November 3rd is just a week away, and I’d be lying if I didn’t say the countdown is giving me anxiety. The midterms decide so much about our future and how the rest of the Trump presidency is going to go, and I thought that, with time closing in, I’d write about something close to my heart: The great state of Maryland.
Maryland is my home. It’s where I grew up, where my family grew up, and where all my favorite memories are. This year, Maryland is up in the midterm elections, and our first congressional district is quickly becoming a toss-up between incumbent Andy Harris (R) and newcomer Dan Schwartz (D). Who we choose to represent our great state and even greater district will mean a lot, so readers, this is why we need Dan Schwartz to win.
Background
Maryland’s 1st district covers the entire Eastern Shore, Harford County, and parts of Baltimore County. With such a vast difference between urban and rural areas, each county has different needs that need to be represented. It’s a big job representing such a large district. MD-01 has a current Cook Voting Index score of R+8. In fact, MD-01 is the only consistently Republican district in all of Maryland.
Incumbent Andy Harris has won the last 11 elections as the representative, which means he has been representing the district for almost as long as I have been alive. He is also the head of the “Freedom Caucus” in the House, so his name may sound familiar from this or maybe even that.
Dan Schwartz is the new face on the block, bringing a long career in finance, including work at the Conference of State Bank Supervisors, and a commitment to protecting consumers from financial abuse.
harris is a hazard
Serving as a state representative is a promise to protect your constituents and make sure the district thrives. What I spoke about earlier is that MD-01 is such a big district that it needs different things in different places, and Andy Harris has been asleep at the wheel.
Since becoming ingratiated in President Trump’s circle and head of the “Freedom Caucus” in the House, he’s become more and more MAGA.
For example, he voted yes on the SAVE act in 2026 and yes in 2025 for the One Big Beautiful Bill.
He’s also voted in support for Trump’s Iran war, which has driven up costs for everyone.
Something more region-specific that was really important was voting against the “Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act,” which would have increased roads, water systems, broadband, airports, and coastal protections for our district. In Worcester County, Maryland, which is right on the coastline, struggles heavily with storm and flood protection and beach preservation/upkeep, especially in Ocean City, which is one of our major tourist attractions.
Harris consistently votes against things that would help Marylanders, and his “trust me, I’ve been doing this for years” is just not cutting it anymore.
The fight
Dan has his work cut out for him, and it hasn’t been an easy time campaigning. MD-01 is the only red district in Maryland, and it is like that by design to keep the rest of the state legislature at a democratic advantage, but when you are a progressive candidate running in that district, it makes it harder. No democrat has won against Andy Harris, but they sure have tried. Dan is the candidate who has come the closest, and so far his odds look pretty good.
Earlier in the summer, projection polls put Andy Harris at 57% and Dan at 43%, but since campaigning, his odds have gone up tremendously. Since their live debate, where Harris lost it, Ron Deb, Dan’s campaign manager, has said polls are looking more like Schwartz at 45%, Harris at 44%.
Either way, statistics are not discouraging him. Since starting the campaign, they have mobilized volunteers to go out and knock on doors with him every week and talk face-to-face with constituents. Andy Harris, on the other hand, hasn’t had a town hall since 2019.
Why Dan Schwartz our guy:
You may be asking what a progressive candidate is doing running in a red district, but for Dan, it’s not about picking sides: it’s about what is best for Maryland. Dan wants to:
Support MD-01’s farmers and other small businesses by working to repeal tariffs that are costing families upwards of $ 5,000 a year.
Restore ACA benefits and repeal budget cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, and SNAP benefits that were also cut by the BBB.
Dan has also pledged to keep corporate PAC money out of his campaign and out of politics, which is huge when talking about the integrity and honesty of a political candidate.
He is also adamant about improving healthcare access in MD-01, including better working conditions for nurses, ensuring affordable healthcare, and access to better healthcare in rural areas. Since the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill, rural hospitals are closing, and healthcare premiums are rising due to the huge cuts. Rural Maryland is no exception; in May of 2026, Cecil County’s only birthing center closed. Now families have to travel far outside of our district, or to Delaware, to receive the care that they need.
in Closing
It’s not about choosing a side, but I care about my home state and genuinely want what’s best for Marylanders. The election is only a few days away, and Dan still has to maintain this momentum.
What Marylanders want is someone honest, trustworthy, and who will represent us well. If you ask me, Dan Schwartz is our guy.