to your family and community. Our partners at League of Women Voters Maryland and Vote 411 have created a Maryland Voter Guide to help. The Guide covers who’s on the ballot, their priorities and experience, their positions on key Maryland issues, and links to their websites. Don’t just trust the glossy postcards — look behind them.
Elections Alone Can’t Solve Every Problem
Elections are a key tool in making systemic change. When we vote, we put in place the policymakers who pass laws that can improve our lives — and when we don’t, we get the opposite. Consider this: Maryland’s minimum wage is now double the national minimum wage, a crucial win for service-sector workers in high-cost communities. That wouldn’t have happened without voters who elected leaders committed to raising living standards in Maryland.
Voting gets you a seat at the table. But real, sustained power — the kind that changes policy, shifts budgets, and holds officials accountable between elections — is built through ongoing civic action: organizing in our communities, identifying solutions to local problems, and building coalitions that make elected officials nervous enough to return your calls.
If you’re ready to go deeper, join us for Building People Power, a hands-on organizing workshop this August. Sign up for our mailing list to be notified when registration opens.
Take Action This Month
Plan Your Vote: Early Voting Starts June 11 and runs through June 18
The June 23 Primary is the most consequential local election in years. Early voting means you have multiple chances to cast your ballot, no excuses!
Experiencing trouble at the polls? Contact Maryland’s Election Protection’s team lawyers and volunteers trained to ensure that voting is accessible and free of intimidation and misdirection.
- Nonpartisan Election Protection Hotlines
- 866-OUR-VOTE: (866)687-8683
- Spanish Hotline: 866-VE-Y-VOTA
- Disability Rights MD Hotline
- (443) 692-2512
Upcoming Events
Building Governing Power, August 15, 2026 9 AM- 4 PM
This hands-on, beginner-friendly workshop is for people who are ready to move from inspired to unstoppable. Whether you’re brand new to organizing or just looking for a starting point, this workshop will give you the tools, strategies, and community connections to make an impact where it matters most — right where you live.
Eventbrite Tickets
