My voter's guide to the MD-6th Democratic Primary
Disclaimer: I'm pretty left of center. I ranked the candidates by how I'd vote for them on a Ranked Choice Ballot.
1- Ethan Wechtaluk
No wiki page. Does have a platform page though!
- End Corporate Welfare
- Raise the minimum wage
- Enforce Anti-trust laws
- Largely pro-small business stuff
- Target agriculture monopolies
- Labor
- Pass the PRO Act
- Federal funds should go to union jobs if possible
- Expand apprenticeship and up-skilling programs
- Healthcare
- Medicare for All
- Expand education for healthcare workers
- Fund rural healthcare and telehealth
- Allow medicare to negotiate drugs for all
- Legalize marijuana
- Transportation
- Electrify buses and rail
- Expand rail, bring freight to Frederick and Hagerstown, improve passenger connections across the region
- Taxes
- Simplify the tax code, eliminate loopholes, increase the standard deduction
- We should have a system where Americans receive a pre-filled return that they can review and sign.
- Tax realized and unrealized capital gain. Put a vacancy tax on properties.
- Raise the corporate tax rate and close loopholes.
- Foreign Policy
- End taxpayer funding of genocide in gaza
- Reclaim congressional authority to declare war
- Rejoin UN, WHO, and Paris Climate Accords
- Fund USAID
- Strict oversight and transparency for US arms and military assistance to avoid use in war crimes or civilian repression.
- Tech
- Privacy Bill of Rights
- Ban sale of sensitive personal info, require broker transparency and easy opt-outs
- Restrictions on license plate readers
- Better requirements for cybersecurity for contractors
- Ban sale of minors’ data, prohibit targeted ads to kids, biometric collection in schools
- Guns
- Supports the 2nd Amendment and right of every law-abiding citizen to own firearms
- Universal background checks
- Close gun show and private sale loopholes
- Red Flag laws
- Veterans
- Fund and modernize the VA
- Expand mental health care and suicide prevention efforts
- Expand housing assistance and invest in job training
- Eliminate SSA/VA barrier for disability payments
- Better family support programs
- Spending
- Eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse
- Prioritize audits
- End taxes on SSA benefits, eliminate the SSA payroll tax cap
- Democracy
- Independent commissions for redistricting nationwide
- Overturn Citizens United
- Tighter campaign finance limits, public financing options
- Expand civic education
- Ban Congressional stock trading
- Term limits
- Uncap the House
- Expand SCOTUS
- Binding code of Ethics for the judiciary
- Term limits for SCOTUS justices
- Families
- Expand FMLA leave to guarantee paid leave for ALL workers
- Universal Child care
- Expand the Child Tax Credit
- Strengthen SNAP and WIC
- Disabilities
- Strengthen the ADA
- Fully fund Special Education
- Fund ways to help workers with disabilities stay employed
- Shift disability benefits admin to the state level
- Better fund SSI program
- Housing
- Increase supply near jobs and transit
- Housing is a human right
- Limit corporations and hedge funds ability to buy homes
- National Renters’ Bill of Rights
- Education
- Fund schools and pay teachers
- Universal Pre-K
- Free Community Coldge
- Increase funding in trade schools, apprenticeships, and vocational programs
- Social
- Codify Roe v Wade
- Pass Equality Act
- Defend Marriage Equality
- Protect gender-affirming care
- Criminalize and target deepfakes
- Immigration
- Replace CBP and ICE with a new agency with strict oversight and firm limits on authority
- End 287(g)
- Clear fair path to citizenship
- Border policy that prioritizes humanity, safety, and responsibility
- Environment
- Strengthen Clean Air Act, invest in infrastructure
- Hold Big Tech accountable
- Strengthen Clean Water Act
- Strengthen EPA and enforcement of pollution laws.
2- Alexis Goldstein
Former Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Chief Technologist. Fired by DOGE.
Worked as a programmer and analyst on Wall Street, left to join the Occupy Wall Street protests. Published often with op-eds on financial topics from a progressive perspective.
In favor of:
- Canceling student debt
- Ending usury payday loans
- Wealth tax
- Stricter bank regulations
Cons- she doesn’t have an ‘on the issues’ page on her website.
4- April McClain Delaney
What else is there to say? She is her husband’s wife, who had a much longer run as rep of MD-6. Just like last election cycle, she has no On the Issues section on her website. Member of the New Democrat Coalition (Clinton era centrist Democrats).
In favor of:
- Israel
- Ukraine
- Laken Riley Act
- Abortion rights
- Expansion of I-270 and I-81
- Universal Pre-K
- Free community college
- Reform to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid for deficit reduction
- Universal Background Checks, Assault Weapons bans, Red Flag laws
Against:
- Medicare for All
3- David Trone
Long-time alcohol industry guy. Member of the New Democrat Coalition (Clinton era Centrist Democrats), Problem Solvers Caucus (Centrism).
In favor of:
- Israel
- Abortion rights
- Free College if you work for 5 years in public service
- Free Community College
- Starting pre-School at age 3
- Redistricting reform
- Extending voting rights to undocumented immigrants and 16 year-olds.
- Term limits for congresspeople and SCOTUS justices
- Eliminating the filibuster
- Universal background checks
- Assault Weapons bans
- Pathway to citizenship for all undocumented immigrants
Against:
- Crypto
- Medicare for All
Israel:
- Supported the Israel Anti-Boycot act, as if the 1st Amendment didn’t apply to Israel
- Voted to condemn the BDS movement (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions for Israel)
- Called UN commission of inquiry of alleged Israeli human rights violations to be shut down.
- One of 95 dems who voted to denounce Anti-Zionism as Anti-Semitism.
- Signed a letter condemning South Africa’s genocide case against Israel.
Doesn’t have an on the issues page on his website.
George Gluck
Doesn’t have a website, but he links to his Peloton which is weird. No wiki page. He’s retired and looks pretty old too. Previously a green party candidate. Perennial.
“Obama tried [the JCPOA] that failed to work.” Actually it was working just fine.
Daniel Krakower
Doesn’t have a website or wiki page. I can’t find anything on him.
Kiambo “Bo” White
Former Union rep. No wiki page. No website.
A. Mark Wilks
No wiki page. Extremely barebones website with no issues page.